Don’t create a layout or legibility problem for yourself

Sign design can be challenging enough without creating problems for ourselves. Clients make demands, budgets are limited, deadlines are looming. Why make it harder by making a layout mistake that shoots you in the foot before you even get started?

Here are six “Don’ts” that will help keep you out of trouble and spare you a lot of needless suffering—followed by a dozen idea-packed photos to inspire you:

Don’t place text over photographs. That creates clutter that makes the letters harder to read. Your goal is to make them easier to read, right? If the photo has to be on the sign, keep the text off it.