Design
How to Choose the Right Material for Your Outdoor Sign
An outdoor sign is an investment in your brand or safety protocol. Whether it is a business storefront sign, a parking lot disclaimer, or a construction site warning, you expect it to last. However, Mother Nature can be harsh. Sun, rain, wind, and freezing temperatures can destroy improper materials in months. Choosing the wrong material […]
The neon of New York City
New York City has long been known for its array of lights and neon signs. New York’s history with neon signage, however, has been nothing short of simple. In the 1930’s, neon signs were an integral part of the New York City landscape, representing the image of NYC as a “glamorous metropolis”. Neon signage was […]
A short history of the ‘Hollywood’ sign: Fourth in a SmartSign blog series on famous signs and their origins
Many know the famous Hollywood sign as one of the most historic landmarks in Los Angeles and a worldwide symbol of the entertainment industry. What most people don’t know is that it was actually originally built as a real-estate advertisement. The original sign read “Hollywooodland” and was created in 1923 to advertise the upscale real-estate […]
A short history of English pub signage: Third in a SmartSign blog series on famous signs and their origins
The English pub is quintessentially English, like roast beef, tea and the Tudor rose– even the smallest village in the English countryside has a pub. (The oldest English pub still in existence, Ye Old Fighting Cocks, was founded in 795.) And the pub sign, universally part of the pub’s appeal, has an unusual origin of […]
A short history of the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign: Second in a SmartSign blog series on famous signs and their origins
The ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign is one of the most historic Las Vegas landmarks, built in 1959. The sign sits in the median at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South, which, interestingly enough, is outside of the city limits and in the town of Paradise. This is also considered to be the official Southern […]
A short history of New York City subway signage: First in a SmartSign blog series on famous signs and their origins
The New York City subway is a symbol of New York. For over a hundred years, the subway has transported New Yorkers and visitors alike through New York’s urban canyons. Its signage is simple, elegant, and iconic, a beacon of calm in New York’s chaos. But the signs haven’t always been that way. Originally, there […]
Appealing graphics and icons simplify tough tasks
We’ve all heard that picture is worth a thousand words. As it turns out, an image may also be worth a few milliseconds of valuable time. A study published in The Psychonomic Bulletin & Review found that eye-catching, appealing graphics on a mobile app or website promoted users’ ability to perform difficult tasks more quickly and […]