Signs and communication

Have you ever wondered why do we have signboards? What makes them so popular — such that not only roads, but also malls, parking spaces, hotels, schools and elsewhere, we have signboards to our rescue.

The main purpose of signs is to communicate, to convey information designed to assist the receiver with decision-making based on the information provided. Alternatively, promotional signage may be designed to persuade receivers of the merits of a given product or service.

The use of signboards dates back to ancient Rome — where they were used for shop fronts and to announce public events. It was adopted by traders and was slowly seen in use — from the streets of London to continental Europe.

In case of signboards on roads, designers use elements like shape and consider material properties in creating signs that drivers can see and understand in time to react appropriately. Large overhanging signs became a danger and a nuisance in the narrow ways as the city streets became more congested with vehicular traffic.

Collective usage of signs leads us to a signage. Today, we have incredible signages being created as a result of human innovation. Their usage is not limited to daily rules and regulations, but are being increasingly adopted by brands to talk about their products. The purpose of using the signs is to make customers understand what your product is concentrated about. The location, material, text, color and the message constitute an important part of signage ideas for businesses.

This makes us wonder about the possibilities the future holds in the field of brand communication. It also speaks enormous about the human potential. That being said, it is imperative to look at how such inventions have changed the society overall. People now identify brands with a particular banner they saw few days ago. Brand recall has improved. Signboards along with signages have revolutionized communication over the years, and are all set to witness major discoveries in the future.