The most Common Mistakes in Signage Design (And How to Avoid Them)

A well-designed sign is one of the most powerful tools for attracting customers, reinforcing your brand, and improving navigation. However, even the best businesses can fall into common signage design mistakes that reduce visibility, readability, or overall effectiveness.

At Cora Graphics, we’ve seen it all – from cluttered designs to poor material choices. In this guide, we’ll break down the most common signage mistakes and how to avoid them, ensuring your business makes a lasting impression.

1. Poor Readability

❌ The Mistake:

• Fonts that are too small, too decorative, or too condensed.

• Low-contrast colour combinations making text hard to read.

• Overcrowding the sign with too much information.

✅ How to Avoid It:

• Choose clear, bold, and legible fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Futura.

• Use high contrast colour schemes (e.g., black text on a white or yellow background).

• Keep it simple – only include key information like business name, contact details, and a call to action.

📌 Tip: A good rule of thumb is the "Letter Height Visibility Rule" – every 1 inch of letter height is readable from 10 feet away.

2. Poor Colour Choices

❌ The Mistake:

• Colours that blend into the background.

• Using too many colours, making the sign look chaotic.

• Ignoring colour psychology, which impacts customer perception.

✅ How to Avoid It:

• Use contrasting colours for text and background (e.g., dark blue text on a white background).

• Stick to 2-3 primary colours that align with your brand.

• Understand colour psychology – red creates urgency, blue builds trust, and yellow grabs attention.

📌 Tip: Use an online colour contrast checker to ensure your text is readable.

3. Low-Quality Images & Graphics

❌ The Mistake:

• Using pixelated, blurry, or stretched images.

• Overcomplicating the design with excessive visuals.

• Poor placement of images, making text difficult to read.

✅ How to Avoid It:

• Use high-resolution images and vector graphics for sharpness.

• Keep images relevant and minimal – don’t overcrowd your sign.

• Ensure text stands out from graphics and isn’t obstructed.

📌 Tip: If using a logo, ensure it’s in SVG or PNG format with a transparent background.

4. Wrong Signage Material

❌ The Mistake:

• Choosing a non-weatherproof material for outdoor signs.

• Using cheap or fragile materials that fade, peel, or break easily.

• Selecting the wrong finish (glossy finishes can cause glare).

✅ How to Avoid It:

• For outdoor signs, use Dibond, Acrylic, Aluminium, or Weatherproof Vinyl.

• For indoor signs, Foamex or Acrylic works well for a polished look.

• Choose a matte or anti-glare finish for readability in bright areas.

📌 Tip: Think about long-term durability – investing in high-quality materials saves money in the long run.

5. Overcomplicating the Design

❌ The Mistake:

• Trying to cram too much information onto one sign.

• Overuse of fonts, graphics, or animations.

• Lack of white space, making the sign feel cluttered.

✅ How to Avoid It:

• Follow the 5-second rule – people should understand the sign’s message within 5 seconds.

• Stick to one or two fonts and minimal graphics.

• Leave plenty of white space for better readability.

📌 Tip: Simplicity = impact. Less is more when it comes to signage.

6. Ignoring Viewing Distance & Placement

❌ The Mistake:

• Placing signage in low-visibility areas (behind obstacles, too high, or too low).

• Making text too small to be seen from a distance.

• Poor lighting, making the sign difficult to read at night.

✅ How to Avoid It:

• Place signs at eye level in high-traffic areas.

• Use larger font sizes for long-distance readability.

• Consider illuminated signage or LED backlighting for 24/7 visibility.

📌 Tip: Test signage visibility by standing at different distances and angles before finalizing placement.

Final Thoughts

A great sign is more than just a design – it’s a powerful marketing tool that drives traffic, reinforces branding, and improves customer experience. By avoiding these common signage mistakes, you ensure that your signage is clear, effective, and professional.

Need High-Quality Signage? Cora Graphics Has You Covered!

At Cora Graphics, we create custom, high-impact signage tailored to your business needs. Whether you need shop signs, construction signage, vehicle graphics, or window displays, we’ll help you design signage that works.

📞 Contact us today for expert signage solutions!