Interesting Facts On History Of Signs

It may appear shocking but the history of signs predates written language. From the start of life, mankind has tried to store data in the form of signs.

1. Earliest evidence of sign usage was found by Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals. You can observe their drawings on the internet.
2. Fast forward to medieval ages, Greeks and Romans made signs of stones and terra cotta and used imagery more than texts. Maybe they had figured out that not everyone can read and humans are more of visual oriented creatures. Their signs depicted different shapes for different businesses such as for taverns and for workshops. Similarly, pagans are known to use symbols of sun and moon in their drawings.
3. In 1389, King Richard III of England approved a law. According to this law, entities selling ‘drinks’ will put up a sign in front of the building. Initially, the signs appeared helpful and utilitarian but with the advent of time, signs started including colors, logos and different shapes.
4. With time businesses realized the importance of free market and felt the need of more competitive logos, in order to dominate the local market.
5. 17th and 18th centuries saw a peak of signage industry in which signs were made from hand carved wood, wrought iron (best quality of iron) and gold leafing.
6. Establishments feared that too much signs inside a city will become nuisance as roads of urban cities were small and physical signs were taking a large space. As a result, ordnances were passed which ordered signs to be either removed or placed against a wall.
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History of Road Signs
The first modern vehicle was built in 1886 and American company, Ford Model T released cars for general public in 1908 however, the US government waited till 1922 to put up modern road signs. The first modern road signs were put according to following suggestions:

• Round signs for railroad crossings
• Octagon signs will indicate stop sign
• Diamond signs indicate curves on a path
• Square means caution

And,

• Rectangle denotes speed limit signs
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Digital Signage Industry
With the invention of computer, now horizons of sign development were opened. Now, thanks to graphic designing, digital signage industry has taken an integral part of 21st century corporate marketing. The physical signs which used a lot of raw materials, inventory, space and effort can now be made through helpful video tutorials, even by a non-technical person.
If a person finds a mistake in one of the designs, editing a sign is a piece of cake. The world has seen its fair share of physical sign industry and is now opting to get aboard the virtual world.
Affordable electricity and common technology has launched sign industry to explore platforms of AR, VR and 3D tech.
Experts, estimate that the sign industry of today is at least of worth 50 billion dollars, annually. It is indeed a miracle that what started as mere data collection by ancient human beings is now a source of earning bread and butter for countless individuals, all around the globe.