The Superhero In High-Quality Signage

The capability of signage to fight crimes has often been underrated, maybe because they’re immobile signs which don’t really mean anything. Or are they?

A research conducted by the Public Library of Science in 2012 suggested that good quality signage in commercial centers in the city were able to decrease street mugging by as much as 62% in experimental locations. Since then, concerned authorities have started investing in them, and so have some private show owners and marketers.

When we say high-quality signage, we mean that anyone who lays his/her eyes on the digital screen or poster does not lift off without a feeling of security or concern (depending on whether you are the thief or the victim). Such signage has some important elements which need to be catered to.

1. Words and Visuals
This is a combination that you will have to deploy for maximum effectiveness. Sometimes signs can be a little difficult to understand, and it can be tougher to interpret something you are looking at for a mere 2 seconds. Similarly, random words scribbled on the wall will attract no one towards them.
Having a bold sign with clarity and a message on the side which states “you are being watched”, for example, can be quite devastating for any wrongdoer, and act as your first layer of defense.

2. Involve Security Forces
Anything with an official outlook naturally looks a lot more serious compared to rhetoric with strong language alone. In your area, you will certainly have security forces which operate on a daily basis, and you must contact them and ask them for permission to use their name/logo/motto to be placed on the signage along with the message.
This sends out the message that the police force in that area operates very actively, and that any attempt to cause discomfort to an individual on streets will be met with severe consequences. Such devastation can, in turn, hold back crime rates.

3. Bold Colors
What color comes to your mind when we say aggression? Suddenly not calm blue with sunny yellow and brush of light green; you probably think of dark crimson color or pitch-black color which can have a lasting impact on the minds of those who feel crime is easy to commit. Make the language as clear and bold as possible and use a strong blend of black and red to scare off the unwanted.
The impact such colors have on the mind is one of fear and confusion, which is why they should be your first choice for the messages and most of the signage.

4. Orientation and Placement
How effective do you think a sign will be in the back alley of your restaurant where nobody except your staff goes to work?
They will obviously be of no use, and you will have to work harder to find a place where you can do justice to the sign and its message. Keep them lit on places where people roam around and spend a considerable amount of time in so that they reach out to the ones they must.