144: Thou shall design signage layouts to be read, not just seen

Commentary There are few designers who do not like small type. Rarely do clients ask to make the type or their logo smaller. Smaller type appears more delicate and provides more negative space, aesthetically appealing results. But type that is too small is not functional. Signs are a perfect example of this problem. Signage must be readable, not simply aesthetically appealing. In the midst of a fire, the viewer, even a designer, will not stop to appreciate the delicate typography and refined white space of an evacuation map—he or she just wants to find the stairs as fast as possible. This requires typography and iconography to be large enough to be read quickly, and from a distance. The contrast of the message on the background must be strong. The l....SA