Best Way to Design Digital Signage

Designing digital signage can be a daunting task, but a well-designed digital display can be a powerful tool in engaging your customers and driving sales. Whether you are designing a digital menu board, informational screens, or promotional displays, the principles of good design apply. In this blog article, we’ll dive into the key elements of designing digital signage.

1. Keep it Simple

When designing digital signage, simplicity is key. A cluttered and busy screen can overwhelm your audience and distract from your message. Stick to one message per screen, and limit the amount of text, images, and video. Use clear, concise, and easy-to-read fonts, and avoid decorative fonts that can be challenging to read from a distance.

2. Size and Scale

When designing digital signage, size and scale matter. Depending on the location and placement of your signage, you may need to opt for bigger text sizes to ensure that it’s legible. A general rule is to take the average age and visual ability of your target audience into account when deciding on the font size.

3. Contrast

Good use of contrast can help your digital signage stand out and grab the attention of your audience. When selecting colors for your signage, think about color contrast and ensure that your message is clearly visible. Using light text against a dark background or dark texts against a light background can improve readability.

4. Use Images and Videos

Images and videos are powerful tools that are vital in captivating the attention of your audience. When selecting images and videos, choose high-quality visuals that are relevant to your message and brand. Ensure that your images and videos are clear, well-lit, and high resolution for optimal display.

5. Easy Navigation

If you are designing a digital menu board or an interactive display, it is essential to make your design easy to navigate. Keep your design consistent throughout all the pages, and avoid cramming too much information on one screen. Your customers should be able to find what they’re looking for easily and intuitively.

6. Brand Consistency

Your digital signage should always be an extension of your brand. Consistency in your design reinforces your brand identity and creates brand recognition. Use the right colors, logos, and fonts that align with your brand guidelines.

7. Take Viewing Distance into Account

Viewing distance is a critical factor when designing digital signage. Consider the distance your audience will be from the screen, which will determine the size and resolution of your design elements. Use larger fonts and graphics for screens located at a great distance, and lower resolutions for screens viewed up-close.

8. Placement and Location

When designing your digital signage, you must consider where and how it will be displayed. Ensure that your digital signage matches the size and shape of your display, as well as its placement. A landscape display may not work well for a digital menu board that is displayed in a portrait format. Consider the location of your digital signage and the placement of items such as cables and mounting hardware, so they aren’t in the direct view of your audience.

9. Test Your Design

Once your design is complete, it is essential to test it before launching it in real-time. Test the screen in different lighting conditions to ensure optimal legibility, testing the displays from different angles and distances. Get feedback from your team or customers on how well your digital signage communicates your intended message.

10. Keep it Fresh

Regularly updating your digital signage is necessary, especially if you are using it to promote products or services. Schedule regular updates to keep your content fresh and engaging, and avoid displaying outdated information. It is also a perfect opportunity to update your design and keep the look of your displays up-to-date.

In conclusion, designing effective digital signage involves a good understanding of your target audience, viewing distances, location, and brand identity. Keep your design simple, legible, eye-catching, and consistently aligned with your brand. Testing and updating your design regularly ensures your digital signage remains fresh and engaging, ultimately resulting in effective communication of your intended message while engaging with and driving your target audience towards profitable action.

11. Use the Best Software

Let us give you a final best tip. Use professional graphical software to design your content. Start with Microsoft PowerPoint for most users, or use something like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator when you are a more professional users. And then even PowerPoint is better to do this job because the slideshow is your story-telling, with animations. Don’t fall for so called specific digital signage software. It does not exist and is very limited. Remember that PowerPoint is most likely all you need. And you probably have it installed on your computer.

A PowerPoint presentation consists of multiple slides. You can add information like texts, pictures and videos, with and without animations. You can set how long each slide is shown, and in between slides, you can use great transitions. And the best advantage is: if you have a typo, or when you want to change the price of a product or promotion, everyone can access your PowerPoint and change the price in a textbox. Don’t make it difficult.