As we enter into the home stretch of the 2020 campaign season, candidates from all over New Bern are attending last-minute rallies and other meet-and-greet events.
However, there’s still time left to throw up a few extra political campaign signs that just might push you over the top.
At AlphaGraphics of New Bern, we spoke with our graphic designers and got a few of their tips on designing the perfect campaign sign that will yield the best results. Feel free to use these tips or if you’re in a hurry, give us a call or stop on by and we’ll design it for you.
Common Mistakes
Before we talk about what you should do, we want to emphasize what you shouldn’t do. After all, your candidacy is on the line, and you need every advantage possible. One of the biggest mistakes we’ve noticed when candidates design their own signs are trying to fit too much information in a small space.
Car drivers and pedestrians aren’t going to take the time needed to manually digest and read a novel’s worth of information on a sign by the roadway. So, pick one message you want to convey, bold it, and keep it simple. Otherwise, you’ll wind up confusing and even turning off people.
Another common mistake we see is when candidates use colors that are not complimentary. This results in a hard-to-read sign that is an actual eyesore. A free service, such as Canva, will provide you with a color wheel and some advice on colors that work well together.
Choose the Right Sign
While you might opt for the tried-and-true 18” x 24” yard sign, consider where you will place it. For example, if the street it resides on has traffic driving by at a high rate of speed, there’s a good chance it’s too small to read, even by cars sitting at the stoplight.
In this situation, opt for a much bigger sign to reach a greater number of people. Keep the smaller ones relegated to places where pedestrians and slower vehicle traffic can see them more easily.
Choose the Right Color
Keep in mind that you should not only select complementary colors, but they should also have good contrast. For many candidates, the colors red, white, and blue are standard. However, be careful how you use them.
For example, if you have a blue background with red text and only a small amount of white text, that’s bad contrast. The human eye will have a hard time picking up on the individual words and the design.
A much better way to arrange the colors is to have a majority white background, with a small blue bar not taking up much more than 15% of the total space. Use the color red for the words you want to emphasize—you can always break it up by making an alternating word blue.
Choose Your Fonts Wisely
When it comes to fonts, both the size and font type play a crucial role in readability. Many experts have stated that when it comes to font size, a 1” letter is usually visible from thirty feet or less when driving—fifty feet when walking. When in doubt, ask one of the experts at AlphaGraphics New Bern.
You should never use certain font types for a sign. To list them all would require a secondary blog post. To keep it simple, refrain from using overly decorative fonts.
Easy to read fonts that are bolded that have minimal serifs tend to work best. Keep in mind that some people in life have dyslexia—and there are special fonts out there that you can use to help ensure those people can easily read your sign.
Choose the Right Layout
Now that you’ve got your sign message, font(s), and color(s) selected, it’s time to put it all together to create an effective campaign sign. The general rule of thumb is to have 40% content and 60% negative space.
This allows for the human eye to focus on your message—and only your message. Try to minimize overly flowery or complicated designs. A political sign should instantly convey a message intended to cause the individual to remember your name when casting their vote.
Political Campaign Sign and Marketing Help in New Bern
It’s critically important to incorporate the above considerations when designing a political campaign sign. At AlphaGraphics of New Bern, we’ve helped many political candidates over the years design and create the perfect campaign sign.
If you have any questions about political signs and marketing for the greater New Bern area, give us a call. To learn more about how AlphaGraphics of New Bern can produce and design your next project, you may
email us,
request a quote, or call us at
(252) 633-3199.