‘Building signage’ is a pretty broad term in its own right, and one that might invite a bit of confusion on your part. If you’re commissioning signage, then specificity is your friend, so it helps to not only understand the types of signage at your disposal but also know how to communicate your choice to the studio you’re working with.

To that end, let’s spend a minute getting familiar with your building signage options. We’ll introduce you to some of the most popular styles of building signage, then guide you in choosing the right one for your needs.

Popular Building Signage Options:

Storefront signs

These are the classic, front-facing signs that tell everyone passing by exactly who you are and what you do. Storefront signs come in all shapes and sizes, but the core purpose is always the same: visibility. You might opt for flat panels, illuminated boxes, acrylic lettering, or custom-cut shapes.

If your shop relies on walk-ins or a strong street presence, then a storefront sign is pretty much vital. It needs to be bold, legible, and true to your brand. Most business owners underestimate the impact they can have, so it pays to work closely with your signage team on colour contrast, font choice, and placement to get them 100% right.

Architectural signs

Architectural signage is similar to storefront signage, but it blends into a building’s form and materials. Instead of being applied onto the building, it’s designed to feel like it was built along with the building. These signs often emphasise premium materials such as brushed aluminium, routed panels, or folded metalwork.

They’re a favourite for businesses who want something timeless, elevated. This is the kind of sign you get if your building has strong design features and you want to complement them for the sake of atmosphere.

Wayfinding sings

Next stop on the most popular building signage tour is wayfinding signage. It might not be the most glamorous entry, but these are essential (especially for larger buildings). Wayfinding signage tells your customers where they are and where they’re going, from the simple stuff to important checkpoints like your checkout counter.

Great wayfinding signage is, counterintuitively, invisible. When it works, no one gets lost or confused, but it’s also not the star of the show. Clear icons, consistent typography, and high-contrast colours make them easy to read from across a crowded store.

While this might not be the flashiest part of your signage ecosystem, it’s probably the one that people will appreciate the most.

Dimensional lettering

Finally, dimensional lettering can give your brand a bit more presence. Instead of being printed flat on a panel, your name or logo is built as three-dimensional elements (usually from aluminium, acrylic, or powder-coated steel).

There’s a subtle, but powerful effect at play with dimensional building signage. There’s depth, shadow, a higher-end feel without necessarily becoming overly flashy.

Now, that’s not all the building signage on offer, but they are some of the most popular options for a reason. They’re all great at securing attention from passing customers on the street or helping them find their way around your space. Not to mention, they’re all quite adaptable in terms of available designs and lettering.

Once you know what’s out there and have a clear picture of your brand, the next step is to make a call. So, let’s unpack that next.

How to choose the right building signage:

There’s one question at the centre of your choice: what do you want you sign to do?

If the goal is to ensure your business is visible from the street, focus on creating a sign that’s clear and legible from a distance. Something pedestrians and drivers can interpret instantly. If you want to do that while elevating your branding, an architectural or dimensional option may be a better fit.

Then, you might also want to consider the building itself. Your signage should enhance the space, so consider how it will blend in with the façade. A modern façade might call for sleek, minimal lettering; a heritage building may suit bolder panel signage or warm-toned metals.

Of course, your budget also plays a role here, and it’s perfectly fine to be upfront about it. More than fine, in fact. Many signage studios (ours included) can offer the same design vision across a few different material options to help keep your costs in check without compromising your brand’s look.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is bring your signage team as much information as possible. Bring photos of your building, rough measurements if you have them, examples of other signage you like, and a clear sense of your brand voice. The clearer that brief is, the better we can deliver on the building signage your brand deserves.

Create top-notch building signage with The Sign Studio!

We’re a team of on-pulse creatives ready to take your brief and translate it into the perfect signage. Get in touch with the Sign Studio team to get designing today.