Don’t let warning signs turn blind—talk about those unforgettable blackboard design tips

Hey, I wonder if you have had such an experience? When walking on a construction site, there is clearly a "Beware of Falling" sign, but the words are as small as ants and the color is so gray that you can't see it clearly unless you get close. Or the "Slip with Care" sign in the mall is quite "artistic" in design, with twists and turns. Who has time to think about it in an emergency? This kind of warning sign is, to put it bluntly, just a decoration. It really fails at critical moments.

I have been doing this for a long time, and I feel more and more that warning signs are really not just about getting a board and writing a few words. They must first be "impatient and bad-tempered" - they must forcibly catch other people's eyes within a second and say "Danger!" ”This signal is hammered into people's brains, and it has to be a "teacher who can't speak". No matter who comes, no matter when, he can explain the rules clearly.

So how can it be done? Let’s not talk about those high-level theories today, but just talk about a few of the most practical “blackboard design” methods.

The first one is also an iron rule: Clearer than the sky.  Don't mess with those fancy fonts, such as elegant Song fonts and elegant running scripts, which are basically "suicidal behavior" on warning signs. Look for square fonts with thick strokes such as bold and variety fonts. They look solid and powerful, and the font size cannot be stingy. You have to choose it according to the viewing distance and make sure it is far away, so that the core warning message can pop into your eyes. Think about those signs on the highway, why are the fonts so big? This allows you to react in time even when the car is going very fast.

The second point is to play with colors and graphics, which is an internationally accepted "language".  The four safety colors of red, yellow, blue, and green each have their own tempers. Red means "Stop!" prohibit! Danger! ”, like fire extinguishers and prohibition signs, you must use it to suppress the battle. Yellow (or yellow and black diagonal stripes) means "Attention!" Be careful! ”, reminding you that there are pits, electricity, and risks of collision. Blue means "must comply", such as wearing a safety helmet. ； Green is the guide for "safe passages" and "first aid points". If you use these colors correctly, even people who are illiterate can understand the colors at least 70%. Coupled with those standardized small icons, an exclamation mark, a lightning bolt, and a skull, it is more direct than a thousand words.

Article 3: Information should be classified into different categories, and don’t create a “big pot”.  What's the most important message on a sign? Put it in the largest and most conspicuous position, and high-voltage dangers are prohibited." Then "high-voltage dangers" are Wang Zha, who debuted in the C position. Secondary explanatory text can be placed below, with a smaller font size. The most fearful thing is that the priority is not distinguished, and they are piled up so densely that everyone will be confused after looking at them, and they will not remember anything.

Article 4: You have to consider the "place" where it stays.  Indoor or outdoor? Is the light bright or dark? Is the background complex or clean? In a dark garage, you have to use high-brightness reflective materials. When the car lights shine on them, they will glow by themselves. Outdoors in the wind and sun, the materials must not only be durable, but the color must also be UV-resistant. Otherwise, who will take it seriously if it fades into a "gentle pink" in two years? For warning signs installed on mechanical equipment, the size and fixation method must be particular, so as not to affect the operation, and must be resistant to oil pollution.

After all, when designing a good warning sign, you must always keep in mind the person who is "the most hurried, the least careful, and even a little panicked." It is not a work of the designer to show off his skills, but a "fuse" and "life-saving talisman" at critical moments. It does not need to be beautiful, but it must be "rough" and effective enough. ； It does not need to be very literary, but it must be like a nail to "wedge" the concept of security into everyone's consciousness.

Next time you see those warning signs that are designed to be clear and instantly alert, you might as well give its designer a thumbs up in your heart. They are not cold industrial products, but a safe and heavy care for strangers. And the extra thought and effort we put into design and production are all for this. After all, safety cannot be taken too seriously, right?