A Guide to Designing Your Own Safety Sign
Standard safety signs are designed to be used in a variety of different environments. Using universal colours and symbols, they convey clear messages which can be interpreted to suit each individual setting. Because of this, we have a wide range of styles and designs available on the Lasting Impressions website. From Fire Safety signs through to General Safety Signs, we’re confident that our comprehensive range has something for everyone.
Regardless of this, there are situations where the right sign is seemingly unavailable. Perhaps this is in relation to a very specific, niche environment. Or perhaps it’s for an unusual hazard that keeps showing itself in your workplace. One of the most important things to us as a business is to help support other companies in the management of health and safety. This is why we offer a ‘Design A Sign’ service. In this guide, we’ll talk you through the process and help you to identify ways to design the right signage for your needs.
What is ‘Design A Sign’
Lasting Impressions is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of safety signs. We recognise their significant importance in the workplace. Our ‘Design A Sign’ service does exactly what it says on the label. It allows you to design your own sign, to fit your exact needs. Manufactured with the same keen attention to detail as the other signs available on our website, this service allows you to:
- Customise branding.
- Customise message.
- Create time-sensitive signs for events.
- Maintain safety in unique and challenging environments.
- Protect safety at all costs.
We have created an online process that supports you during the design of your sign. It is there to make this process easy and simple - an effective way of producing signs that work. Let’s go over the different areas of customisation that are available with this service.
Type
All safety signs serve a purpose. They are there to provide information, warnings, and advice to minimise the risk of injury. When designing your sign, establishing its purpose is the first step. What actions do you want the reader to take? There are 5 sign types available in our system which include:
- Prohibition - Do you want to prevent an action from taking place?
- Warning - Do you want to warn the reader about a potential hazard?
- Mandatory - Do you need to provide mandatory information to staff and visitors to help them remain safe?
- Emergency/First Aid - Do you need to provide first aid information or advice on how to act in the event of an emergency?
- Fire Safety - Do you need to advise on fire safety information to help in the event of a fire?
Corners
For all of our signs, you have the option of two different corner types - straight or rounded. The choice here is purely aesthetic. You just need to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Material
Next, consider the material that you wish your safety sign to be manufactured from. Take into account where it will be displayed - indoors or outdoors? On a permanent surface or a temporary one? What maintenance will it receive? Will you be able to use strong chemicals to remove dirt or are you limited to the cleaning materials? You also need to consider how you need the sign to perform and whether it has vital information that needs to be read in low-light or dim environments. The options we have available for our custom-made signs include:
- Self-Adhesive Vinyl - Easy-to-install without any additional installation equipment.
- 1mm Plastic - Durable and hard-wearing option for use inside and outside.
- 5mm Foamex - A PVC board that is both rigid and lightweight.
- Alupanel - Composite sheet with polythene core sandwiched between aluminium skins.
- Photoluminescent Plastic - Finished with a glow-in-a-dark top layer that glows in low light conditions.
Orientation
We offer two orientation options - landscape and portrait. The right choice for you depends on visibility, available space for installation, and your individual requirements.
Size
The size of your sign, again, depends on a number of visibility factors. These include low-light situations, viewing distance, and the other signs around your building. Our suggestions for size versus viewing distance are below:
| Viewing Distance | Ideal Landscape Sign Size | Ideal Portrait Sign Size |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 meters | 300mm x 100mm | 200mm x 300mm |
| Up to 15 meters | 450mm x 100mm | 300mm x 400mm |
| Up to 20 meters | 600mm x 200mm | 400mm x 600mm |
To meet your needs, we offer a wide variety of size options to fit your needs. These include:
Portrait:
- 450mm x 600mm.
- 300mm x 400mm.
- 200mm x 300mm.
- 150mm x 200mm.
Landscape:
- 600mm x 450mm.
- 400mm x 300mm.
- 300mm x 200mm.
- 200mm x 150mm.
- 600mm x 200mm.
- 450mm x 150mm.
- 300mm x 100mm.
Symbol
The best signs have clear and concise symbols that visually explain the message it needs to portray. This combined with your own customised text can be used to reduce the risk of injury, minimise the intensity of a hazard and provide instructions, where needed. Our expert team is on hand to help you create concise wording and symbols that prevent information from being misunderstood.
At Lasting Impressions, we understand the unique needs of safety signs and businesses across a wide spectrum. That’s why we provide the ‘Design A Sign’ service - to ensure you have the tools to manage hazards and risks at all times. On our website, you can design and download the sign in advance to placing any orders. This gives you the opportunity to review the design and discuss potential changes with the rest of your team.
Visit our ‘Design A Sign’ landing page and make your way through each section to create a sign that perfectly fits your needs. If you need any support, guidance, or have any questions, get in contact with our team who are always here to help.