Carpe Diem – Seize the Day

Monday morning as I was rushing on the way to a VERY important meeting – with my doctor – I noticed a sign which got me laughing, because of the unintended message of the design, and gave me some material for a – this – blog article.

Being in a RUSH I never thought to stop the car and take a photo. I did however tell the doc about the sign. On Tuesday morning I figured I would go past and take a photo to share with everyone, with the point being to explain WHY, when it comes to signage, not every designer is equal. [Signs generally SHOULD be designed by people who understand signs, as what you see on paper and what you see when it is BLOWN UP for a sign, what you see may, and often does, differ drastically.]

Tuesday came and went before I had a chance to get the photo, and I was not in the area on Wednesday, so I made a plan to make a specific trip on Thursday, and lo and behold, when I arrived the sign in question was no longer there. DAMN!

OK, so my thinking on the blog topic had to change – as it has had to on many issues this year, especially with reference to making money – and the change was the ‘topic’ to HOW DID I MISS IT!. An the then it dawned on me, I did not seize the day.

Research has shown that, especially when we are busy or distracted, we do not take the time to LIVE life. We get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget to LIVE them.

Like I found I need to, I am suggesting you SLOW down folks. Take the time to smell the roses, and enjoy life. Before you look around the sign will be moved and the opportunity lost.

This is summed up brilliantly by the honorable Dalai Lama.

Should you require any signs or advice on signs, or if there is any specific sign related topic you would like me to cover please email SignForce now on arnold@signforce.co.za or call the office on +27 11 444 3331 to see how we can serve you.

Some clarity on SANRAL and E-TAGS

Hi All.

This post is a ‘public interest’ post for all South African’s.

Attached is what I believe to be the best, objective view of the e-tag system I have seen to date. It is written by Deon Botha of Botha Attorneys, and arrived via email.  I am using it without prior authorization.

Personally I do not believe in buying into ANYTHING that has to be SOLD so hard. Also wonder who is paying for all the SANRAL costs.  The attached article states that SANRAL is STATE OWNED, but then how is it that the shares are held in Austria, as has been published.

My advice – DO NOT REGISTER.

To read now click on this link etolls

Getting a sign ‘HEARD’ above all other ‘NOISE’

Each one of us is supposedly bombarded by millions of stimuli on a daily basis, much of which is ‘lost‘ through a wonderful feature known as ‘FILTERING’, which removes information that we do not ‘see’ as immediately relevant or beneficial.

Signs often fall into this category, as unless the viewer is looking for your product, service or store, their filters will delegate your visual advertising to file 13.

There are two thoughts as to how to overcome filters. One is constant change. The other is simplicity.

Constant change requires that the sign colour, shape and message change on a regular basis – which today can be achieved by using flat screen monitors on a shop front as a sign.

The other, possibly more effective from both a cost and memory perspective, is simplicity.

A simple sign means that the message is clear and there is a large contrast between the background and the message. The larger the contrast, and the clearer the message, meaning the greater the possibility that the sign will be seen and remembered amongst all the ‘noise’.

Should you require any signs or advice on signs, or if there is any specific sign related topic you would like me to cover please email SignForce now on arnold@signforce.co.za or call the office on +27 11 444 3331 to see how we can serve you.