Why Do Some Signs Catch Your Eye: Find Out

Eye-catching business signs are great at helping you to catch the attention of potential customers and clients. But, what makes a sign truly stand out from the rest?

Think about the last time you saw a sign that caught your eye. What about it made you want to head on into that business?

Shape

You might think of eye-catching business signs in terms of poster or billboard size, but a simple yard sign can be just as effective at attracting customers. Yard signs, especially those that feature contrasting colors and fonts, draw the eyes and pique the interest of passersby. This is because they work on the principle that the human brain processes visuals based on their color, shape and contrast.

Whether you’re selling fresh, hand-painted sweet corn at your roadside stand or offering a seasonal greenhouse experience on your farm, a colorful business sign is sure to grab the attention of potential customers, says Bart Peterschick. Having negative space on your signage is also important to allow the viewer’s eyes a chance to reset for a moment and avoid being overwhelmed with information.

Signs with a circular, square or rectangular shape tend to convey stability or security. For example, traffic signs with a circle shape often display warnings and signals. Square or rectangular traffic signs communicate speed limits, parking regulations and mandatory movements (e.g., lane must turn right).

Pentagon-shaped signs, however, are a rarity and only used to indicate school crossings or railroad tracks. One theory as to why the school crossing sign uses this shape is that it unconsciously activates a part of your brain that monitors movement. This is why it works so well, as studies have shown that signs with a high level of dynamics grab your attention up to a full second earlier than those without.

If you’ve ever felt that soul connection with someone through their eyes, it’s likely because of the intense and exciting feelings that eye contact can evoke. It’s no wonder that eye contact love signals are known as the “soulmate connection eyes and heart.” Just imagine how powerful and awe-inducing it would be to see a sign with that same feeling of longing and desire!

Text

A person’s eyes are one of the biggest signs of attraction. If they hold prolonged eye contact with you in a crowd or at a candlelit dinner for two, it’s usually a good sign that they are interested in you.

When a person texts you to keep the conversation going or to send you photos of cute dogs, it could mean they’re interested in you. This is why some people use text as a secret weapon for seduction.

Contrast

Contrast is the difference between two things. The most obvious form of contrast is a visual one, such as black and white or the play of complementary colors like blue and orange. It can also be the difference in texture, shape or size. For instance, a doctor who wears a Motorhead T-shirt under his lab coat would contrast with his colleagues wearing business suits.

The word contrast is closely related to the words collate and compare, but it has a slightly different nuance. Whereas collate and compare aim to set items side by side in order to note similarities and differences, contrast places an emphasis on highlighting the differences between the two items.

It is well-known that the human brain is able to distinguish patterns more easily and quickly if there is sufficient contrast between the pattern and its background. This is why so many signs use high contrast colors, such as a bright yellow to draw attention to important information or warnings. The same principle applies to other aspects of the world around us, such as the difference between a shady alley and a brightly lit shopping mall.