Monument Sign Design for Commercial Properties

A monument sign can be one of the most impactful signs for a new business. When talking about a monument sign with your sign company, depending on what region of the country you’re in, it could have several different names, including a monument sign, a ground sign, a marquee sign, or a pylon sign. In general, what all of these signs have in common is that they are freestanding structures by the road that advertise your business.

Monument sign design can be a unique opportunity to draw people’s attention to your business, so designing an impactful sign is crucial. Most sign companies will have at least one designer on staff who can assist the sales team in creating a monument sign that will best serve your needs. As you work with your salesperson, here are a couple of things to keep in mind that will allow your monument sign not only to identify your business, but also to stand out against your competition.

Most municipalities will have guidelines on the design of your monument sign. Usually, the city would like your sign to blend into the surroundings and complement the rest of the shopping center. However, for a sign to be impactful, it also needs to stand out. This is where having an experienced designer and an experienced sales executive can make all the difference.

For more than 60 years, Bootz & Duke has designed, building, and installed monument signs that fit your site, your architecture, and your brand. Here are a few of the things we do to try to meet that balance.

In general, you want your monument sign to be as tall as the local sign code allows. Not only does this allow your sign to be visible above any landscaping that may be placed around it, but it also allows your advertising copy to be at eye level or higher, which is the natural viewing area of most drivers.

To meet the city’s requirements for blending into the rest of the development, your sign designer can select similar colors and materials that complement the building. One of my favorite things to do is find the most unique architectural aspects of the building and incorporate them into the sign.

Allowing tenant copy to be a color that stands out from the rest of the display can draw a potential customer’s eye without taking away from the overall aesthetic of your sign. When designing any sign, contrast is key. If your sign is going to be a light earth-tone color to match the surrounding area, your tenant copy should be darker, and it should be illuminated to help it stand out at night.

If you want to see how lighting and materials come together, take a look at some of our clients’ monument sign projects. Our completed monument sign at Cross Church in Surprise, AZ is a good example. Another is Sunrise Promenade at the southeast corner of Lake Pleasant Parkway and Happy Valley Road.

When allowed, a uniquely shaped sign can not only advertise your business, but also become a landmark in the community. This is a great idea for a freestanding business with a unique service. One example of this design technique would be if your business is a coffee shop, you could have the monument sign shaped like a cup of coffee. With this approach, the entire sign and its shape easily identify what type of service your business provides.

Another idea that is not used as much anymore, but is still incredibly effective, is adding a simple clock or thermometer to your sign. By adding a small feature like this, people’s eyes naturally look for your sign to check the current time or temperature. This feature can easily be added to your monument sign using a digital display.

A well-designed monument sign does more than mark your location. It works for you every day, pulling attention from passing traffic and helping people remember where you are.

If you’re planning a new location or updating your exterior signage, it’s worth spending the time to get the design right.

I hope these ideas spark your creativity and illustrate how important the design of your monument sign can be. If you need any assistance with your sign design, our team of highly experienced sales executives and designers is here to help you create a monument sign that not only identifies your business, but also draws customers to your front door.