Digital Signpost Design
Primary 6 · Creative Arts
Digital Signpost Design
Lesson 3 of 4
20 min
Let's begin
On Open Day, a visitor arrives at the school gate. "Where is the head teacher's office?" she asks Mutesi. Five minutes later another visitor asks the same question, and then another.
"We need a signpost!" says Mutesi. But what makes a signpost that everyone can read in one quick look?
A signpost is a sign fixed on a post or a wall that gives people information quickly. People often read it from far away, or while they are walking, cycling or riding in a bus, so they have only a second or two.
Both signs give the same message. Only one of them works. A good signpost has:
Many signs around the world use colours in the same way: red for stop or danger, yellow for "be careful", blue for instructions and information, and green for directions and safety. Use the language your readers know. In Rwanda, many signs use Kinyarwanda, English or French.
This direction sign stands beside the main road from Kigali to Muhanga.
Tip
Few words, big letters, strong contrast, a clear arrow
Test your sign with the "three-second look": show it to a friend for three seconds from the back of the room. Can they tell you what it says?
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
Why must a signpost be quick to read?
Answer: People often read it from far away or while moving, so they have only a second or two.
Name two things that make the letters on a signpost easy to read.
Answer: Any two of: big letters, bold letters, a simple style such as block or sans serif letters, few words, strong contrast with the board.
Gatete wants a sign that shows the way to the football pitch. What should he add besides the words?
Answer: An arrow pointing the way, and perhaps a ball symbol.
Which is easier to read from far away: yellow letters on a white board, or white letters on a dark blue board? Why?
Answer: White on dark blue, because it has much stronger contrast.
Make it: Walk around your school or village and find three signs. Sketch one that works well and one that could be better, and write what you would change.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The rest of the lesson, the diagrams and the exercises (Try it yourself and the practice questions) are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Match each kind of sign to an example.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
