How to design the perfect veterinary sign

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After the clever, ever-changing sign at Eau Gallie Veterinary Hospital (above) in Melbourne, Fla., recently went viral, we started thinking-what makes a veterinary hospital sign successful? We put Wayne Usiak, AIA, a senior partner of BDA Architecture in Albuquerque, N.M., on the case. Click the Next button for the top three signs of a good sign.

Photo courtesy of Eau Gallie Veterinary Hospital

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1. Avoid a font frenzy. It's tempting to go for the Curlz font because it's just so darn cute-but resist the urge. “Select a simple font for readability and then make the words as large as possible,” Usiak says. “The worst thing people do is get fancy with their fonts.”

Photo courtesy of Wayne Usiak

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2. Light it up. To get the most out of your veterinary hospital sign, choose one that can light up at night so potential clients can spot it around the clock. “Make that sign work 24/7,” Usiak says. “There are no sign labor laws.”

Photo by Thomas Winter, Thomas Winter Photography

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3. Choose a strategic spot. If clients can't see your sign from the road, you have a problem. Usiak says it's ideal to place a freestanding sign near the busiest street of your clinic and then follow-up with signage on the outside of your hospital. “The building forms a great visual backdrop for the sign,” he says.

Photo courtesy of Wayne Usiak