Project Overview
The goal of this project was to create a highly visible yard sign for a candidate running for state representative. The client provided the initial concept, including the idea of using a simple hill outline as a visual play on the candidate’s last name, along with specific requirements for an 18 × 24-inch sign, a blue-and-white color palette, and a white border. The primary audience was local voters who would encounter the sign while driving or walking through the community, making readability and quick recognition essential.
My role was to translate the client’s concept into a polished and effective visual design. I developed the hill graphic, established the typography and hierarchy, and refined the placement of the candidate’s name and “STATE REP” messaging. The project went through several rounds of revisions as I worked with the client to refine the design and ensure the final sign accurately represented their vision. The final design uses strong blue-and-white contrast, large typography, and a simple composition to create a memorable sign that can be easily read from a distance.
Yard Sign
My Design Process
Step One: Empathize
Reviewed the client’s concept and requirements to understand their vision for the campaign sign and how it needed to function for local voters.
Step Two: Define
Established the key requirements, including the 18 × 24-inch format, two-color palette, white border, hill graphic, and highly readable candidate information.
Step Three: Ideate
Explored ways to translate the client’s hill concept into a clean graphic while determining the most effective typography, hierarchy, and placement for the campaign messaging.
Step Four: Prototype
Created the initial sign design in Adobe Illustrator, developing the hill graphic and organizing the candidate’s name and “STATE REP” messaging into a clear visual hierarchy.
Step Five: Test
Worked through multiple rounds of client feedback and revisions to refine the hill graphic, typography, spacing, and overall composition until the design closely matched the client’s vision. I would also print and evaluate the final design at full scale to ensure it remains readable from typical roadside viewing distances.