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@Kwintarget, the author of the viral Twitter thread, agreed that fonts are important tools when making signs. "However, a readable and understandable sign will do better. You can dip humor and be a little extra, works for some."
He told Bored Panda that as a content creator, he tries to be versatile and touches upon a wide range of different topics. "I don’t stick to only one topic, let’s say movies."
"Of course, it’s not always about comedy, it could be educational and inspirational like the thread I made about mirrors and cameras," the content creator said.
"I’m also original. I don’t steal my ideas from other people's threads. I’m quite knowledgeable with a little bit of research to make it work."
Bored Panda was curious about the kind of impact that humor has on the public when it's featured in everyday spaces, e.g. in the form of witty signs. Comedy writer Ariane told us that this can actually help the locals feel better.
"I think most people greatly appreciate humor. It lifts our spirits, relaxes us, and provides a moment of escapism," she said that there are a ton of benefits that come from having a laugh (or two!).
"It's also largely unexpected in everyday public spaces so gives us some welcome respite from the dull norm," she said that humor can pack an extra punch when we least expect it and help us take a break from ruminating on our daily grind.
The comedy writer shared some tips on how to make your sign pack a punch and get the kind of message—humorous or otherwise—across in the way that we intended.
"Make sure they're punchy, straight to the point, and spelled correctly," Ariane noted that brevity and clarity are vital.
"Edit out any superfluous or extraneous words and run the copy past a few people to see if the joke lands," she suggested what any witty sign creators-to-be should keep in mind.
We also wanted comedy writer Ariane's opinion on getting rid of ambiguity and avoiding any typos on signs. "Before finalizing the signs, show them to people to gauge their responses," the comedy expert told Bored Panda that running a small version of a focus group to see how folks respond isn't a bad idea.
"It's often easier for other people to spot typos as they're more objective and less close to the work than the creator," she noted that creators tend to not see the forest for the trees, and need to take a step back.
She added: "And spend time on your creations—doing things in a rush means you're more likely to make mistakes."
Content creator @Kwintarget has a knack for finding what resonates well with the Twitter crowd. Their recent thread about signs that will “have you rolling on the floor” is no exception: it got over 5k likes.
But more important than any number is how the post made people feel. Never underestimate the power of a chuckle, a giggle, and a smile.
Whether your sign is meant to be chique, serious, playful, or downright hilarious, it really does matter how you put it together. The font, the colors, the placement of the words and the illustrations—everything matters. And this can make or break the entire message.
Recently, Matt Johnson, a consumer psychology specialist at Hult International Business School and Harvard University explained to Bored Panda how vital legible fonts really are.
“The more fluent a font is written in, the more likable and trustworthy the message. As more brands become familiar with this phenomenon, they may want to test new, more fluently written logos to capitalize on this effect,” the author of ‘Branding that Means Business’ told us about the so-called ‘fluency effect.’ This applies to company logos, ads, as well as everything visual.
“If companies begin to recognize that consumers, at least in digital environments, prefer more basic logo designs, brands will rush to be the first in their industry to do so to plant their flag first. While all brands want to be at the razor’s edge of consumer preferences, no brand wants to be seen as the copycat of their competitor,” the specialist told Bored Panda.
Meanwhile, Lisa McLendon, the William Allen White Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and the coordinator of the Bremner Editing Center at the University of Kansas, had some practical advice about designing signs that she shared with Bored Panda during an earlier interview.
According to the professor, brevity and clarity are absolutely vital when it comes to designing signs. You have to understand that you’re supposed to make an immediate impact on your audience.
"Clarity and brevity are essential. You only have a second or two to get your message across, so you want people to understand quickly with zero confusion," she told us.
