A bad vehicle design will simply distract from the impact of the wrap and muddle the message you are trying to convey. Most of these design mistakes are avoidable:
1. Alignment Errors. When the seams don’t line up or when more complicated graphic images land right on top of a door seam or gas cap, there may be some room for design improvements. The designer should be able to make subtle changes that will prevent installation nightmares and ensure that your wrap looks as good on the vehicle as it did on the computer screen. Using a good template and getting the vehicle to the shop to check for alignment issues before the graphic is printed, is a must.
2. Too Bold or Busy. As a sign company we are biased toward “Bold” images. However, bold can look busy on a smaller vehicle so make sure that you don’t overcrowd the design with too much detail or design flair! There is something to be said for simple elegance that includes the business name, contact information, and product/service offering.
3. Illegible Font. There are some amazing fonts out there but you should avoid the temptation to select one that is not readable from a distance or by a passing driver who is whizzing by you at 65 miles per hour on the freeway! A large san serif font may be a good choice and certainly better than a font where the lower case E and C can’t be deciphered from a distance.
4. Seam Placement. While seams are necessary, a skilled designer can probably avoid having them placed over faces and/or important verbiage. A good vehicle wrap that is well installed should like a lot like a paint job with a minimal amount of seams.
5. Poor Messaging. If your vehicle wrap does not allow customers and prospects to understand what you do, then it is not effective, and there is room for improvement. Make sure that your advertising message is clear and that the images you have included tie into the products and services you offer. Include your business name and logo if you have one.
If you are considering a vehicle wrap or fleet graphics project give the folks at SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000. We’re here to help.