Open Signs

The difference, perhaps, lies in the fact that the open signs that we see all over the place need to be seen. A person driving, in contrast, sees a stop sign without any special cues. The shape is recognizable as that ever-familiar hexagon that is colored a dangerous red with the words 'STOP' clearly written in the center. A driver cannot really miss it unless they happen to be looking away. Open signs on the other hand need to stand out to the person on the street.

Open signs can be the first step in attracting a person's attention to a store or restaurant. A restaurant that has a good reputation and has more than enough clientele to keep it going does not need some impressive open sign when a simple one on the door is more than enough. But a place that has to draw people in needs something to draw the eye. Take, for example, the all night diner on the corner. While its lights are on and it is obvious that there is someone there, the brightly glowing neon open sign is an inviting sight for a person that is looking for a late cup of coffee or something eat in the middle of the night.

Like all signs then, the open signs use a combination of color, shape, and message. The message is clear. It expresses the fact that a place is open. The shape is often simple with a rectangular card that holds the message. Sometimes, though, the shape is combines with color as the word is spelled out is neon lights that shine brightly into the eyes of the passerby. At the same time the color can actually say a lot about the place the sign is hanging in. A diner may have a bright one while an austere jewelry store may simply have a small, subdued one.

Open signs are just as important as all the other signs in the world. Their message is clear and may not be that important for most people, but their message needs to be conveyed for the owners of the stores. They come in all shapes and sizes because they can be in all shapes and sizes. From the simple and austere to the bright and gaudy, open signs proclaim their message to the world.