The history of signage

From early man’s use of rock art to today’s more technologically-advanced society, signs and images have been used to communicate information.
One can safely say that rock art was the first form of signage used by man. Engravings and inscriptions on rock were used to mark a location, provide directions and get messages across and thus served as a form of signage.

Images as signage

Throughout history, images, symbols, pictographs, scripts and characters were used to communicate information. In ancient Egyptian history giant granite obelisks inscribed with hieroglyphics were used to commemorate a god or the life of a leader, while in ancient Rome, numbers were painted onto rocks and trees to inform travellers of distances to various cities. As man started trading more, images painted on walls or boards were used as signs to indicate the type of service available at a specific location.

Hand-made signs

The use of hand-made wooden signs can, through historical records, be traced back to ancient Rome. These wooden signs gained in popularity during the fourteenth century when they were hung outside pubs and inns throughout England, Europe and North America. These early signs would often bear an image or symbol but as people became more literate the signs would include the name of a business-owner and the name of the business.

Signage and innovation

Historically new technologies and innovations have influenced and shaped the development and diverse usage of signage. The invention of the printing press and later photography led to the proliferation of illustrated printed posters and outdoor billboards - which were used to advertise special events and products and to post public notices.

The subsequent discovery of neon gas and the adaptations to the electric light bulb made electric billboards and neon signs standard features of the city landscape, while the discovery of various plastics and metals made sign design more widely available and accessible. The mass production of cars and the growth of towns, cities and businesses made the need for signs not only functional but necessary for consumers and businesses alike.

Signs today

From basic way-finding signs to LED signs; digital billboards and computer painted advertising formats to informative electronic variable message signs, signage and the use of signs has evolved in response to man’s socio-cultural needs and in relation to technological developments