Typography

As text will be the primary element of most of our signs, text size, color, and fonts should be chosen with care. These elements are guided by the UMBC styleguide: http://styleguide.umbc.edu/

The primary font for signage is Inter, a free font from Google: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Inter  Other fonts may be occasionally used for emphasis; however, this should be done sparingly using no more than one other font on any individual sign.

The text should be sized with the understanding that passersby should be able to read the sign at some distance. Text should at a minimum be 18pt, and in most cases it should be larger. As more signs are deployed in more places for more uses, the text size may need to be revisited.

Text color should be determined on the basis of readability/usability. In most cases, black text is preferable with other colors used sparingly for emphasis.

Color

For general informational signs, UMBC colors should be used. These colors - also from the UMBC styleguide - are Black (#000000), Gold (#fdb515), and AOK Teal (#007177). The following other colors may be used for emphasis, using no more than 3 colors per sign. Light Gray: (#c7c8ca), Brown: (#a67a05), Dark Gray: (#636466). 

A color contrast checker (such as: http://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/ ) can be used to determine whether text and background colors meet accessibility standards: at least WCAG AA for normal text, and AAA for large text. If a color combination fails this test, it should not be used.

It is best practice not to indicate something with color ONLY because it may not be understood by colorblind users.

Images and Logos

Images may be used whenever appropriate provided permission for use has been properly obtained. All images and logos should be displayed in their proper aspect ratio, i.e. images should not be stretched or distorted in order to fit into specific sized boxes. Because all of our signs will be internal to the UMBC library, UMBC and/or Kuhn Library logos are not necessary on most signs.

UMBC approved background patterns, such as the Maryland flag, are also available from the styleguide: https://styleguide.umbc.edu/graphic-elements/ 

Other

For topics not covered in this style guide, seek input from the Signage Work Group, refer to the UMBC Styleguide, or use your best judgment keeping in mind that simple and readable is the goal for all signage.