Change is our domain

Porno Sign Standards

Published by Nick Hall on 18 August 2008.

I'm sure everyone is familiar with what I call "Porno signs", these being the horrible black portable monstrosities with fluorescent coloured letters that are fouling roadsides just about everywhere.

If we are to believe that the medium is the message, then these signs are the visual equivalent of a drunken cartoon character holding a black velvet painting of themselves in a compromising situation with a badger while shouting obscenities at passing cars.

With that mental picture in mind, here is my simple guide to what is - and is not - appropriate sign content.

Appropriate -

Going out of business!

Everything 50% off!

Buy 2, get 1 free!

It's a girl (or boy)!

Lordy lordy looks who's forty!

All XXX DVDs on sale!

Inappropriate -

Fine Dining

Fine art

Fine anything

Financial planning services available

Laser vision correction centre

Prostate Check up - no appt necessary

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Life is what happens while you're waiting for your Facebook profile to load (posted on 1 March 2010)

Are you experienced? (posted on 24 February 2010)

I wanna be a Guru (posted on 10 February 2010)

10 for 2010 (posted on 4 January 2010)

The Power of the Promise (posted on 11 November 2009)

The power of big (posted on 3 November 2009)

We're not that bad (posted on 26 October 2009)

This is how you do it (posted on 22 October 2009)

Negative space, positive reaction (posted on 21 October 2009)

Hope is not a strategy (posted on 15 October 2009)

The art of selling creative (posted on 12 October 2009)

RRRRRRRFPs (posted on 5 October 2009)

Consider the humble nail (posted on 24 September 2009)

Branding in B flat (posted on 17 September 2009)

Making waves (posted on 14 September 2009)

The creative search engine (posted on 19 August 2009)

On magic (posted on 12 August 2009)

Empathy (posted on 4 August 2009)

We are all radio stations (posted on 28 July 2009)

Keeping Promises (posted on 24 July 2009)

Next stop, Top Gear (posted on 4 May 2009)

Rebranding will not save you (posted on 23 March 2009)

What Consumers Really Want (posted on 12 February 2009)

How's this for a change? (posted on 24 October 2008)

Following through (posted on 21 October 2008)

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Would you like fries with this? (posted on 14 August 2008)

3 or it's out (posted on 7 August 2008)

Surprise! You live in a great city! (posted on 31 July 2008)

Hello? Hello? (posted on 25 July 2008)

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