These days when we are setting type for signs, logos, etc. it's easy to take for granted the advantages we have with modern technology. My Grandpa was an artist in a small Kansas town that didn't have a "sign shop" or a place you could just call up when you needed something painted for your business. Instead they would call my Grandpa, and he would come up with the overall composition. Over the years he collected and cut out interesting type from magazines that he ended up using in signs around town.
Although he had some schooling to become an art teacher he relied on books to teach him about sign painting. One of these books that I came across is called Ralph Gregory's
Sign Painting Techniques, published in 1973. Although the methods and styles have changed since then I think it's interesting that a lot of the basic design principles in the book are things we still follow today. Below are a few images from the book.
The first example talks about the importance of not overwhelming your viewer with information.
The next few show examples show how text can be arrranged depending on the importance of each word, and also ways to condense elements if you are running low on space.
I love how the following example says that "freak" type of lettering is popular with young people.
The book also talks about drawing, and how you should try to simplify art. Sometimes this means using a silhouette of an image. Other times in the case of a caricature you should highlight the odd features of the person you are drawing.
Here is my Grandpa working on one of his many signs.
