Digital Signage Content and Design Guidelines

Questions

• What size should my digital signage images be?
• What resolution do Bowdoin's displays use?
• Should my content be landscape or portrait?
• What file formats can I upload to Carousel?
• How do I make sure my content is readable on a display?
• How do I design accessible signage that everyone can read?
• What color contrast and text size should I use?
• How do I create a full-screen image for a sign?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff who create content for campus digital displays through Carousel. It covers full-screen images, which are the most common type of signage content, as well as general design tips that apply to any bulletin.

Resolution

Image resolution

Create full-screen images at the resolution that matches the display you are publishing to:

Aspect ratio

• Bowdoin displays use a 16:9 aspect ratio. Both the 1080p and 4K sizes above are 16:9.
• Design full-bleed, so your background fills the entire image with no unintended borders.

File formats

• PNG is best for images with text, logos, and graphics, because it keeps edges crisp.
• JPG is a good choice for photographs.
• Video can be uploaded as MP4 for motion content.

Design for readability

• Keep each message short. One clear message per bulletin reads better than a crowded slide.
• Limit the amount of text so a viewer can read the whole bulletin in the few seconds it is on screen.
• Leave generous empty space around your text and graphics.
• Keep important text and logos away from the very edges, in case a screen crops slightly.

Design with accessibility in mind

People read campus displays quickly, from a distance, and at many different eye levels and vision abilities. Designing for accessibility makes signage clearer for everyone.

Color and contrast

• Use strong contrast between text and its background. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (roughly 24 point and above), following WCAG 2.1 AA.
• Dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background, reads best. Avoid low-contrast combinations such as light gray on white or medium-toned text on a busy photo.
• If text sits on top of a photo, place it on a solid or semi-transparent band so the contrast stays consistent.
• Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning. Pair color with text, a label, or an icon, since some viewers cannot distinguish certain colors (for example, red from green).

Text size and fonts

• Use large text that is readable from across the room. A useful rule of thumb is about one inch of text height for every 10 feet of viewing distance.
• Make the headline the largest element, and keep body text large enough to read at a glance rather than filling the space with small print.
• Choose simple, clean sans-serif fonts. Avoid thin, script, or highly decorative fonts, and avoid setting long passages in all capital letters.
• Left-align longer text. Centered text is harder to scan across multiple lines.

Motion and timing

• Avoid content that flashes more than three times per second, which can trigger seizures.
• Avoid fast scrolling or rapidly moving text, which is difficult to read. Keep any animation slow and subtle.
• Give each bulletin enough on-screen time for someone to read it comfortably at a walking pace.

How to create your image

• To build a full-screen image in PowerPoint, see the Create Full-Screen Signage Images from PowerPoint article in the Related Articles section.
• To build one in Adobe Express, see the Create Full-Screen Signage Images with Adobe Express article in the Related Articles section.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

• Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
• Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
• In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
• Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.