Have you ever wondered what civilization would be like withoutsigns? Without diamond-shaped boards that warn us to give way or brightly colored banners informing us about the meal deal of our lifetime? My best guess would probably be chaos. In fact, you wouldn’t be reading this article right now, as language is an intricate system made up of many signs and symbols.Indeed, the world would be very different than it is today if it weren’t for cavemen and cavewomen and their primitive drawings 20,000 years ago. To rekindle our appreciation for signs and everything they represent in our society,Bored Pandahas gathered a list of some of the most genius and interesting ones down below. Be sure to upvote the placards that perhaps taught yousomething new, and don’t forget to share the coolest ones you have come across, dear Pandas!While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation withBryant Gillespie, designer and founder ofBetter Sign Shop, a growth platform for sign and print shops, who kindly agreed to answer a few questions all about signs.This post may includeaffiliate links.

Have you ever wondered what civilization would be like withoutsigns? Without diamond-shaped boards that warn us to give way or brightly colored banners informing us about the meal deal of our lifetime? My best guess would probably be chaos. In fact, you wouldn’t be reading this article right now, as language is an intricate system made up of many signs and symbols.Indeed, the world would be very different than it is today if it weren’t for cavemen and cavewomen and their primitive drawings 20,000 years ago. To rekindle our appreciation for signs and everything they represent in our society,Bored Pandahas gathered a list of some of the most genius and interesting ones down below. Be sure to upvote the placards that perhaps taught yousomething new, and don’t forget to share the coolest ones you have come across, dear Pandas!While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation withBryant Gillespie, designer and founder ofBetter Sign Shop, a growth platform for sign and print shops, who kindly agreed to answer a few questions all about signs.

This post may includeaffiliate links.

This Sign On The Way From Islamabad To Nathia Gali, Pakistan

To learn more about signs and how they’re made, we reached out toBryant Gillespie, designer, and founder ofBetter Sign Shop, a growth platform for sign and print shops.

I also just kind of fell into it after moving to a different part of the country. Being able to apply many different disciplines—design, printing, construction/fabrication, electrical – along with the creativity involved appeals to a lot of us sign geeks."

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To attract attention, signs should have a clear message, bold colors, and readable fonts. To educate, they should be informative yet concise. To amuse, incorporating humor or clever visuals can be very effective."

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Gillespie believes that signs absolutely play a crucial role in our society. “They guide us, inform us, and sometimes even entertain us. From road signs that ensure our safety to informational signs that help us navigate spaces, their impact is significant. They also serve as powerful tools for branding and marketing, helping businesses attract customers and communicate their values.”

“This seat & beer are for the dads that are not with us today…”

My Local Brewery Had This Sign And Beer For Dads No Longer With Us

Some experts call this symbolic advertising to other tribes, with visualizations of hunted wild animals, pots, and arrows dating back 40,000 to 45,000 years.

Let’s Help Frogs Live Their Best Lives

It Feels Like This Is To Tell People To Get Their Horses To Slow Down

In early civilization, about 800–500 BC, craftspeople in Ancient Egypt painted and carved symbols on terracotta, stone, brick, and wood to advertise their services and stand out from others. Typically, they would be found in marketplaces, temples, and other public spaces. Later, they were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii and other cities.Meanwhile, the Ancient Greeks usedsignsto communicate with citizens who couldn’t read. Many of them remain to this day, like the staff of Hermes, which often hangs on the corners of pharmacies, or the goddess Demeter, who symbolizes grain, bread, and harvest. In the Roman Empire, widely used signs were made from wood, brick, stone, and marble.

In early civilization, about 800–500 BC, craftspeople in Ancient Egypt painted and carved symbols on terracotta, stone, brick, and wood to advertise their services and stand out from others. Typically, they would be found in marketplaces, temples, and other public spaces. Later, they were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii and other cities.

Meanwhile, the Ancient Greeks usedsignsto communicate with citizens who couldn’t read. Many of them remain to this day, like the staff of Hermes, which often hangs on the corners of pharmacies, or the goddess Demeter, who symbolizes grain, bread, and harvest. In the Roman Empire, widely used signs were made from wood, brick, stone, and marble.

This Underwater Wet Floor Sign

The Glass Is Full

Sign At My Local Library

My Residential Neighborhood Has Signs For Your Dog

Different Terms For Book Lovers From Around The World

A Road Sign Near A Park In Istanbul, That Says “Watch Out For Cats And Dogs”

Interestingly, in 1389, England’s King Richard III ordered all taverns and ale houses in the country to display outdoorsignsso the monarch would be able to easily locate them for quality testing. That’s why so many pubs nowadays still use signs from the 15th century.

This Sign On The Door Of A Local Business

Stop Sign In Mohawk Native American Language In Norther NY State

My Local Hospital Has Examples Of When You May Need An Urgent Care vs. An ER

The barber pole that many men’s hair salons use also originated from medieval times, when barbers were not only cutting hair but also extracting teeth and performing surgeries. Such services were provided for poorer people who couldn’t afford to go to a physician.

A Resort I’m At Has A Sign To Warn Tourists About Seals Sleeping On The Beach

This Sign On The Bathroom Door Of A Local Seafood Restaurant

An Incredibly Down-To-Earth Sign At My Son’s Baseball Field

The red color represents drawing blood to cure diseases or infections. White symbolizes a stick that a person would hold to make the veins more prominent during the procedure so they would be easier to find. As for the blue stripe, some attribute it to the colors of the American flag, while in Europe it may have differentiated barbers from doctors.

This Sign Letting You Know That Forrest Gump Ran Here

This Sign For Temporary Fencing To Protect Birds

This Sign Near A Lake

With the growth of cities and populations, outdoor signage significantly increased in number, and English law required every establishment to have one. Signs illuminated with candles were also just appearing before electricity was invented. By the 18th century, the placards had become larger and heavier than ever, marking the start of the painted storefront emblems outside businesses.

This Sign Asking You To Walk On The Grass

This Brewery Patio Has Rules For Dogs

A Sign That Forbids Adults Who Are Not Accompanied By A Child In A Public Park

Finally, we reach modern history, when companies grew bigger, as did the need to grab the attention of consumers. With newly discovered commercial printing and the revolution of sign design, it became a new art form. The invention of gas and electric power was also a game-changer, as signs could be visible at night too.

This Incredibly Specific Stop Sign

At My Work There’s An Original Sign From The 40s About Wearing Your Safely Goggles

Road Sign In Mozambique

Advertisers were constantly trying to find new and advanced ways to produce better, more efficient, and larger quantities of signs. This brings us to today, where large-format printing and digital technology make mass production even faster, and the industry is worth over $37.4 billion.

They Could’ve Just Made A Stop Sign Instead Of This Sign, But They Were Like, “No Let’s Build Excitement Before The Big Drop”

Custom Restroom Sign In Hawaii-Themed Restaurant

A Sign Over A Urinal In Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean And Binary

Town Of Roswell’s Alien Abduction Welcome Sign

The Shadows From The Sign Have A Different Spelling From The Actual Sign

This Hotel Has Different Soda Brands On Different Floors

This Parking Space Is Reserved For People Who Commit Random Acts Of Kindness

This Is The Only “No Smoking” Sign For Any Of The Hotel Room Numbers

“No Parking” Sign Under The Water At A Harbor In Malta

A Sign Warning Of Falling Cattle

Don’t Do It

$100 Fine For Eating Durian Fruit In My Hotel In Vietnam

This Hotel Has More Exit Signs On The Ground Than On The Ceiling

It’s The Hands For Me

My Local Gas Station Has To Put A Sign In The Milk Section Cause People Open The Milk To Put It In Their Coffee, Then Put It Back

The Strangest Road Sign I’ve Ever Seen, This Is At Tongue Causeway. Does Anyone Know What It Means? Beware, Octopus Likes To Play With Cars?

This Stop Sign In Rome Has A Stick Figure Sawing The Hyphen

This Tiny Stop Sign

On I-385 In South Carolina, There’s Just A Sign That Reminds You When The Korean War Took Place

No Horses Allowed In The Sea Sign

The Signs On The Side Of The Highway In Texas Warn Against Stopping On The Road For The Solar Eclipse

This Sign In A Karaoke Room Imploring Patrons Not To Open A Door

The McDonald’s In My Town Has A Sign With Only One Arch

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This Sign Doesn’t Apply To Children Under The Age Of 3 Or Adults Over The Age Of 80

My Shipping Pallet Had Previously Been Used As A Sign At A Wedding In 2018

When Sightseeing In London, You Notice Things You Haven’t Noticed Before

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This Random Crosswalk Sign In My City Has A Chicken On It

My Movie Theater Has A Sign For End Credits

This Gas Station Sign Includes The Price Of Slurpees

The Sign That My Grandma Had On Her Only Bathroom For Over 65 Years

Sign In The Women’s Bathroom At Rest Stops On The I-80, PA

This Sign In The Grocery Store’s Parking Lot

This Highway Sign Let’s You Know What Highway You Are Not On

Sticker In My Taxi Says The Driver Is Single And Open To Flirting

Around London Docklands There Are Signs About The Risks Of Swimming In The Canals

My Local Laundromat Uses Washing Machine Fronts For A Sign

An Owl Attack Caution Sign

Drove Past This Today And Had To Drive Back For The Picture

Dog Warning Sign With The Assault Count Of Different Mail Services

This Target Doesn’t Allow Unaccompanied Minors

This Hospital Sign That Bans Wearing Certain Types Of Scrubs Outside

Don’t Miss This One-Time Offer

The Lichen On This Speed-Sensitive Road Sign Has Only Grown Over The LEDs

Communication Board At Kids' Playground

A “No” Sign With No Context

Local Walmart Has Someone’s Picture Next To Price Sign For Loofahs (Same Photo On Both Sides Of Display)

Pickleball Is Too Noisy For This Tennis Court

This Burger King Sign Has Only Said “Ew” For The Past Year

The Apartment My Mom Lives At Used The “Star Wars” Font For This Sign

“No Wake” Signs Put Up In South Florida Neighborhood Roads

This Sign Warning Of A Dog Who Runs In Front Of Cars

Stop Signs In Quebec, CA Have A Little Picture Under Them Showing Who Else Has To Stop

A Stop Sign Where Only The S Is Capitalized

Men Working In Trees

A Mildly Passive-Aggressive Warning Sign By The Local Police Department

This Sign At The Hotel Pool Chose To Use Millimeters As The Conversion To Metric For Some Reason

This Sign Is On The Side Of My Son’s School. It Says “School” And “Shooting Range”, And Both Are In The Same Building

The Weird Text Color Choices On This Sign

This Sign Claims That The Paint Has Special Properties

Stop Sign On The Musqueam Reserve In Vancouver, BC

Blockbuster Sign In West Philadelphia

This Sign In My Uber In Houston This Weekend

Speeding?

Red Drinks Are Not Allowed At A Local Sports Complex

This Barber Shop With A Sign On The Side Implying People Don’t Think Lyme Disease Is For Real

Sign At An Entrance To BLM Land In Utah

This Sign At The RV Park I’m Staying At

Sign Uses Both Measurement Systems

The Hotel I’m Staying At Forgot To Change Out Both Signs, Leaving Very Different Cleaning Fees

This Sign Says Whoa Instead Of Stop

This Restaurant Sign Allowing Legal Carry (NYS)

“If This Calendar Means Something To You, Scan The QR Code” A Job Recruitment Ad

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