Protestors need signs, and recent demonstrations against newly-introduced American policies have revealed a wide range of graphic designs. While some protestors have access to signs that have been professionally printed…

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…and some appear to use actual fonts (if not paying attention to leading, kerning and tracking)…

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…the vast majority are DIY affairs. Some appear to have spent significant time developing these signs while others seem hastily-scrawled. Let's look at some of the design elements protestors use to make their signs stand out.

Color

The are several ways to use color. One is to write a simple message in the colors of the U.S. flag, in order to signify that the statement represents the protestor's notion of what America ought to be.

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Others use the color red in order to highlight a particular word:

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Still others write each line in alternating colors, suggesting the call-and-return of sing-song group chants:

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Contrasting colors can also be used just to give the sign some visual pop:

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Lighting

As technology marches forward, like protestors, some are incorporating LEDs:

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Symbols

Flags, of course, are the big one.

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The classic "no ____ allowed" red circle bisected by a diagonal line is popular...

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...although folks can't seem to agree on which way the cross goes:

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The heart is another popular one:

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Mathematical symbols are often used as shorthand:

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Symbols are also occasionally combined:

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Co-Opting Existing Designs

Another approach is to take existing designs, whether ordinary campaign signs or standard signs related to non-political matters, and co-opt them to convey a message:

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What Not to Do:

From a design standpoint, legibility and brevity are important. Protest signs are essentially bumper stickers, not essay questions. Too much verbiage in small letters—however neat—run the risk of being visually drowned out:

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Too many contrasting colors can make a sign difficult to read:

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As I live downtown, protest marches passing my window in the evening have become a common sight. I haven't seen any truly stand-out graphic designs yet, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.