Smart implementation of digital signage can certainly bring more customers to your door and help you take your business to the next level. But the important thing is to create attractive signs that entice and lure rather than fade into obscurity.
Many of us who are not designers may find the prospect of creating attractive digital signboard designs intimidating. But did you know that with the right tools designed specifically for non-designers, it is possible to make the most striking signs with just a few clicks, drags, and drops?
So, if you are wondering what tools and software we are talking about, then read on as we work our way down an exhaustive list in this article. We cover software and design tools with a large set of simple and intuitive templates.
1. Luna Screens
Luna Screens is a premium cloud digital signage system for businesses across several service industries. It is an integrated scheduler and manager that runs all your digital signs or screens. Even though it is not a graphic design tool, you can use ready-made templates to create beautiful digital signs.
All you have to do is edit them with a few clicks and generate an exciting display in no time.
One of the best things about Luna Screens is that you don't need technical skills to set it up or design signage.
If you already have an Android device running or an Internet-capable screen-like one with Android TV, then all it takes is a bit of software magic from Luna Screens to turn them into digital signs.
Pros
Easy to set up and use for non-designers.
Free, high quality templates to get you started, that you can easily modify and customise.
Luna Screens offers a great launching pad that is absolutely free (with a watermark) for you to get started on your digital signage.
All-in-one system that can help you design and manage your digital sign.
Cons
At this time, we only support Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
2. Canva
Canva features a wide variety of templates, so it's easy to create everything from an elegant café menu to a colourful sales announcement in no time at all. Customising designs with it is very easy.
The interface is highly user-friendly; if you choose a suitable template, then drag and drop. Changing text, colours, fonts, and images only takes a few clicks.
Small business owners who must create attractive digital signs but don't have the time to learn a complex piece of software should use this tool. The beauty of Canva is that even non-designers can use it to bring their visions to life with minimal effort.
Pros
Intuitive interface, perfect for beginners.
Massive selection of free templates and design elements.
A free version with high-quality images and ample features is available.
Cons
Limited customisation in the free version.
It can be slow with heavy graphics.
3. Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark is your go-to for storytelling through design. Creating a narrative in your signage, like a timeline of your business or a customer journey map, is pretty easy.
For example, if you are a store owner who wants to introduce your shop's story from when it was just an obscure little establishment to the impressive store of today, Adobe Spark makes it easy to integrate this story into an engaging timeline with images and milestones, which you can proudly display in your shop window.
It’s also great for animated posts, adding that extra ingredient to your digital displays.
If you give your café a new drink for the season, an animated post grabs everyone's attention. It is a piece of software for non-designers that makes your story come alive with digital signs that go beyond pure information to provide entertainment to your viewers.
Pros
High-quality, professional-looking designs.
Seamless integration with other Adobe products.
Variety of templates for different storytelling formats.
Cons
Requires a subscription for full features.
It might be slightly overwhelming for complete beginners.
4. Piktochart
Piktochart is especially great when it comes to creating infographics. Let's say you run a gym and want to show some signs of workout routines or safety protocols. Piktochart allows you to turn these often dull pieces of information into visually captivating and easy-to-understand graphics.
It's not just about displaying data; it's about making it accessible and engaging.
The same goes for a corporate setting. Imagine you have quarterly sales data that you want to display in your office lobby. With Piktochart, you can transform rows of numbers into a colourful, insightful graph that tells a story at a glance.
Pros
Specialises in infographics and data visualisation.
User-friendly interface.
Good range of stock photos, templates and icons.
Cons
Limited design flexibility outside of infographics.
The free version has a Piktochart watermark.
5. Snappa
Snappa is another great design tool. If you have a sale coming up or some kind of event in your store, and you want to get attention quickly, with a few clicks, you are well on your way to creating a promotional sign or event banner that looks professional.
The interface is so intuitive that you won't be distracted by inessential design tools. Instead, it's all just about efficiency and impact.
Just choose a template, fill in your message, and maybe even include an attention-grabbing picture. Ta-da! You have got visual content that turns heads. Ideal for those split-second emergencies when you still want to make a splash.
Pros
Quick and easy to use.
High-resolution downloads.
Access to a vast stock image library.
Cons
Less variety of templates compared to others.
The free version has limited downloads.
6. Stencil
Stencil is perfect for times when you have to put out something quick but visually appealing, be it a motivational quote or the daily special on your café's signboard.
The best bit about Stencil is how lean and quick it feels. You can easily choose a background, slap some words in it, or list your special dish of the day. And just like that, a fresh new sign is ready to go! The thing about Stencil is that it really makes non-designers feel like design pros, even if they need to whip up something at the last minute.
Pros
Extremely fast and efficient.
Access to millions of high-quality images.
Great for simple, text-based designs.
Cons
Not as feature-rich as other tools.
Less suitable for complex designs.
7. Crello
Crello helps add some sparkle to your designs, especially when you need to cook up something visually tasty, like a trendy social media post or an elegant promotional poster.
With Crello, you have numerous templates at your disposal, just waiting for your magical touch. From informing people about an imminent in-store event to presenting a completely new product with Crello, your word becomes visible and tangible.
Pros
Wide variety of templates and design elements.
User-friendly, especially for beginners.
Good balance between free and paid features.
Cons
Some more sophisticated features require a subscription.
Limited customisation in some templates.
8. Visme
Visme is pretty cool for designing digital signs. Everything is user-friendly; you don't have to be a professional designer to make something that looks good. They have heaps of templates and graphics you can play around with, so you can design a sign that gets people drawn in without spending hours on it.
But the best part? You can even animate your designs in Visme and add excellent video and interactive elements.
From creating a menu to setting the atmosphere of a presentation, Visme will give it that extra edge.
Pros
Excellent for infographics and presentations.
Interactive features to engage the audience.
Versatile, with a range of templates.
Cons
Some learning curve for beginners.
The free demo has limited features.
9. Fotor
Think of Fotor as your handy photo lab. It's ideal for giving your photos that extra appeal, whether for a beautiful background in your digital sign or creating an eye-catching promotional banner.
Fotor lets you enhance images with just a few clicks, ensuring your signage always looks top-notch.
Pros
Advanced editing tools.
Easy-to-use interface for quick edits.
Variety of templates and design options.
Cons
Some features can be overwhelming for some.
High-quality exports are mainly in paid versions.
10. Venngage
Vennage is a convenient tool for creating digital sign graphics. It is straightforward to use even if you are not a design expert. Vennage's best feature: It has many easily customisable templates.
Furthermore, the drag-and-drop interface really saves time. Whether it's sprucing up a menu board or turning promotional marketing materials into interactive displays, the convenience of Vennage has got you covered. A terrific choice for firms wishing to diversify their visual communications!
Pros
Specialises in infographics and data visualisation.
User-friendly, even for non-designers.
Good variety of templates.
Cons
Some features require a premium account.
Limited design flexibility outside of infographics.
11. PicMonkey
If you're new to designing digital signage, then PicMonkey could be a perfect fit. The user interface is so intuitive and welcoming that even non-designers will feel at home editing pictures on the platform.
The likely single best thing about PicMonkey is its wide array of features and effects. Regardless of whether you want to add stuff such as filters, texts, or overlays of various types, PicMonkey lets you do that with a great deal of ease.
That said, you may not get templates that you can work with a lot in this software. Many of its users have found the platform pretty restricting when compared to some of the other options on this list. If you need basic editing done, though, then this software will be worth your time.
Pros
Extensive photo editing tools.
User-friendly drag-and-drop editor with intuitive controls.
Good variety of fonts and overlays.
Cons
Some advanced features require a subscription.
It can be more photo-centric than other design tools.
12. BeFunky
When you need something that's both easy and stylish, you can trust BeFunky to deliver. Say you have a 'Grand Opening' sign to make, and you want it to be catchy, or maybe there's a fancy gallery opening, and you are tasked with creating the invites.
That's where BeFunky shines. It gives you all the tools you need to turn those ideas into catchy visuals without making you feel like you are navigating a maze of complicated features.
Pros
Straightforward and easy to use.
Good balance of image editing and graphic design features.
Diverse range of templates.
Cons
Advanced features might be limited compared to other tools.
Some features are locked behind a paywall.
13. Desygner
One of the best features of this design software is how easy and intuitive it is to use. The interface is uncluttered, and you will get a hang of the software in a few minutes.
You have a plethora of templates in this software suite—from simple to as elaborate as they can be. Besides, unlike some other designing software, Desygner lets you customise almost every aspect of the template, allowing you to create a truly unique piece that goes well with your brand’s design language.
Pros
Wide variety of templates.
Intuitive interface, excellent for quick edits.
Allows collaboration on designs.
Cons
Some features can feel essential for advanced users.
Premium features require a subscription.
14. RelayThat
RelayThat software is a kind of superweapon for your digital signage graphics if you oversee several projects. Its highlight is the ease of modifying the designs for different formats—this really does save a lot of your time! The interface is clear and simple enough to suit non-designers.
And here's the really cool thing about RelayThat—it has a 'magic import' feature. It means that your social media marketers can input your brand assets, and from there, the software will automatically create a bunch of layout options.
In this way, the look and overall feel are maintained across all designs.
While great in speed and consistency, less flexible customisation comes as a trade-off compared to other tools.
So, if you like quick brand-aligned graphics and don't need super intricate designs, this is the solid pick.
Pros
Excellent for brand consistency.
Streamlines the design process and a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.
Extensive library of layout options.
Cons
Less flexibility for creative designs.
It can be more technical to use than other tools.
15. DesignBold
DesignBold is a beneficial tool for someone who is just starting graphic creation. As a non-techie, you will love the intuitive way its UI has been designed. Also, it has a simple-to-use drag-and-drop function.
One of the bright sides of this software is an extensive library with different templates and design elements. You will fall in love with the thousands of options that are available to you. If you are in a hurry, the library is a total game-changer.
However, the moment you start to get on more complex projects, you can find yourself somewhat boxed in by this system.
While it is suitable for quick and simple designs, it is not helpful in creating animations and complex signs. Plus, some advanced features are behind the paywall, further reducing their accessibility.
Pros
Wide selection of premium templates and resources.
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Useful for both quick designs and more detailed projects.
Cons
High-resolution downloads are limited in the free version.
Some users may find the template options overwhelming.
16. PosterMyWall
PosterMyWall is quite a catch for the designers and non-designers who attempt to customise their digital signage. Its simple interface will work best for novices and generally for people who just have to put something together quickly and do not have much time to spare learning the ropes.
The good thing about PosterMyWall is it has a vast library of template designs. From promo materials to informative signage, there are variations of templates for almost every niche.
Pros
Extensive range of templates and backgrounds.
User-friendly and suitable for all skill levels.
Great for both print and digital designs.
Cons
High-quality downloads can be pricey.
Some templates can feel generic without customisation.
17. Tinkercad
Tinckercad is a bit different in that it's essentially a 3D modelling tool, which brings an interesting angle to signage design. The user-friendly platform, accessibility of all users, and usage with any computing device make Tinckercad a great starting point for beginners to 3D modelling.
Great for those who want to inject a touch of 3D pizzazz into their signage or just try something different, Tinkercad is fun and user-friendly. Just remember that it's more for 3D expression than being a traditional sign tool.
Pros
Great for creating simple 3D models.
User-friendly and accessible for beginners.
Free to use.
Cons
Limited in terms of professional-grade 3D design.
It may require some learning for non-designers new to 3D modelling.
18. Over
Over is a perfect on-the-go design studio for the non-designers. Whether you want to create a short Instagram story in minutes to promote your local café or a stylish signboard announcing a seasonal sale, Over lets you do it right from your smartphone.
It is convenient for busy entrepreneurs and creatives on the go to create beautiful designs no matter where they are.
Pros
Ideal for mobile design work.
Wide range of templates and graphic elements.
User-friendly interface.
Cons
Some features can be limited compared to desktop software.
Advanced features and assets require a subscription.
19. Ripl
Ripl is perfect for creating eye-catching animated posts. If you are looking to add some dynamic flair to your digital signage, like a revolving gallery of your newest products or a frisky notice of an upcoming event, Ripl's animation abilities are just right.
It is beneficial and allows non-designers to build animations that are not only professional but also interactive to catch your viewer’s attention.
Pros
Excellent for animated and social media content.
User-friendly interface, excellent for quick learning.
A diverse range of graphic design templates.
Cons
Focuses more on social media platforms.
Advanced features require a subscription.
Takeaway: You don’t need to be a design wizard to create catchy digital signs
Graphic design has become more accessible than ever, thanks to a plethora of user-friendly tools tailored for non-designers.
Whether you are producing digital signage for a little café or for your corporate lobby or simply want to continue to keep your social networking pages fresh with new content, these tools offer you an opportunity to make beautiful content without needing to be a pro designer.
Each tool has a unique capability, from simple drag-and-drop interfaces to massive libraries of templates and easy-to-use animation features that will make your visions come to life.
Want to up your game in digital signage? Luna Screens will assist you at every step of creating your digital signboards. The best thing is that our cloud-based service allows you to control your signboards remotely. Try Luna Screens today!