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Sharpen your screen design with 5 simple tips
Article
2025-10-24
Summary: 5 tips for better screen design
Our Art Director Åsa Heurling shares her best design tips for digital screens.
- Start by creating a strategy by grouping and ranking your content.
- Use smart proportions like the rule of thirds or the golden ratio for harmonious layouts.
- Adapt the format of your areas to the content you want to display, like videos in 16:9 or Instagram images.
- Always test your design on location by standing where viewers will be standing.
- Finally, think outside the box by extending areas to the edges and daring to use organic shapes instead of just straight rectangles.
After 20 years in design, our Art Director Åsa Heurling knows what works. Here she shares her best tips for making your digital screens both visible and appreciated.
1. Make a strategy
Before you start thinking about colors and shapes, you need to know what should appear on the screen. Grab a bunch of post-it notes and write down all the different messages you want to include, both now and in the future.
Then group the notes by type of content, target audience, or who will be publishing. Once you have your groups, it’s time to rank them. Which group is most important? Which one do you want people to see first? This hierarchy becomes the foundation for your entire screen design.
2. Use smart proportions
When dividing the screen into different areas, there are some rules of thumb that make the job easier. If two areas are the same size, we perceive them as equal. But if one area is larger, it automatically draws more attention.
The rule of thirds and the golden ratio are two classics that create harmonious layouts. With the rule of thirds, you divide the screen so that one area takes two thirds and another takes one third. The golden ratio gives proportions of 1:1.618. Both create a clear hierarchy that makes it easy for the viewer to know where to look first.
3. Adapt to format
Sometimes the standard divisions don’t work for the formats you need to use. Then you simply have to tailor and adapt the areas to the content you want to show. Otherwise, the image or video risks being cropped or getting strange black borders.
Do you have a video to display? Then you need an area in 16:9 format from the start. Are you showing images from Instagram? Think about whether they’re square (1:1) or in portrait format (4:5).
4. Put yourself in the viewer’s shoes
This tip is perhaps the most important of all. Actually walk up to the screen and look at it from the place where people will be. Is the text large enough? Can it be read from the distance people will be standing?
In a large space where people are far from the screen, the content needs to be bigger. Then you might only fit two or three areas instead of five. Screen size also matters. The bigger the screen, the more content you can show without it getting cluttered.
5. Think outside the box
Many people think that an area equals a box with space around it. But you can actually extend your areas all the way to the edges of the screen. Don’t waste space on lots of margins.
Text and images that are well composed can work as an area even without a background. And dare to use organic, rounder shapes instead of just straight rectangles. It creates air around the content and makes the screen much nicer to look at.
Watch the full webinar with Åsa (Swedish)
Åsa Heurling
Åsa is Art Director at PLAYipp and has worked with design for nearly 20 years. She’s passionate about creating the common thread in brand identity, communication and marketing, often with a focus on digital solutions. At PLAYipp, she’s responsible for the visual identity and makes sure everything looks consistent across all our channels.
Frequently asked questions about digital screen design
How many areas should I have on my digital signage screen?
It depends on screen size, viewing distance and how much information you need to display. In a large space where people are far from the screen, 2-3 areas are often enough. If you have digital screens where people pass by closely, you can have up to 5 areas without it getting messy.
What text size should I use on my digital screens?
Walk up to the screen and stand where your viewers will be. Can you read the text comfortably? If not, increase the size. As a rule of thumb, the greater the distance, the larger text you need for digital signage.
Do I have to use my organization’s visual identity on the screens?
Yes, it’s important for creating recognition and consistency. But you can adapt how you use colors, shapes and logos to suit digital screens. Keep in mind that screens are often in a different format than printed materials.
How long should each image/message be displayed on screens?
A good rule is 10-15 seconds per image or message. This gives people time to read and absorb the information without having to wait too long. If you have a lot of text, you may need a longer display time. Always adjust the time based on your target audience!
Should I have a background in all areas?
No, not necessarily. Text and images that are well composed can work as an area even without a background. Use backgrounds when you really want to highlight or distinguish something important.
How do I avoid the screen becoming too crowded?
Start by prioritizing your messages in a strategy. Not everything needs to be shown at once. Divide the information into different playlists or areas based on how important it is. Give the content room to breathe by not cramming in too much at once.
Can I mix different types of content on the same screen?
Absolutely! It’s actually a strength to be able to divide the screen into multiple areas with different types of content. For example, you can have news in one area, images in another and a menu in a third. Just make sure to create a clear hierarchy so viewers know where to look first.
Do you want to know more about PLAYipp?
Contact us today, we are experts on digital signage and communication.
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