Sign Approval

Introduction

Navigating the signage approval process can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time. You might get approval for the design but still not be cleared to hang it. Or, you may get confirmation from Business Services, yet still not have all the approvals you need. In most cases, you'll also need approval from the Sign Committee on top of other required permissions.

So, who exactly needs to approve your sign, and in what order?

This guide will walk you through the full process: who to contact, when to do it, and how to make sure your sign is fully approved before installation. Just remember—most signage needs approval from the Non-Standard Sign Application.

When You Need Sign Committee Approval 

You might be wondering when you actually need to submit an application to the Sign Committee and get their approval. Here are a few quick questions to help you decide. If you answer “yes” to any of them, it’s a good sign that Sign Committee approval is likely required. 

  • Will the sign be up for at least a semester in one of the buildings? 
  • Is the sign outside and visible to people passing by?
  • Is the sign outside on a sandwich board or A-frame?
  • Does the sign require installation?
  • Does the sign signify which part of the building you are in?
  • Does the sign give directions?
  • Does the sign designate the name of an area, degree, or program?
  • Will the sign advertise a service?
  • Does the sign reflect any sort of branding or sub brand?
  • Does the sign contain content from anyone outside the university?

Step-by-Step

  1. After your image has been drafted up that you’d like to hang, submit it through UMAC approvals like you would any other design.
  2. Take a picture of the location where you want to place the signage.
    1. Ensure you will be able to embed your approved image onto the space where you want it to go.
    2. TIP: take measurements of the area so you know how to fill this information in for coming steps.
  3. Create a rendering of the image with and without the sign, using your approved design.
    1. Include options of the rendering with and without measurements, including the size of the sign and spaces between the sign and other nearby common objects, like doorframes, wall edges, ceilings, etc.
  4. Submit your request for the sign to the Sign Committee through the Non-Standard Sign Application and fill out every portion of the form with all helpful details included. The reasoning for the signage is also beneficial during the review of your signage.
    1. Time your submission carefully, and know that the Sign Committee meets on the third Thursday each month to review submissions.
  5. If your submission is rejected, make necessary changes and resubmit. Otherwise, move on to the next step.
  6. Submit a request to print/create if necessary. We recommend using Aggie Print & Mail for most sign creation.
  7. For most exterior signs, the service you submitted the creation of the sign through can hang it. For interior signage, use the Interior Sign Request (Choose "Interior Signage Request".