What the Industry Learned and What Comes Next 

In April 2025, the signage industry gathered in Las Vegas for the ISA Sign Expo—one of the year’s most anticipated events. With a packed show floor, dozens of education sessions, and thousands of industry professionals in one place, the event made one thing clear: signage is evolving fast, and the second half of 2025 will favor those who are ready for it. 

At The Sign Pack, we paid close attention—not just to what’s trending on the surface, but what matters in real-world projects. What clients are asking for. What fabricators are struggling with. And what sign companies can do now to stay ahead. 

Here’s what stood out, and how to translate it into action. 

The Push for Smarter Production Design 

If there was one consistent theme across the expo floor: it was efficiency. From modular systems to automated print-and-cut workflows, exhibitors focused on helping sign shops move faster and cleaner. But the real unlock isn’t just in hardware—it’s in design files that support the entire process. 

The most prepared shops are streamlining from the top down. That starts with designs that match fabrication logic, permitting specs, and install flow—before the first panel is even printed. 

Sustainability Is No Longer Optional 

A strong sustainability message ran through nearly every booth. From recyclable substrates to water-based inks and energy-efficient illumination, the industry is recognizing that greener signage is not just good optics—it’s becoming a client expectation. 

That also applies to design. Lighter materials mean different mounting considerations. Shorter lifecycles call for modular replacements. Your design team needs to factor in environmental performance just as much as visual impact. 

ADA and Accessibility Take Center Stage 

In conversations with designers and project managers, ADA signage kept coming up—not just as a regulatory checkbox, but as a value-added design element. More companies are treating ADA and wayfinding as an integrated part of the brand experience. 

The trend is toward simplified, high-contrast designs that meet compliance while staying visually sharp. Tactile signs with premium finishes, modular inserts, and precise layout planning are becoming the new standard. 

Digital Is Expanding—Strategically 

Digital signage continues to grow, especially in mixed-use developments and campus environments. But what’s changing is how it’s being integrated. It’s no longer about throwing a screen on a wall—it’s about where it lives in the visual system. 

Sign companies are getting smarter about blending digital and static signage, and clients are more receptive when the content and design are cohesive. That means coordinated design files, adaptable zones, and structural planning that begins in the concept phase. 

Wraps That Build Identity 

Vehicle graphics are shifting from “flashy and fast” to strategic and branded. The best examples on display weren’t just full wraps—they were fleet systems. Reproducibility, panel consistency, and brand integrity across multiple vehicle types were all in focus. 

Designers working on vehicle projects now need a mix of creative sensibility and technical knowledge: overlay logic, seam awareness, viewing angles, and production-ready accuracy. 

Your Design Team Can’t Do It Alone 

Across the board, one concern kept coming up: internal teams are stretched thin. Shops are quoting more, installing more, and trying to keep design moving with the same few people. The result? Bottlenecks. Delays. Burnout. 

This is where external support isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. At The Sign Pack, we’re not an agency or freelance marketplace. We’re your design department for production signage. We work within your process, deliver clean vector files, build permitting-ready layouts, and prep designs your installers can actually install. 

Where the Industry Is Headed Next 

Based on everything we saw and heard at ISA 2025, here’s what’s gaining momentum going into the second half of the year: 

• Modular sign systems for fast tenant turnover 

• ADA-compliant wayfinding with premium visual quality 

• More digital signage embedded into architectural plans 

• Material-conscious design for sustainable specs 

• Rapid pre-production file delivery to support shorter project timelines 

The shops that embrace these shifts now will be positioned to move faster, reduce rework, and deliver with confidence—even as client expectations rise. 

Final Thought 

Events like ISA Sign Expo are more than a chance to see new tools. They’re a reality check on what your shop is doing well—and where the gaps are. For many, design is still the hidden bottleneck. 

But it doesn’t have to be. 

At The Sign Pack, we support sign companies by delivering what in-house teams don’t have time to finish: smart layouts, production-ready files, real-world signage design that works at every step—from survey to install. 

You don’t need more hands. You need the right backup. 

We’re here when you’re ready.