What Is Interpretation

Welcome to Shelley Signs. We are a leading supplier of external signs and panels with particular expertise in Interpretive Signs. For a chat about the options phone Robert Shelley on 01743 460996 or to request more details complete this Enquiry Form

Shelley Signs offer a full service for Interpretive Signs – please follow these links for more information about our in-house design,  submitting your own artwork, Framing Options, materials and general guidance about Interpretive Boards.   Guidance on maps and popular styles can be found at the Maps link.

There are many different ways of describing interpretive presentation, Shelley Signs believes that an interpretive presentation is a form of communication developed to educate and inform people by using objects, artefacts, landscapes and sites to the cultural background of our heritage sites.

It is important to remember that the way interpretive presentations are created, is in a form that will translate information to people in a manner that everyone will not only understand but find inviting to read.

Interpretive communication is not only used as a way to inform visitors to places of interest but it is used every day without many of us even realising it. Interpretive communication is used on tv, in books, on the radio and even in the theatre. This being said it is now easy to see that interpretive communication is not only used by those in the tourism profession but in many other professions as well.

For someone interested in a career creating interpretive presentations, it takes a person to have a wide range of knowledge in many different subjects, ranging from Marketing and Psychology right the way through to Public Relations and Business Management, with many more, too many to mention, as you can imagine due to the different types of industries a mixture of skills are needed.

The most important key to a good interpretive presentation is an understanding of the audience that the presentation is targeting. If this area is incorrect it can be an expensive mistake for any business, especially one that relies on tourism, as tourism not only relies on visitors returning to a place of interest on more than one occasion but also using word of mouth. If a visitor has had a good experience they will tell several other people, unfortunately, if a visitor has had a bad experience they are more likely to tell a larger number of people, this can have a devastating effect on not just a business in the tourism industry but any business in any market.

Another important factor is to ensure that a good interpretive presentation is not only befitting to its surroundings but makes a visitor want to stop and look at the presentation. It needs to arouse curiosity in every visitor making them not only want to stop and take a closer look, but once they start reading continue to read, and read with enthusiasm, enough enthusiasm to make them lookout for the next interpretive presentation on their route and look forward to it. This can be done in many ways using creative text and attractive and beautiful photos and illustrations in a wide range of textures and colours. Shelley Signs understands every aspect that is involved in the design, creation and development of an exciting and captivating interpretive presentation.