How to make the best protest sign

On April 22, scientists, science-lovers, and at least one official Science Guy will be gathering in Washington, D.C. for the March for Science. A week later, on April 29, the People's Climate Movement will march in favor of action against climate change. If you plan to attend either event, you’ll want to voice your support for science. And that means designing the perfect sign.



Bigger is better, of course. Bold letters and ample surface area are key. Then there's carrying it. At marches in DC, sticks are forbidden for safety reasons, which means science fans will need to get creative with their poster grips.

To help you plan, Popular Science spoke with Michele Demsky, an exec at poster company ArtSkills, about how to stock up on materials and plan out the perfect sign—and what to do with it when your arms (inevitably) get tired.

Choose your board wisely
Most people make their signs from either poster board or foamcore. Each option has its pros and cons, so your choice will really depend on personal preferences.

Poster board is cheaper, and you can roll it up to transport it more easily, although this may give the board a curve so it’s less likely to stay flat when you want it to. That roll-ability also means it's more prone to flopping over. To bolster the less sturdy material, you can glue or tape flat wooden paint stirrers to the corners.

Foamcore is more expensive, but it’s also sturdier and more weather-resistant. “Foam board is stiff,” Demsky says, “and it’s so light you can hold it with your pinky.” A foam sign will stay upright more easily, and you can even add a three-dimensional attachment—say, a Styrofoam model of the Earth—without the edges flopping over. Because of this stiffness, however, it can be awkward to transport from place to place.

READ MORE AT: https://www.popsci.com/how-to-make-best-protest-sign#page-2

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