When schools start planning the installation of new screens for their digital signage, it’s tempting to jump straight to the fun part – picking the tech. But before anything goes up on a wall, there are a few fundamentals worth slowing down for.
Thinking carefully about placement, audience footfall, content style, and overall purpose means your screens won’t just exist – they’ll actually make an impact. So before the drill comes out, here are five key considerations that help schools get the very best from their digital signage.
1. Screen height
Ideally screen installation should be at average eye level, which is typically 4-6 feet. Experiencing the world of digital signage outside of education is a useful exercise. This is a topic I’ve covered in my recent blog about the use of portrait screens. When you look at the position of screens in a retail store or on the outside of a bus shelter, then the installation is often maximised for our eye level. This means a viewer doesn’t have to tilt their head up or down to view content.
Take the below screen from IKEA for example, where the food advert image is level with the average eye level. This is the most striking aspect of the content to draw the viewer in. Then the text information for description and price follows. It’s that initial hit of image at the eye level.
2. Screen size
This would seem like common sense but don’t choose large screen sizes for small locations. I have seen 55” screens installed into the smallest of school reception spaces and they look a little bit ridiculous. Of course you want to create maximum impact for your viewers, but you can over do it. Be realistic about the location size available for screen installation and choose appropriately.
3. Screen location
A conversation I have had on more than one occasion with our customers came from them saying, “We have a screen located here, but there is no one in that location.” My response is of course, “Shall we move that screen into a busier area?”
High footfall areas are perfect for digital signage screens because the audience is at its maximum. A useful exercise for our schools to complete is heat mapping where their audiences are greatest within a typical school day. Areas such as receptions, canteens, staff rooms and pupil corridors will usually be busy. Working out the natural flow of your pupils, staff and visitors allows schools to maximise communications to these different stakeholders and tell a story.
If you also know the times these areas are busy then you can schedule communications for even more impact. I love the below example at Bryanston School where they are using mobile portrait screens to create maximum impact. As you move from the reception through to the hallway, the content on the screens has been created to lead you on a journey. It’s a very clever way of marketing the school to new and prospective parents.
4. Content for your audience
Making sure content is tailored for your audience is extremely important for the success of digital signage. You may have chosen the best locations for your screens but if your content is not personal to your audience, then no one will engage with it. From our years of experience creating a digital signage platform made for education we would suggest some of the following:
- Reception area – All about setting the tone of the school and creating strong first impressions. Think about the average time your viewer will be in this location. It’s no good uploading a 10 minute video if the average viewing time is only 3 minutes. Along with other content you are showing, your viewer will never get to experience the video in its entirety.
- Staffrooms – Great for staff communications covering areas like Estates, Finance, HR, Safeguarding and Senior Leadership messaging. And don’t forget telling your staff how much they are appreciated or promoting a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing. The list goes on.
- Canteens – Daily menus of course, but also the opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle. If your school has a student food committee then they can promote reducing the use of plastic or a super food of the day.
- School corridors – These screens should be all about inspiring young people to be the best versions of themselves. Why are they working so hard and what awaits them when they finish school? We have seen wonderful examples of alumni slides being shared. A focus on those individuals who left school to become doctors, teachers, sports stars and experts in their chosen fields. What great inspiration for young people who are viewing this type of content on a daily basis.
Planning content for your audiences prior to screens being installed is a good idea. Get a flip chart and some pens and write down your ideas. Take photos of your flip chart ideas and save these alongside any guidance documents you are creating, then revisit and update at least once a year.
5. Content design
Let’s head back to the digital signage at IKEA for this one. We understand that it can be tempting to add lots of information to your content. But less is definitely more when it comes to design. Your audience doesn’t want to read through paragraphs of text and they certainly don’t want to watch a twenty minute video. Let’s take the example below – it’s advertising free drinks from Monday to Friday when you join the IKEA family, which is their members programme.
The imagery and text is bright, simple and to the point. And if you want to know more then there’s a QR code linking to the IKEA website. It’s a great example for our education customers when thinking about content like school newsletters. You don’t want to share a whole newsletter on your screens, but you could advertise it simply and then link to the full version using a QR code. So keep your content short and snappy and think about taking the role of your audience. View your content live on a screen and if you don’t think it looks good then it most likely doesn’t!
To conclude
The success of digital signage in education isn’t about just screens on walls. Its success is built upon lots of factors. These can include some (or all) of the above.
As TrilbyTV knows better than anyone else in the UK education market, it’s really about celebrating school achievements and showcasing student work. They stop becoming screens on walls when they become part of the school’s culture. Building a sense of pride, lifting engagement and giving staff a powerful but simple way to communicate what matters. Purposeful digital storytelling is what makes digital signage deliver impact.
Has this blog sparked a few ideas — or left you curious for more?
If it’s the latter, join us for our monthly Community Drop-In sessions where our team answers real questions from schools looking to elevate their digital signage.
If you’re ready to explore how TrilbyTV can work for your school, you can also book a demo with one of our experts and see the platform in action. We’d love to help you get started.