Just caught this on a recent Southeast Roads Yahoo! Group post; on June 22, 2007, SCDOT unveiled a new highway shield design to replace the current black and white box shields used throughout the Palmetto State.

New South Carolina State Highway Sign Design, image created by Alex Nitzman

The state follows Oklahoma (2006) and Vermont (1995) as states that changed from a drab shield design. A grandfathering process of replacing signs that reach the end of their lifespan is underway. No new highway funds are used for the replacement project either as signs are replaced as needed.