Sign Shoppe Savvy - STYLE
STYLE : a form or appearance, design or production, type or make; the way in which something is done; the manner in which something is expressed, considered separate from its intrinsic content ; a distinctive or characteristic manner of expression. Collins dict.
Sign Shops often have there own STYLE - their own way of presenting signs. It is dependant on the lead designers and management policy, equipment, personnel and attitude towards the Art. It is a reflection of the designers training, experience, and skills. And in modern days often of which Clip–art program they’ve got, or which of the sign magazines they favour. So sometimes it’s Not THEIR OWN style, but following a trend or a fashion.
When you drive into a small town outside the metropolae, you can see that many of the local stores have a similar look – materials, typefaces/fonts, shape and layout.
It is easier to see where there are fewer sign shops. The locals get locals.
In the cities, there are so many sign shops and designers that it can be hard to see trends in STYLE unless you are looking for them carefully. Or unless you are in this biz and then of course you can’t Not see all the variances and similarities. We can often tell at a glance “ Oh Yeah, So and so shop must have made that sign.”.
There are small shops ( the majority of numbers are small shops ) where often it is run by the sole or lead signmaker and he either does all the designing or at least leads, approves / vetos .
The medium size shops usually have designers, sometimes it’s the salespeople who also call themselves designers and so you might get any style going.
The large sign factories most often use outside Design and Architectural firms. Each of these outside firms will have their own STYLE – they focus on it, so the large sign companies don’t necessarily have their own style. Of course the individuals in the art department will, but it can be an random act of who designs what depending on the day.
So what’s any of this got to do with you – the person who’s Not In the trade, but just wants a sign ?
You want to make sure their style matches your style. The image you want to project to the passers-by who will see those signs of yours.
So, what’s YOUR STYLE ?
Sign Shops often have there own STYLE - their own way of presenting signs. It is dependant on the lead designers and management policy, equipment, personnel and attitude towards the Art. It is a reflection of the designers training, experience, and skills. And in modern days often of which Clip–art program they’ve got, or which of the sign magazines they favour. So sometimes it’s Not THEIR OWN style, but following a trend or a fashion.
When you drive into a small town outside the metropolae, you can see that many of the local stores have a similar look – materials, typefaces/fonts, shape and layout.
It is easier to see where there are fewer sign shops. The locals get locals.
In the cities, there are so many sign shops and designers that it can be hard to see trends in STYLE unless you are looking for them carefully. Or unless you are in this biz and then of course you can’t Not see all the variances and similarities. We can often tell at a glance “ Oh Yeah, So and so shop must have made that sign.”.
There are small shops ( the majority of numbers are small shops ) where often it is run by the sole or lead signmaker and he either does all the designing or at least leads, approves / vetos .
The medium size shops usually have designers, sometimes it’s the salespeople who also call themselves designers and so you might get any style going.
The large sign factories most often use outside Design and Architectural firms. Each of these outside firms will have their own STYLE – they focus on it, so the large sign companies don’t necessarily have their own style. Of course the individuals in the art department will, but it can be an random act of who designs what depending on the day.
So what’s any of this got to do with you – the person who’s Not In the trade, but just wants a sign ?
You want to make sure their style matches your style. The image you want to project to the passers-by who will see those signs of yours.
So, what’s YOUR STYLE ?
posted by Cliff Perry at 01:15
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