Corporate sign graphic design can be thought of as a little like pointing the finger in the right direction. The challenge is making sure it’s the right finger and the right direction, and there’s a good deal more to custom signage design than just choosing the words. Sign designers need to take on board a great deal of information about the company or organisation in determining the most appropriate form of sign. Not only that, but in many cases corporate signage often needs to be placed in a variety of locations, each of which may bring its own challenges. From vehicle wraps to outdoor signs exposed to all weathers, and from interior direction signs to full scale murals, corporate signs and signage requires a great deal of thought, and a great deal of modern technology behind the scenes. Today computer based graphic design has opened up a whole range of applications and methods which would simply not have been feasible only a few years ago. The ability to scale images up without losing quality, the ability to create images which cover three dimensional objects such as vehicles in a smooth and seamless way, and the ability to create colour fast images which will not fade or deteriorate even when exposed for prolonged periods of time to wind, rain, sunlight and traffic all allow corporate sign graphic design artists the chance to create signs for businesses which have a lot to say, and keep saying it. One of the first stages which any graphic designer will spend time on when designing a new corporate sign will be to understand the nature of the business, its style, attitude, corporate identity and message. These aspects of the business are likely to have a significant impact on the eventual style and design of the signage. Signs are often only glanced at by many people, and are used for information in most cases. It is important that attention is attracted in the first instance, and this is only likely if the style of the design blends with the style of voice of the company. For example, a hospital is likely to require signs in a clear, calm voice, whereas a bar may want a more colloquial, relaxed and perhaps even playful style. But whilst it is easy to talk of styles and voices, it can be much harder to understand how custom signage design experts are able to express such a voice though an arrangement of letters or symbols. Size, colour, layout, typeface, font style, borders, symbols and even the materials used can all play a big part in achieving this, which is why a graphic designer is likely to need a good understanding of the intended voice and purpose of a sign before committing to any of these areas. Once the designer understands the intention, meaning and voice it will be necessary to determine the location, since this will then have an impact on the materials used, and even the colours and font required. Signs which are outdoors may be either static or moving. Examples of static signs are those above or in shop windows, fixed to buildings or by the side of the road. Moving signs may either be animated signs which remain in one place, such as neon signs or digital signs displayed on a screen, or signs which are attached to a moving object such as a vehicle. This may include signs on the side of vans, full truck canvas side curtains or even full vehicle wraps, from cars to busses. In each of these cases a need will have to be considered with respect to the reader, the location and the purpose, all of which will affect the choice of colour, style, typeface, font style and materials. A particular challenge for corporate sign graphic design artists is to create a custom signage design which is both unique to the business or organisation, yet complies with the common understanding of the way in which people read signs, and the conventions used. For example, one of the conventions used is that for signs in locations where a great many people from various nationalities may be, symbols representing the meaning of the sign help to convey a message more clearly than words. From parks and museums to transport stations and city centres, the use of symbols to quickly but ambiguously convey a message is often necessary, and this requires unique skills. Expressing meaning through symbols is an art form of its own, and ensuring signs are unambiguous is essential. Corporate sign graphic design and the development of a custom signage design is as much about communication as it is about art, as much about the use of modern technology as it is about understanding the way our brains have evolved. Pointing people in the right direction has never been as challenging.
Article Source: http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/articlesubmit
Corporate sign graphic design could be considered an art as well as a science, and the creation of a successful custom signage design requires an extraordinary collection of skills and knowledge. How do sign artists develop signage that gets the right message across to the right people in only a split second?
Creative Advertising Graphic Designers | http://www.specialdesignstudio.co.uk | Corporate Identity & Logo Graphic Designers
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 5 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 2 out of 5 1 out of 5
