ARCHIVE: Category Archive for: Functional Signage

Who Doesn’t Love a Good Challenge?

Here at Metro, we’ve developed a reputation for overcoming challenges. In 2020, the pandemic required us to rethink our approach to projects and conduct much of our collaboration in a remote environment. Government buildings closed for weeks, which presented another challenge for obtaining signage permits and staying on deadline with project installations. Clients saw initial project budgets shrink, so our team worked with them to devise alternative signage options—in design, materials, or both. At Metro, we love a good challenge. Challenges make us better because they require us to grow and innovate—and that benefits our clients and our partners, especially when we’re faced with a new “problem” we’ve not encountered before. And let’s face it. It isn’t just us signage

An explosion of technology innovation has fueled and supported creativity across many industries — and the signage industry is no exception. Companies — retailers, business owners, healthcare facilities, and other entire industries — have been forced to strategize ways to remain relevant and profitable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The signage industry has been right there offering unique solutions to help companies achieve their goals in part by upgrading, rebranding, or revamping their images. But what does that look like in 2021? A return to minimalism A focus on sustainability Increased use of digital signage Diverse innovations Greater personalization Expanded faux finishes More Interaction Refreshed Wayfinding Celebrating Minimalism Constantly bombarded by messages and tens of thousands of images daily, we crave a

Learn more about Which Types of Media Can Wide Format Printers Print On? from the category on Kelley Connect.

Hanging Signs Isn’t Always a Straightforward Task

You’d think a parking garage would be a fairly cut and dry project, with color-coded signs for each level, arrows to direct traffic flow, ADA signage, elevator occupancy signs, and indications pointing out stairwells, right? Well, like the posted 5 mph speed limit, not so fast. A lot more planning and coordination goes into designing, manufacturing, and installing signs for a parking deck than it first appears. Metro began work on the Hamilton Canal Innovation District Parking Structure in collaboration with general contractor Shawmut Design and Construction of Boston, MA. In addition to providing signage for the brand new parking structure, future plans for this project include creating and installing signs for the office building yet to come. Collaboration and

Three major highways — Interstate 93, U.S. Route 1, and Route 3 — converge at the Braintree Split. Just 10 miles south of Boston’s Logan International Airport, it’s also home to Massport’s Logan Express, a shuttle bus with a commuter parking lot: The Logan Express Park & Fly. Until recently, however, the sign that advertised this commuter lot badly needed replacing. Rusted and broken, with burnt-out bulbs, the old sign did nothing to call attention to this critical business. The refurbishment of this high profile sign was a key objective of Massport’s CEO, Lisa Wieland. The Project Management team from Edward Paige Corp reached out to Metro Sign in early March with a request for proposal (RFP). Within a week, Metro’s

Depending on who you ask (factor in how long they have been around), digital signage as we know it came on the scene just after the turn of the century. For some of us, that seems like last week… but I digress. It began as an advertising medium, and this focus is easily demonstrated by the first iteration of the digital signage trade show, the Digital Retail Expo. A new vision of advertising opportunities was coincident with the development of flat panel displays and compact video projection. From the beginning, it just made sense to change out the time-honored static

Why Effective Communication is Highly Important During a Crisis

Your every correspondence from the top is an opportunity to nurture a relationship.

Critical Role of Signage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

While COVID-19 has presented incredible challenges across nearly all industries, it also highlights the critical role being played by the signage industry. Much of the pandemic has focused on the visual — visualizing six feet of space between people, glove and mask wearing to protect each other, flattening the curve, graphics and videos of proper handwashing techniques — and creating effective visuals is the hallmark of an exceptional sign company, like Metro Sign and Awning. The Metro team has leveraged industry best practices in developing clear, visual communications that project calm authority while also offering guidance, instruction, and direction, because we recognize the critical need of our clients to communicate during this challenging time. Spreading the Message Whether digital or

Quality signage is an easy and effective way to drive foot traffic and communicate with your customers when designing your store. However, if done incorrectly, signage can cause overstimulation and even confusion. Signage at your place of business is just as important as your website design and shouldn’t be an afterthought.

The Writing’s On the Wall

Bette Davis once said, “I’d luv ta kiss ya, but I just washed my hair.” The tough-talking, Academy Award-winning actress was born at 22 Chester Street in Lowell, Massachusetts. As one of the oldest cities in the Commonwealth, Lowell has been home to many notable and quotable people not only in entertainment but politics, military, law, academics, sports, science, arts and literature. That’s why it was only fitting that Thorndike Exchange in historic downtown Lowell take motivational quotes from famous past residents as a starting point for their interior and exterior signage. A Sal Lupoli residential project, Thorndike Exchange is a refurbished old mill building transformed into a mixed-use destination with contemporary commercial space and a posh multi-story residential