ARCHIVE: Category Archive for: Sign Design

Renovating a Beautiful Old Sign in Keene, NH

enovating an old sign is something like a makeover. The ‘after’ appears beautiful true to the original, but sports an even better, brighter look. And when a sign renovation includes moving from fluorescent bulbs to bolder, brighter LEDs, there’s also a significant energy cost savings. One restaurant owner in Keene, NH recently discovered how a relatively simple sign renovation can make a big difference in how people view the business. Upgrading, Updating a Business Sign Long established Papagallos restaurant has legions of fans in the Keene, NH area. But people who are new to the area or who are driving through town on business might not have known what they’d find on the menu. The Papagallos family specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. But the

Interior signage is a complex animal. One part interior design, one part marketing, one part pure function… with equal parts art and creativity, budget-sensitivity, building ordinances and regulatory compliance. We field a lot of questions about interior signage – many related to ADA regulations and building codes, others about branding, longevity of materials, and ROI. Below, some of the most popular posts and tips on interior signage from 2016. If you have an interior branding, POS, wayfinding, or other signage project coming in 2017, take a look at some of these interior sign examples, or contact us directly with your questions. We’re happy to help you tame your complex interior signage “animals!” Tips and descriptions of some related Boston-area sign

Arches punctuate the distinctive architecture of St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA. The 150-year old institution has a dedicated faculty, alumni, and more than 350 students, many of whom live on St. Mark’s campus. When it was time to update interior signage, it had to be carefully designed to add to, rather than distract from, the historic private school. Metro Sign & Awning had created other signs for the school, including a hand-carved donor sign. The sign was created by our in-house Design Department to echo the school’s distinctive arches and hand-crafted by our Fabrication Department. For this most recent project, the administration contacted Metro Sign & Awning’s Keene, NH location for conceptual designs for the new interior signage. Strong,

If you’ve been impressed by the design of the freestanding illuminated sign at the Center at Innovation Drive in Tewksbury or the external building sign at Marcou Jewelers in Waltham, you’re not alone. The US Sign Council recently selected both signs as winners in its 2016 USSC Sign Design Competition. In a statement recognizing the work of Metro Sign & Awning Designer Susan MacGregor, USSC Executive Director Nancy Maren said, “On behalf of USSC, I offer personal congratulations for your outstanding work, as well as your interest in advancing our efforts to encourage high standards among industry design professionals.” Award Winning Signs Always on Display The award-winning signs will be featured at Sign World International, and the USSC Awards will

You maintain your business signage, keep it clean and free of graffiti. But as with any major investment, there may come a time when it no longer performs as you expected, no longer brings you the visibility, customers or brand awareness it originally did. In fact, you may even find that your signage portrays the wrong image of your business – an outdated logo, a sign in disrepair, etc. So how do you know it’s time to upgrade or replace your business signage and get it back working for you? The first choice is often to ditch the old signage completely and start fresh, but it’s not always necessary in every situation. In fact, reworking an old sign can improve

Metro Sign and Awning Receives Two 2016 Watchfire LED Sign Awards Watchfire Signs has announced the winners of the 2016 Watchfire LED Sign Awards, established to recognize partners who showcase the capabilities of outdoor digital advertising in superior sign design, and Metro Sign & Awning is proud to have won two Gold awards for signage at Wamesit Lanes and The Crossings. The award recognizes signs that display excellence in effectiveness, design and legibility in digital messages. Effective LED Displays, Beautiful Exterior Signage The 2016 Watchfire LED Sign Awards highlight unique designs and eye-catching graphic messaging that can be created using modern LED sign design techniques. Our graphic designers and fabricators have extensive experience and training in both traditional design and LED sign creation.

A story about a business owner from Atascadero, CA who was willing to go to court over a sign caught our eye earlier this year. Temporary and unconventional signage can be a sticky area for businesses and government, one that’s costly for both. Whether it’s retail or wayfinding signage, the ultimate test for any sign from a user standpoint is, “is it helpful?” Municipal authorities try to strike a balance between the needs of business owners, area residents or visitors, and the general public safety. It’s not an easy thing to do. Sign Design, Permitting and Approval Process Whether designing a new sign or updating an existing sign, reviews and approvals are almost always necessary. And who enjoys being told

Most communication is simple, with a single layer of meaning. But once you get into the world of graphics – where the best signage lives and thrives – you begin to find opportunities to communicate more than one message at a time. Here are a few examples of public, possibly familiar graphics that exemplify the potential for signage to be a powerful tool of communication. Wendy’s has a new logo, but it contains a hidden message that’s very old. Can you spot it? … It’s the word “mom” woven into the red-headed girl’s collar. I guess the idea is to evoke home-cooked foods, family dinners, and perhaps even a dose of unconditional love. None of that is guaranteed when you’re

Business signage plays an important role in the life of any city, not only because it supports commerce and the livelihood of individual businesses, but also because the overall appearance of a city’s signage helps communicate and even define its character. Think about the differences in signage between Boston and Las Vegas, for example, and what that signage says about each of those cities. Generally, governments do not heavily regulate the content of any signs (although the Americans with Disabilities Act does set forth some standards for signage content). Rather, each city government tends to develop its own set of signage regulations, in an effort to control the appearance of the city’s built infrastructure and also to tame the impulses

The United States Sign Council Foundation, as a part of its on-going effort to provide verifiable information about the optimal usage of signage, has issued a new report titled: “The Economics of On-Premise Signs.” The report makes fascinating reading. It covers everything from the various rationales for local signage regulation to the impact of signage on communities, customers, and businesses. But even more interesting are the discussions of potential signage benefits (which we’ve previously touched on, here). Understandability For example, the report details how a sign that is easier to understand “imposes fewer cognitive demands on the viewer.” Ultimately, more understandable signs allow customers and prospects to learn more about what a business offers. What enhances this kind of signage