ARCHIVE: Category Archive for: Sign Types

Mixing It Up with Mixed Development

While the U.S. is seeing a definite increase in mixed-use developments, they’re actually not a new concept. In fact, according to Deloitte, mixed-use properties were strategies used about 50 years ago to rejuvenate urban areas. And as population density increases, real estate prices remain high and office occupancy remains low, mixed-use developments offer an attractive option for developers, companies, tenants, and residents. Live, Work, Shop, Play A trend that had been growing in popularity even prior to COVID-19, the pandemic accelerated the planning, design, and construction of mixed-use developments. In fact, in Boston alone, there are at least seven major mixed-use projects under construction right now. These properties empower residents and visitors to have more control in their choices and

Mega-real estate projects have become plentiful in this historic city thanks, in large part, to a growing, diverse economy. The life sciences and technology companies are driving Boston metro’s office market activity. But among these major new and renovation projects? Mixed-use developments include a variety of: Housing Lab and tech spaces Offices Retail spaces Healthcare facilities Educational facilities Industrial buildings Mixed-use projects include the Suffolk Downs Redevelopment,Winthrop Center, Union Square Revitalization Project, and Washington Village. Learn more. Read Original Article

World on the Move: Approaches to Transportation Hub Signage and Wayfinding

J.R.R. Tolkien said, “Not all those who wander are lost.” But in general, travelers prefer to know where they’re going. Whether an environment’s familiar or not, well designed signage helps ensure that only those who want to wander are free to do so — and everyone else can successfully find their way without getting lost. Wayfinding, or directional, signs serve four main purposes: Pointing people where they need to go. Identifying landmarks (rooms, concourses, wings, and other important features). Informing people about regulations and instructions a space requires them to follow. Defining the space, because transportation hubs are large, open spaces, and wayfinding branding helps define and bring consistency to the property. As with wayfinding signs used in other facilities like

Travel often triggers people’s anxieties, especially when they’re navigating an unfamiliar environment. Signage and wayfinding can help alleviate that anxiety. Not surprisingly, there’s a close connection between transportation hub architecture and environmental graphic design for signs. Poorly designed signs distract and cause confusion. Ideally, the best signage/wayfinding strategies remain unobtrusive— and if you arrive at your destination without remembering the signs that helped you navigate, they did their job effectively and unobtrusively. This article suggests various approaches to the type and use of signage for wayfinding in transportation hubs. Learn more. Read Original Article

You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression

Welcome to 2022. We greet every year with optimism wondering what good things the months will bring. Some of us use January as a personal ‘reset,’ perhaps changing the route we jog or editing our wardrobes to update our own personal brand. What about your business’s brand? Is it time for a refresh there, too? After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make that first impression count! The Effectiveness of Exterior Signage You could think of on-premise, outdoor signs as the durable workhorse of all advertising types since they’re promoting your business 24/7 for years to showcase your company and brand. Exterior signs generate a strong ROI by helping define your brand while driving

If a brand promotion is considered the backbone of every successful business, it is essential that your brand identity becomes recognized by the general public.

The Power and Cost-Effectiveness of Exterior Signs

Signage offers a visual and branding advertising strategy with tremendous power. Essential for building brand visibility and increasing awareness, well-designed and thoughtfully placed signage can last decades and will attract thousands of customers to a brand over time. Exterior signs stay evergreen, delivering continuous, repeated impressions to help reach business goals by: Attracting prospective customers—76% of consumers enter businesses because of the signs. Creating brand value—68% of consumers believe a business’s signs reflect the quality of its service and products. Driving impulse sales. Establishing a brand—a sign can attract up to 50% of a new business’s initial customers. Giving customers a first, and lasting, impression of a business—75% of consumers told others about businesses they noticed because of the signage.

While we don’t have a handy Magic 8 ball able to reliably predict the future, it hasn’t stopped us from making some educated guesses about next year’s signage industry trends. They include: Minimalism in design. We’ll continue to see signs focused on clean, crisp images that evoke elegance. Improved sustainability. As more companies embrace ESG (environmental, social, and governance) policies, they’re incorporating eco-friendly initiatives into their buildings, including signage construction, materials, and power. One of Metro’s recent clients, TÜV SÜD—a Germany-based company offering safety, security, and sustainability solutions—opted to use an innovative wall sign for its U.S. headquarters, for example. Metro’s partner, CityScapes, recommended the preserved moss material featured in the sign. Initially, the clients asked to use real wood

A TOUGH QUARTER, THEN IMPROVEMENT HEADING INTO 2022, ACCORDING TO THE SIGN INDUSTRY QUARTERLY ECONOMIC REPORT
ALEXANDRIA, VA – October 18, 2021 – All four sectors of the sign and graphics industry are looking slightly worse for 2021, but expected to rebound by 2022, according to the Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report, produced by IHS Markit for the International Sign Associati