Good Guide to Great Signs by Stephen Kennedy

the good guide to

great signs

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signage typologies lighting methods tips & techniques

An Initiative of

The Iconic Signage Project is an initiative of the Arts Council of New Orleans in partnership with Broad Community Connections and the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts. for more information, please visit: www.iconicsignageproject.com february 2011

broad community connections jeff schwartz arts council of new orleans morgana king open air project catherine burke mit department of urban studies & planning stephen kennedy

sign typologies

signage typologies

A deconstruction of the new orleans zoning ordinance.

wall

projecting

grand projecting

Wall signs are located on, and parallel to, a building wall.

projecting signs are cantilevered signs which are structurally affixed to the building and oriented perpendicularly to the building facade.

grand projecting signs are tall, larger, versions of projecting signs. The primary difference is that they will extend above the first floor or roof line of the building.

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Signage area

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Inner-city urban corridor district Broad Street was recently designated as an Inner City Urban Corridor District, a new zoning district type of the City of New Orleans created with the goal of improving the visual appeal and pedestrian accessibility of major inner-city street corridors.

zoning ordinance Section 10.3A.

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Limit of one (1) wall or projecting sign per business. Cannot project above the first floor.

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10.3A.1.

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Purpose of the District.

canopy Canopy signs are attached to or hung from the underside of a canopy or a marquee. Limit of two (2) canopy signs per business.

Limit of one (1) wall or projecting sign per business. Cannot project above the first floor.

The new zoning district establishes a set of guidlines for commercial signage. The Good Guide to Great Signage provides local businesses and signage artists with a visualization of the zoning guidelines.

calculating sign area sign area is the maximum size of the sign(s) a business is allowed to display (up to 70 ft2). It is calculated using the width of the building or tenant space (shown as A in the diagram below). If a building is A ft wide, then sign(s) can be as large as A ft2 .

Signage area

maximum area

Signage area

70 ft2 The nittygritty exerpts from zoning ordinance section 10.3a

maximum area

70 ft2 10.3A.6.3a Each business shall be limited to one (1) attached wall or projecting sign. The sign shall be limited to one (1) square foot per linear foot of building width or tenant space to a maximum of seventy (70) square feet. Exterior attached signs shall not project above the first floor of a building.

maximum area

XX ft2 10.3A.6.3d The sign may be illuminated but shall not flash, blink or fluctuate. The backlighting of awning containing signage shall not be permitted.

10.3A.6.3e Only one interior window sign per business shall be permitted within four (4) feet of the interior face of any window of a building and shall be counted in the total allowable sign area for the business.

maximum area

70 ft2 10.3A.6.3c A maximum of two (2) canopy signs shall be permitted for each business but their area shall be counted in the total allowable sign area for the business.

sign typologies

lighting methods

various ways to light up your signage.

Lighting is what brings signage and streetscapes to life. Although the neon signage industry has declined in the past several decades, neon signs are still prevalent in New Orleans. Illuminated signs are important indicators of the return of economic activity in areas around the city, bringing life back to postKatrina darkened streets. In addi-

tion to making signs more readable, they also make our streets safer at night.

exposed incandescent illumintation The illumination of a sign by incandescent bulbs which are mounted directly to the face of the sign.

This section of the Good Guide to Great Signs provides descriptions of various lighting types as well as methods for illuminating signs.

neon

incandescent

led

fluorescent

This form of light uses electrified, luminous tubes that contain neon or other gases. Neon lighting can come in a variety of colors and are especially effective at creating outlines of words or images.

This is the traditional form of lighting used in most of our homes. The exposed form of the bulb is often the most unique feature of incandescent lighting. Incadescent lighting is slowly being phased out as newer, more efficient lighting is developed.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are often used for displays. They can be used to create fields of light, but LEDs are often not bright enough to illuminate signs individually.

Fluorescent lights come in two forms: the familiar tubes and compact versions that look similar to regular bulbs. The initial cost of fluorescent lighting is higher than other forms, but is offset by lower energy costs during use.

exposed neon tube illumination

channel neon tube illumination

internal illumination

external illumination

halo illumination

The illumination of a sign by neon tubes which are mounted directly to the face of the sign.

The illumination of a sign by neon tubes which are mounted inside channel letters. This creates an internal-glow effect inside the letters, which are often painted the same color that is emitted from the neon tubes.

The illumination of a sign by projecting light on a translucent panel from a light source located inside of an enclosed sign.

The illumination of a sign by projecting light onto the face of the sign from a light source located outside of the sign, such as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;gooseneckâ&#x20AC;? lamps shown above.

The illumination of a sign by projecting light behind an opaque letter or emblem. This results in the appearance of a ring of light around the letter or emblem.

sign typologies

tips & techniques

day & night A great sign is effective at all times. It should advertise your business day and night, and in all lighting situations. To achieve this, different techniques may need to be incorporated into the design.

The iconic sign above displays the nominal Chanticleer rooster painted in full-color during the day. When the sign is lit at night, the rooster appears in neon outline form.

tuning up your typography Creative typography is just as important as color and iconography in the design of unique signage. Don’t be afraid to play with scripts (continous fonts that are similar to handwriting) and slabs (unembellished fonts that primarily use thick, straight lines). Examples of both are found in the signs to the right.

beat sign area Make it memorable: limitations! the power of the icon The Meyer sign makes use of the entire building facade. Since the sign area is only calculated as the envelope around the letters (see diagram to the left), the use of the wall and a frame makes the sign appear much larger.

scripts, slabs, & everything in between

Although neon is a very fluid, formable medium for creating type, many manufacturers will limit you to several standard sets of fonts. However, feel free to suggest using a more contemporary style, the font the business uses for its branding, or even a custom font of your own!

Icons can be one of the most efficient and effective ways to convey business offerings and services to the general public. A good icon will come to mind at the mention of a business’s name or become a place’s most recognizable landmark.

For iconic signage, the design may not even need to incorporate the name of the business. In the same way that a picture can speak a thousand words, an object or mascot can successfully convey the business’s primary message.