Sign Builder Illustrated May 2016

identity signage A Taste of LED Lighting

ada/wayfinding Find Your Role in This Field

www.signshop.com

Number 251 | MAy 2016

How-To

Riveting Wrap Colors

May 2016

38

32 20

A “Riveting” Chrome Wrap

BY JEFF WOOTEN

The rust wrap trend inspires a unique color change-out.

25 32

S1 Shipping Success

BY ASHLEY BRAY

What you need to know to ship your signs safely.

Reservation for Signage

BY JOSEPH AND CAROLE BERKE

An appetizing combination of dimensional materials, vinyl, and lighting.

38

And the Sign Goes to…

BY ASHLEY BRAY

An L.A. theater’s name change requires an award-winning signage update.

Sign Builder Illustrated (Print ISSN 895-0555, Digital ISSN 2161-4709) (USPS#0015-805) (Canada Post Cust. #7204564) (Bluechip Int’l, Po Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Agreement # 41094515) is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and Additional mailing offices.

Pricing, Qualified individual working in the sign industry may request a free subscription. 12 issues per year. Non-qualified subscriptions Print version, Digital version, Both Print & Digital version: 1 year US/ Mexico/Canada $50.00; foreign $99.00. Single copies are $15.00 ea. Subscriptions must be paid in full in U.S. funds only. Prices are subject to change.

Copyright © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2016. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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SUPPLEMENT: SBi ADA/WAYFINDING This special section is designed to help you find your role in ADA/wayfinding signage applications.

Emergency! Hospital Seeks Sign Systems A case study follows the need for a variable and consistent wayfinding and room identification system throughout a hospital facility.

S4 S8

20

Moving Beyond ADA Fear

BY CHARLES J. KELLY, JR.

Afraid of selling ADA signs?

There’s a cure for that!

The Non-compliance Zone

BY MIKE SANTOS

Reasons your signs are not ADA-compliant.

Plus an ADA/wayfinding new product showcase.

S12

Posting Your Message

BY BILL FREEMAN

The art of using post-and-panels for wayfinding.

For reprint information contact: Arthur Sutley, Publisher (212) 620-7247 or asutley@sbpub.com.

For Subscriptions & Address Changes, please call (800) 895-4389, (847) 763-9686, Fax (847) 763-9544, e-mail signbuilder@halldata.com, or write to: Sign Builder Illustrated, Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, PO Box 1172, Skokie, IL 60076-8172 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 1172, Skokie, IL 60076-8172.

Instructional information provided in this magazine should only be performed by skilled crafts people with the proper equipment. The pub­lisher and authors of information provided herein advise all readers to exercise care when engaging in any of the how-to activities pub­lished in the magazine.

Further, the publisher and authors assume no liability for damages or injuries resulting from projects contained herein.

signshop.com

Be the shop no one can top.

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© 3M 2016. All rights reserved. 3M and Envision are trademarks of 3M.

Agenda

How-To Columns

JUNE 2016 June 9-11: The 2016 SEGD Conference is scheduled to be held at the Westin Seattle in Seattle, Washington. (segd.org)

JULY 2016

12

12 Surviving the Dust Storm

BY JIM HINGST

Kicking up dust is not a good idea in the shop.

17

17

Surviving the Dust Storm

An Order of Parking Lot Signs

BY MARK K. ROBERTS

Pull on in for some new parking lot signs for a BBQ restaurant.

An Order of Parking Lot Signs

Departments 6

UpFront

8

Dispatches

Interested in getting more in touch with ADA/wayfinding? Jeff Wooten explains how this month’s supplement can help.

Creating a “pop”-ular removable wallcovering, and wrapping large doors and windows at this year’s Cotton Bowl Classic.

10

Sign Show

45

SBI Marketplace

The newest products and services from sign manufacturers.

Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade.

IDENTITY SIGNAGE A Taste of LED Lighting

ADA/WAYFINDING Find Your Role in This Field

48 Shop Talk

www.signshop.com

NUMBER 251 | MAY 2016

HOW-TO

RIVETING WRAP COLORS

4

Ashley Bray demonstrates how young people can serve as leaders while the sign industry changes and grows.

July 22-24: Geezer Gathering at the Superfrog’s, a miniLetterheads event hosted

by Butch Anton, takes place at the Frog Farm in Big Cormorant Lake, Minnesota. (superfrog.butch@gmail.com) July 28-30: The Mid South Sign Association’s Annual Meeting & Tradeshow happens at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. (midsouthsignassociation.org)

SEPTEMBER 2016 September 14-16: SGIA Expo 2016 will be taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (sgiaexpo.org) September 22-23: NSSA’s New England Sign Expo 2016 will be held at the Twin River Casino Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. (nssasign.org)

On the Cover A full-color copper chrome vinyl wrap change-out adorns this Factory Five GTM. Photo: Designer Wraps Custom Graphics of Millville, New Jersey.

Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

signshop.com

Up FRONT

by jeff wooten

May 2016, Vol. 30, No. 251

ADA & Wayfinding: Finding Your Role

Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation executive offices

President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Publisher arthur j. sutley 55 Broad Street, 26th floor New York, NY 10004 212/620-7247; fax: 212/633-1863

Don’t be afraid to get (more) involved.

editorial editor

Jeff Wooten

323 Clifton Street, Suite #7 Greenville, NC 27858 212/620-7244; fax: 212/633-1863 jwooten@sbpub.com managing editor

Ashley Bray

55 Broad Street, 26th Floor New York, NY 10004 212/620-7220; fax: 212/633-1863 abray@sbpub.com contributing writers

photo: johnson plastics.

S

ometimes we tend to group the subjects of ADA and wayfinding together because they’re both forms of signage that help people arrive at their destination.

But then again, we sometimes group ADA and wayfinding topics together because they always seem to be two of the biggest fields of signage that can cause sign shops to hit the pause button and proceed with caution (many times related to misunderstandings of their rules and regulations).

In this month’s issue, you’ll find a specially designed section devoted to helping you get more in touch with offering ADA signage and wayfinding systems to your clients in need— from sales to design to installation.

In addition to a case study concerning a hospital’s wayfinding plans and a section spotlighting new ADA and wayfinding products, Clarke Systems President Charles J. Kelly, Jr., will show you that, when it comes to offering ADA signs, the only thing you have to fear is, to quote FDR, “fear itself.” And Howard Industries Vice President of Architectural Sales Bill Freeman will provide pointers about building and installing post-and-panel sign systems for wayfinding purposes.

Meanwhile Mike Santos, director of marketing at Nova Polymers, presents three reasons why the signs you’ve made may not be ADA-compliant. For this feature, he will discuss font style, kerning, and character size.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

Mike Antoniak, Joseph and Carol Berke, Bill Freeman, Jim Hingst, Charles J. Kelly, Jr., Mark Roberts, Mike Santos, Lori Shridhare

Another big concern, according to Santos, is Braille. The 2010 Standard has a few specific codes relating to Braille that include the structure of the dot, the cell spacing, and placement.

“The verbiage regarding the shape of the Braille is very specific,” he says. “The language is not written to include or exclude any materials. The language is a guideline for the shape and size of each Braille dot and cell.”

In the U.S., signs are required to have Grade II Braille, which incorporates 189 contractions and short form words. The condensed size of the Braille is ideal for the limited space available on most signs.

“Title 24 in California uses different spacing for Braille,” says Santos. “California Braille, as it’s commonly called, still uses Grade II Braille but the spacing between the Braille cells is farther apart.”

The other main difference with Title 24 is the placement of the Braille. “Both the 2010 Standard and Title 24 require the Braille to be a minimum of 3/8-inch directly below the corresponding text,” he says. “Title 24 however sets a maximum distance of 1/2-inch.

“Both require the Braille to be directly below the raised text, so no, you cannot put the Braille on the right side of the text.”

To read more non-compliant ADA issues related to Braille production and signage mounting, be sure to check out our Web site at signshop.com.

art

Creative Director Wendy Williams Designer Nicole Cassano production

Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers circulation

Circulation Director Maureen Cooney advertising sales national sales director

Jeff Sutley 212/620-7233; fax: 212/633-1863 jeffsutley@sbpub.com midwest

& west coast sales manager

Heather Bonato

212/620-7225; fax: 212/633-1863 hbonato@sbpub.com marketplace

& buyer’s guide

Amy Lennox

212/620-7221; fax: 212/633-1863 alennox@sbpub.com Sign Builder Illustrated is published monthly. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. To purchase PDF files of cover & layouts or hard copy reprints, please call Art Sutley at 212/620-7247 or e-mail asutley@sbpub.com.

Circulation Dept. 800/895-4389

signshop.com

Consistently

consistent.

Quality begins in the industry’s first cleanroom.

Duets™ premium engraving, ADA and architectural sign substrates perform better because they are made better. 100% manufactured in the industry’s first Class 10,000 cleanroom, right here in Cannon Falls, MN USA. This particulate-free, pressure-balanced environment lets us produce flat, uniform and consistently superior product, every time.

Available now, in-stock nationwide from our trusted partners. Quality, consistency and value.

That’s our family’s promise to you.

Duets

BY GEMINI

PARTNER NETWORK

DuetsByGemini.com/partners

©2016 Gemini Incorporated. Duets™ is a trademark of Gemini, Inc.

Dispatches

Vibrant Removable Wallcovering Dazzles at Interior Design Show Bensalem, Pennsylvania—Digital Print Specialties (digitalprintspecialties.com), a graphics specialist in Hazel Park, Michigan also once known as Banner Sign Company, recently used PrestoTex Gold Iridescent material from Presto Tape (prestotape.com) in a unique and eye-catching way.

Co-owner and Vice President of Digital Print Specialties Nicole Paich was searching for a removable wallcovering featuring flamingoes for her booth for the Interior Design Show in Toronto, Canada. She investigated a couple of different removable wallcovering options, but she ultimately chose PrestoTex Gold Iridescent because of its unique texture and iridescent qualities that really made the graphic “pop.”

“We wanted the iridescent qualities of the materials to look as though the flamingoes had a glow, separating nicely from the printed black background,” says Paich.

The 8-by-20-foot wall graphic was printed on an HP 360 latex printer. “The print quality is beautiful and the installation went well,” says Paich. “It was very forgiving and easy to work with.”

The wall graphic was installed by using an overlap method and took one-and-a-half hours to put up. After the four-day show, Paich was able to remove the PrestoTex Gold Iridescent without damaging the walls.

We wanted the iridescent qualities of the materials to look as though the flamingoes had a glow, separating nicely from the printed black background.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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A Game Changing Promotion

The wall graphic was installed using an overlap method.

It took one-and-ahalf hours to put up the graphic.

signshop.com

Spencer, Massachusetts—To highlight the grandeur of the sold-out eightieth Cotton Bowl Classic held last New Year's Eve at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, officials turned to custom printer E.H. Teasley Company to wrap large doors and windows with the Classic's game logo and additional iconic sponsor elements in both stadium end zones, totaling over 16,000 square feet.

This project posed many challenges in terms of the sheer scale of the graphic, the fact that it would have to be both installed and removed on a short timeframe, and the need to abide by the stadium’s requirements.

In addition, the graphic needed to be transparent without being washedout by the sun and stadium lights.

Teasley Company used FLEXcon’s SEETHRU-SIGN, a material that included optical clarity for see-through viewing from the inside out and graphic visibility from the outside looking in.

The installation team had only five days to install the graphic and one day to remove it, and they were able to do so with ease.

In addition to having a short installation window, Teasley Company had to wait to print the window graphics until the competing teams were announced.

SEETHRU-SIGN allowed for a clean install and seamless removal without any adhesive residue being left on the stadium doors and windows.

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

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SignSHOW D I G I TA L P R I N T I N G E Q U I PM E N T/ S U P P L I E S Now Shipping: Epson's Complete SureColor S-Series Line of Sixty-four-inch Printers The new Epson® SureColor® S-Series sixty-four-inch production, roll-to-roll solvent printer line leverages advanced imaging technologies to provide unparalleled levels of productivity and image quality (as well as improved reliability) to the signage, vehicle graphics, and fine art reproduction markets. The SC-S80600 (pictured) joins the complete line of SureColor S-Series printers, including the SC-S40600 and SC-S60600, and is now available for purchase through authorized Epson Professional Imaging S-Series resellers. The SureColor S-Series features a Dual-Array PrecisionCore® TFP® printhead and an enhanced precision media feeding system to produce high-quality, sellable output at impressive production speeds. The SC-S80600 leverages Epson UltraChrome GS3 solvent inks (including an all-new GS3 Red ink and optional White or Metallic Silver ink) to produce vivid output with an expansive color gamut, high gloss levels, and best-in-class photographic output quality. The UltraChrome GS3 inks also allow for same-day lamination—only six hours after completing a print job. A full copy of ONYX® GamaPrint Pro is also included with the SC-S80600, providing free profile installation for the most popular signage media types. proimaging.epson.com

Paradigm Imaging & SID Signs Offer an Affordable UV Printer Paradigm Imaging, the North American distributor for SID Signs, has introduced the new SID Apollo 2512W-GS UV Flatbed printer. Its 98-by-49-inch print area and maximum media height of 1.6 inches make the printer an outstanding choice for print providers looking to enter the UV market at a very affordable price. Lower operating costs are built into the printer by the LED UV lamp with a lifespan of 20,000 hours. The white ink option (spot, background, or overprint layers) allows printing on a broad range of substrates and features eight Seiko 1024-GS printheads. paradigmimaging.com

LED MODULES/TUBES/STRIPS Shining a Light on Non-Neon Flexible LED Lighting from Outwater It’s time for a “new and innovative alternative to neon lights!” Outwater’s Non-Neon LED Lighting provides a unique, flexible construction, allowing creative designs in almost any shape for indoor or outdoor use. UL Listed in 120 and 24 volts, Outwater’s Non-Neon Flexible LED Lighting is available in seven bright, vivid colors—and very importantly, with no hot spots! This LED lighting product is field-cuttable and virtually unbreakable. Lights are sold in continuous coils. Rated for 100,000 hours of usage, Outwater's Non-Neon Flexible LED Lighting offers far greater efficiency than any comparable lighting! 800/631-8375; outwater.com

SloanLED Launches PosterBOX 3 PosterBOX™ 3 from SloanLED provides slim, edge-mounted illumination for single- or double‑sided light boxes, especially large and fabric‑faced applications that are commonly used in retail environments. The bright 1700 lumen‑per‑fixture output and precise viewing angle allows for light throw into the extended nine‑foot/three‑meter range. Installation is easier than ever with a unique, built‑in module spacer that produces perfect LED pitch. PosterBOX 3 works with 24 VDC SloanLED power supplies and rounds out the current SloanLED PosterBOX family of lighting solutions. sloanled.com

ROUTERS/ENGR AVERS AXYZ International Presents the Trident Series Router-Knife Combination The Trident Series, the most versatile router-knife combination developed for digital print finishers, is available now from AXYZ International. Processing a wide range of materials requires more than one cutting head. With this in mind, the Trident combines three different cutting technologies to provide maximum versatility. This is accomplished by offering a choice of routing spindle and two knives (which can be either tangential or oscillating) or a combination of both. Some of the key features of the Trident Series CNC router include high-performance servo motors, aluminumzoned vacuum beds, and automatic tool-length sensor and tool-changer. Additional productivity options include the AVS camera recognition system (which provides exact alignment and accuracy in the cutting path) and high-speed spindles that run at up to 40,000 rpm for even faster processing. 800/361-3408; axyz.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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WILKIE MODEL 52XLR

With a Wilkie you’re buying an Aerial lift plus an opportunity. In today’s market, opportunity does not come along every day, but with a high-quality Wilkie crane or ladder, you won’t miss out on another job again. You’re not just buying the most reliable and safest aerial lift on the market, you’re buying the equipment with the quickest return on investment that will give you the tools you need to increase your productivity and profit.

Wilkie Mfg. L.L.C. 2640 NW 2nd Okla. City OK 73107 www.wilkiemfg.com 405-235-0920 Phone

HOW-TO

By Jim Hingst

Safety

Surviving a Dust Storm Kicking up dust is not a good idea in the shop.

T

he dust storm that you create when fabricating wood products or sanding a painted surface can cause a variety of allergic reactions, respiratory diseases, and even cancer. Unfortunately once the damage is done, it is irreversible.

Medical studies have concluded that long-term exposure to shop dust can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which inhibits the flow of air to your lungs; this can lead to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Illness associated with dust can be avoided or reduced by following a few safety practices.

Dust collectors that attach to woodworking machinery and shop air cleaning systems can help control the amount of dust in your shop; unfortunately these dust collectors never capture all of the dust (especially the really fine dust that you cannot see).

Ideally you should do any sanding or grinding in an enclosed room with a dust collecting or exhaust ventilation system. Dust collectors help capture airborne particles in areas of your shop where you are sanding or grinding and minimize contamination in the rest of your shop. “Simply opening windows with exhaust ventilation fans blowing to the outside can generate air flow that helps expel dust, fumes, and other pollutants from a work area. At the same time, the fans help draw clean, fresh air into a room,� recommends sign maker Joe Balabuszko, noting that down draft exhaust systems are a much better choice than extraction units mounted at a higher level because the dust particles are drawn along the floor to outside air.

Nothing, however, is 100 percent effective.

Merely walking through your work area can kick up the dust on your floors and send par-

There are a wide range of dust masks and respirators to choose from.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

signshop.com

Good housekeeping in the shop can help minimize dust.

Everyone in the shop should clean up after themselves.

Air respirator filters are color-coded.

For sanding wood, the purple filters are adequate. Magenta (pink) canisters are recommended to filter particles from grinding.

ticulates airborne. Before an exhaust ventilation system can filter the dust, you’re still breathing some of it.

Large particulates are trapped in the nose and upper chest. Our bodies expel most of this dust by coughing and sneezing. The fine particulates are dangerous because they become lodged in the lower parts of our lungs. While some of these particulates dissolve into our blood stream and are filtered from the blood in the liver, what remains can cause disease.

Good housekeeping in the shop can help minimize dust. “At the end of the shift, everyone should be responsible for inspecting their work area and cleaning up after themselves,” says Balabuszko.

According to Balabuszko, the best way to clean up shop dust is with a heavy-duty industrial vacuum cleaner. Using a vacuum cleaner is faster, healthier, and more efficient than sweeping. Wet sanding also reduces the amount of dust that goes airborne.

Controlling dust generated from sanding is especially difficult. Even when a sander is fitted with a dust collector, the dust in the air is often very high and poses a health risk to the person sanding (as well as any workers in the vicinity). To keep from breathing in dust, use either a dust mask or, better still, an air respirator that isdesigned to filter particulates.

signshop.com

Product Nomenclature The wide range of options can complicate your decision in selecting a dust mask or respirator. These are rated according to application and effectiveness.

To determine the right type of equipment for the job that you are doing, refer to literature from equipment manufacturers such as 3M or from government agencies such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) and OSHA. Dust masks and respirators are classified according to an alphanumeric nomenclature. NIOSH coding for respirators that begin with the letter “N” are for solid or non-oil-based airborne particulates (such as wood dust). “P” stands for oil proof and oil-based airborne particulates. “R” indicates resistant to oil. The numbering system denotes the efficiency of the filter.

Neither P nor R types filter gases or vapors. For vapors from solvent-based paints and solvent cleaners, you are going to need a cartridge that will filter “organic vapors” (OV).

The number 95 means that the filter traps 95 percent of the particulates passing through the mask. Filters with the number 100 trap 99.97 percent of the particulates.

Air respirator filters are also colorcoded. In selecting the appropriate

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

13

filter for your application, refer to the manufacturer’s product selection guide.

For sanding wood, the purple filters are adequate. Magenta (pink) canisters are recommended to filter particles from grinding as well as fumes from welding. Neither are suitable for use when spray painting or airbrushing.

For painting, use the 3M 6001 grey cartridges.

Disposable dust masks are only partially effective, which means that they

are better than not wearing anything at all. For sanding wood, a N-95 dust mask is adequate.

The best of these masks are the multi-ply type. The inner ply will trap the very fine particulates. The disadvantage of a dust mask is that none of them fits tightly enough to prevent air leakage that allows some dust past the filter.

If you decide to use a dust mask, buy the multi-ply type with two elastic straps. The top strap fits above your

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Fabricate face-lit and reverse letters, or Trimless® letters with our LetterBox® and LetterForm™ return materials.

For more information:

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

ears and around the back of your head.

The lower strap fits around your neck to better hold the mask tightly against your face. A good cloth mask should be adequate for short-term projects with minimal exposure to dust.

Personally I like the added protection of an air respirator with a P-100 filter. It may be overkill, but I think I am worth the additional expense. The filters trap nearly all of the dust in the air that can lead to health problems, especially the really fine dust less than 2.5 microns that can settle in the bottom of our lungs and do the most damage.

If you airbrush a solvent-based paint or spray lacquers, you need an organic vapor (OV) cartridge with a dust prefilter for your air respirator. These cartridges contain activated charcoal that traps organic vapors from certain type of paints and cleaning solvents.

The charcoal continues to filter these vapors until it reaches its capacity. Because its capacity is limited, you should store the cartridges in an air-tight plastic bag when you are not using it. Typically the cartridges will give you about forty hours of use.

You should take steps to ensure good air circulation in your shop and wear an air respirator for the job.

These OV filters are not suitable protection against isocyanates found in certain types of paints, such as two-part urethanes. Painting urethanes typically require a supplied air respirator (SAR), which is supplied with fresh air from a specialized compressor.

A half-mask respirator is lightweight and comfortable to wear. It fits tightly against your face, which prevents dust from leaking past the edges of the mask.

If you have facial hair, just make sure that the mask fits around your beard.

Otherwise you may need to shave.

If you refuse to shave, you will probably need a full-face respirator. These masks provide better protection for anyone. If you are exposed to dust for signshop.com

At the 2016 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, sign makers will gather to experience the newest equipment for rigid and soft substrates including flatbeds, roll-to-rolls, dye sublimation and much more from the industry’s leading exhibitors. You’ll also see the most innovative software, automation solutions and color management tools available.

Don’t miss the best show for signage: 2016 SGIA Expo, September 14–16 in Las Vegas!

many hours during the work day, this may be your most prudent choice.

A battery-powered respirator with fans to provide fresh, recirculated air will cost more, but they will keep the dust out of your eyes. What’s more is that the face shield also provides some degree of eye protection.

Damaged equipment should be discarded, while filters should be replaced based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Conclusion Remember that wearing an air respirator is not intended as a substitute for good shop ventilation. Nor is good ventilation a substitute for the correct respiratory apparatus. The two go handin-glove.

You should take steps to ensure good air circulation in your shop to reduce the amount of particulates and vapors in the air, as well as wear the recommended air respirator for the job.

An employer is required to inform his or her employees of mandatory OSHA information, if a respirator is used. This pertains to whether the employer provides the respirator or the employee uses his own.

What’s more, if you are an employer, you must establish and implement a written respiratory protection program. This program must include training on how to use, maintain, and store an air respirator.

An employer is also required to determine that the employee is safe to use the equipment. You must also monitor that this equipment is used, maintained, and stored properly. (Note: The OSHA requirements do not apply to dust masks.)

Everyone in your shop should understand the health hazards associated with dust and the precautions that they should take to minimize the risk. Exposure to dust not only affects your life, but fine dust can also permeate your power tools affecting the life of the equipment.

Also keep in mind that if you are painting or printing, failure to control dust in your shop can affect the quality of your work. And that can impact relationships with customers and ultimately the health of your business.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

signshop.com

HOW-TO

By Mark K. Roberts

Printing

An Order of Parking Lot Signs

Pull on in for some new parking lot signs.

S

everal months ago, I was out at a long-time customer’s BBQ restaurant delivering a few internal signs for him. While there, I noticed that his parking lot signs were in serious need of a facelift! I had made these signs about seven years ago, so it was definitely time to make some fresh signs for him.

I saw the owner working behind the serving counter (where he’s been over the past twenty years I’ve known him). So I asked if he’d be interested in updating his signs and was pleasantly surprised when he replied, “Absolutely!”

As sign business owners, it’s a good idea to follow-up with existing clients to enhance their signage every year. Many times, all you have to do is simply ask.

Of course, being a long time purveyor of quality signage and lettering, I always attempt to take my products to the next level. Restaurant clients are looking for a competitive edge, and when we offer to create a thematic look for their on-site advertising, the sale is almost automatic.

This BBQ restaurant owner shares a parking lot with several other tenants. Parking is always at a premium, which necessitates the installation of custom parking signs.

The existing parking signs have seen their better days, and the original set of digital prints was ready for the recycling bin.

We printed the new signs out on our Roland VersaCAMM 540 printer/cutter and then lightly aerosol-sprayed two coatings of Frog Juice™ clear coat onto them. I was careful to avoid runs,

Spraying Frog Juice onto the prints.

signshop.com

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

17

Mounting the new sign to the wooden rail.

A weather-beaten sign in need of some TLC.

drips, or errors during the spraying.

After an hour of drying the Frog Juice-coated prints in the nice December weather in Houston, the new batch of parking signs were now updated with a clean, fresh look. What a difference in appearance!

We moved on to cutting the new aluminum panels and round-cornered all four corners.

Next we punched two holes per sign (on centers) for the pole mounts.

Finally we adhered the digital prints to each of the sign faces, cutting the

mounting holes for the bolts and screws.

Now our digitally printed sign faces were clean, crisp, and inviting to all the lovers of great BBQ ribs and chicken!

(Note: We also changed fonts for an updated look, which is a continuing process, in order to capture the eyes of prospective customers.)

We mounted the other four parking signs onto the wooden short fence next to the entrance with plated wood screws.

The four signs were installed below the top railing, equally spaced and centered, between the parking lot stripes.

Attaching the new sign to the pole.

These new signs are light years above the former old-and-tired versions.

While out and about, take a look at the conditions of the signs around your town. You won’t have to go very far to see some sad signs in need of a little tender loving care. Take photos and make accurate notes, so you’ll be prepared to close more jobs that you enjoy.

Mark K. Roberts is a thirty-nine-year sign maker, designer, and instructor. If you have comments or questions, email him at markrobertsigns@gmail.com.

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all Photos: designer wraps custom wraps & graphics.

Wrap s / By J e f f Wo ot e n / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

The global rust wrap trend provided inspiration for this chrome-copper look.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

signshop.com

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A “Riveting” Chrome Wrap

The rust wrap trend inspires a unique color change-out.

D

esigner Wraps® Custom Wraps & Graphics (designerwraps. com) in Millville, New Jersey, is a full-service custom wraps and graphics shop comprised of an unmatched team of professionals that work on designing, producing, and installing a variety of graphics projects and vehicle and architectural wraps.

Led by business owner and certified graphics installer Sean Tomlin, the company has worked on its fair share of color change-out wraps for a number of exotic-style cars—multiple Nissan GTRs, a Fisker Karma hybrid, an Audi R8 Spyder, and a Verde Ithaca Lamborghini (“Revved Up for Chrome Wraps,” October 2012).

But when the owner of a plain white Factory Five GTM Supercar came to the shop requesting a more exciting “look” for it, Tomlin had to put his wrapping skills to the test.

The client gave Tomlin carte blanche for the design. “He only requested that the wrap had to be chrome but asked if we could do it in copper,” says Tomlin.

“You really can’t [do this], but I told

signshop.com

him we could produce any custom color if that’s what he was looking for.”

The car owner really liked Brushed Black Metallic and asked Tomlin to incorporate that into whatever ideas he had. “But I still couldn’t get copper out of my head,” says Tomlin.

After searching the Internet for copper-related imagery, Tomlin came across the photo of a riveted copper wall. Bingo! He knew this would be the perfect color to base the wrap.

Tomlin contacted his friend Scott Kepple, owner of design firm Skepple Design (skepple.net) in Jacksonville, Florida, because he had been experiencing success with the “rust” wrap trend that’s sweeping the globe. In fact, MetroRestyling offers an exclusive line of rust designs by Skepple that people can buy pre-printed.

Once a staple of the “rat rod” community (the on-purpose rusting of a car’s exterior), the rust look is now a big draw for street cred. “It seemed like, every day, a new rust-colored wrap was popping up on my Instagram,” says Tomlin.

Tomlin and Kepple drew up a few back-and-forth rough drafts. “I ex-

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

21

Feature / By Author ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

To give the wrap a “riveted” effect, installers glued on actual painted rivets.

plained to him that, though the design has a patina-look, I didn’t want it looking like rust,” says Tomlin.

To achieve a realistic cooper appearance, Tomlin decided laminating the printed chrome in super-high gloss would work best.

Designer Wraps printed the design onto Avery Conform Chrome film using their Mutoh ValueJet 1614 and laminated it with Avery DOL 1460 high gloss overlaminate. Tomlin added Avery Brushed Black Metallic SW900 to break up the copper and make it look more aggressive.

Tomlin took many measurements of the car and compiled them to scale before taking it apart to apply the printed wrap panels to it.

The GTM Supercar features matte white paint, so there was a concern that the vinyl might not stick to the matte surface.

Designer Wraps washed the car and thoroughly prepped the surface with alcohol. “The vinyl stuck very well across the entire car with no problem,” says Tomlin.

22

They installed the chrome vinyl one panel at a time in their climate-controlled facility with the love and patience that chrome requires. The end-result is a “true-looking” copper featuring a patina shade that also stands out.

The car also features actual rivets, appearing to joiin the copper-patina panels

Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

together.

Tomlin thought of this solution after coming across a car in Russia on the Internet that had small clear plastic tabs stuck to the wrap to make it look like rivets. However when Designer Wraps applied the clear tabs the exact same way, it looked too fake. “And ‘fake’ was the last

The copper-patina design was printed onto Conform Chrome film and combined with Brushed Black Metallic..

signshop.com

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The shop installed the chrome vinyl one panel at a time in its climatecontrolled facility.

thing we wanted,” says Tomlin.

One of Tomlin’s installers suggested using actual rivet heads instead. “We tested the process first and applied them to some sample pieces on the car,” says Tomlin. “Once I saw the raw aluminum finish of the rivet head against the colored chrome, I knew we had to paint them.”

Designer Wraps used a combination of AutoDip bronze and Rust-Olem

24

gold coloring to achieve the tarnished look of the rivet itself.

The company installed the bronzecolored rivet heads one-by-one by hand, simply adhering them on with a small dollop of SuperGlue. They aligned the hundreds of rivets in straight lines and spaced them evenly throughout while, at the same time, making sure they didn’t overdo it by adding too many.

Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

Using rivets made the normal paneling of a car quite an installation challenge.

“Figuring out seam placement and overlaps was difficult,” says Tomlin. “It wasn’t so much hiding them like we typically do but rather having to show them off for a more ‘riveted’ effect,” says Tomlin.

Tomlin intentionally kept the look of the car “under wraps” from its owner, only telling him the idea he had but never showing it to him. “When he saw the car for the first time, he was speechless!” says Tomlin. “And that makes it all worth it.”

Designer Wraps and Kepple were both thrilled to create something unique and amazing. In fact, Tomlin can’t give enough credit to his talented crew for accomplishing this visionary project (John Manera for prepping the car and breakdown and Aaron Bender for installing the wrap and all the several hundred rivets).

Tomlin loves when his customers trusts him with projects like this. “It allows [my company] to show off our creativity and capabilities,” he says. “It’s also great knowing that, at the end of the day, everything we did is completely removable.

That’s the true beauty of vinyl wraps!

signshop.com

ADA/Wayfinding A supplement to sign builder illustrated

13

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May 2016 // SBI In-Touch

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ADA/WAYFINDING: Case Study

Emergency!

Hospital Seeks Sign Systems The DIRM modular directory system and DIRP portrait-style directories provided Tri-State Memorial with the ability to display a variety of doctors’ names and clinic locations at-a-glance for patients and visitors. Curved wall signage was an ideal solution for identifying rooms and areas within the facility.

FASTSIGNS of Lewiston also selected projecting and suspended signage to accompany the directory solutions and further identify elevators, stairs, restrooms, and more. The signage so-

Cover Photo: Nova Polymers. photo: FASTSIGNS of Lewiston.

We needed an affordable, variable, and user-friendly signage system.

Curved wall signage was an ideal solution for identifying areas within the facility.

T

ri-State Memorial Hospital, a community-owned hospital located in Clarkston, Washington and serving communities in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, was in need of a variable and consistent wayfinding and room identification system throughout the facility. The signage solution needed to offer a variety of functions, while remaining

signshop.com

easy-to-read to assist doctors, patients, and visitors in navigating the facility to different wings and specialty clinics.

FASTSIGNS® of Lewiston, Idaho partnered with Sign Pro Systems (signprosystems.com), the modular wayfinding division of Orbus Exhibit & Display Group, to design and manufacture signage that would met their client’s needs here.

lutions integrated seamlessly with the natural design developed by Wooley Designs, another partner in the project.

“We needed an affordable, variable, and user-friendly signage system for the Tri-State Memorial Hospital, and FASTSIGNS of Lewiston provided us with the perfect solution,” says Sheila Wooley of Wooley Design Associates.

“The SignPro signage systems offer a sign type for every room and wayfinding location and make it easy to customize and incorporate the signage into the entire design concept.”

The simple, easy-to-read signage installed here provide Tri-State Memorial Hospital with a sleek solution that will allow for updates as their facility and staff continue to grow.

May 2016 // SBi ADA/Wayfinding

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ADA/WAYFINDING: Sales | By Charles J. Kelly Jr.

Moving Beyond

ADA Fear

Afraid of selling ADA signs? There’s a cure for that! bilities Act (ADA), revised in September 2010 and made mandatory nationwide effective March 15, 2012.

Title II relates to State and Government Facilities. Title III covers Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities.

The rules for where ADA signs are required are covered in Chapter 2: Scoping Requirements, within Article 216 of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The rules for what is required for manufacturing and installation are in Chapter 7: Communications, Elements and Features, Article 703 of the 2010 Standards.

Most of it is self-explanatory, but if you can’t find an answer to your question or have trouble interpreting a piece you need, check out the information on ada.gov or call the ADA Information line at 800/514-0301 where you'll find a patient, helpful person on the other end.

There are no foolish questions. They are there to help you get it right.

Seeking Help

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Facing Fears Let’s start with facing your ADA fear head on.

You’ll find the regulations on the U.S. Department of Justice’s Web site ( justice. gov). Invest your time to read them. It’s confidence building, and it will pay dividends later on. There you’ll find a list of resources and documents for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disa-

SBi ADA/Wayfinding // May 2016

Then Do It If you have the production capability, begin by making a few practice sets.

Follow the rules for the basic layout of a functional, standard ADA sign and, signshop.com

all photos: clarke systems.

I

f you avoid selling and installing ADA signage because you fear it’s overwhelmingly complicated, rigged with trap-setting rules, and too time-consuming to bother with, then let me paraphrase what former President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.”

The best way to deal with fear is to face it head on or seek help from professionals.

On the other hand, you can turn to the professionals—the Web sites of wholesalers and suppliers or large-scale sign companies who have conveniently sorted out the rules and put them into laymen’s terms for their customers. They also list selected fonts they've tested against the requirements.

once you have it down, move on from there to more design-oriented shapes.

Most ADA-specific font programs help to take care of the letter spacing requirements, as well as Grade 2 Braille translations. As long as you meet the criteria for the functional aspects, there are few limits to how attractive you can make the signs. The tests that work become your sales samples.

Some shops buy the basic sign from a supplier and then embellish it with custom-shaped background layers and client-specific graphics to fit a design scheme. You’ll also find insert signs that meet the requirements for raised letters and Braille on clear acrylic lenses backed by graphic paper inserts that you can produce.

Others rely on the professionals to manufacture the entire sign for them— meeting the client’s design specifications.

Regardless of who makes it, you have to understand the requirements of the particular job to be sure you deliver a sign program that meets the buyer’s design expectations and that will pass inspection when the owner goes for an occupancy permit. To do that, be sure to check not only the Federal but also local regulations.

A lot depends upon the type of project: corporate, health care, educational, retail, etc. Some institutions must follow additional regulations.

To meet the buyer’s expectations, you’ll want to know a few things. signshop.com

For instance, is the sign program basic or are they looking for enhanced design details? What does their budget dictate? Is a designer already involved?

Is wayfinding part of the program?

We suggest you keep it simple in the early stages, giving your clients a basic understanding of how to develop their sign program in conformity with the regulations and learning which elements are most important to the customer.

If you will be designing the signs, take your cues from architectural and design elements in the space itself or from the client’s brand identity.

If this is a moderate to large-scale project, a site survey is critical for you and the buyer. You’ll know what you're getting into. You may discover challenges the buyer didn’t consider. And you’ll

have a sound rationale for your proposal.

Once you've been selected, you can use your survey to set up the message schedule and location map for the project. Make sure you have complete sign-off from the designated decision maker at each stage of the process to avoid mistakes and costly overruns.

The regulations specify positioning for ADA signage. When you’re installing multiple signs in a given area, be consistent in placing them—i.e., in a hallway along which signs are posted at every door—so that they're at the same height for uniformity within the specified space.

An unexpected challenge comes when a door opens out, toward the person reading the sign. If it's too close to the door jam, there’s a possibility that someone exiting through that doorway

The best way to deal with fear is to face it head on or seek help from professionals.

May 2016 // SBi ADA/Wayfinding

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ADA/WAYFINDing: Sales | By Charles J. Kelly Jr.

could potentially hit the person reading the sign in the face with the door as they open it. We suggest avoiding close proximity to the door molding and centering the sign in the eighteen-inch field specified in the law.

If you find the rules too challenging, you can always turn to the professionals for more than guidelines on their Web sites. Many companies and suppliers will offer advice about a job, provide you with signs you can embellish, or manufacture the whole program for you so you can keep selling.

cus to the project and encouraging safe access and egress for all. And they benefit the sign industry by creating a demand for product.

No matter which way you approach this, as a sign industry professional, it makes good sense to have a working knowledge of the ADA regulations.

To paraphrase another popular quote, “Chance favors your prepared mind.”

Who knows what RFP will come across your desk next? Wouldn’t you hate to have a little fear that causes you to give up the job of a lifetime because you didn’t know the rules?

Conclusion While the ADA regulations create fear Charles J. Kelly Jr., is president of in some, they also create consistency Clarke Systems (clarkesystems. and order. com), a manufacturer and distribuIn the long run, they benefit more tor of ADA and wayfinding signage.

5/15/12for 1:48:36 than themetomic_THIRDPAGE.pdf physically challenged You PMcan email him at ckellyjr@ whom they’re intended by giving a fo- clarkesystems.com.

Metomic Corporation stocks a complete line of Standoffs, from 3/8" diameter to 1 1/2".

We offer two stock finishes, anodized brushed aluminum and polished chrome.

Call today to speak directly with a manufacturing expert that can guide you towards the best and most economical solutions.

Charles J. Kelly Jr.

of

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SBi ADA/Wayfinding // May 2016

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ADA/WAYFINDING: Style | By Mike Santos

You have the obligation to make sure the work you’re producing meets ADA guidelines.

The Non-compliance Zone

A

DA signs are designed, specified, and fabricated every day.

Some are done the right way, and well, others are not.

The truth is that the guidelines for ADA signs are not complicated. There are a few key aspects that all ADA signs must comply with and a few simple rules that must be followed.

The problem with non-compliant signs can be boiled down to two issues.

The first issue is a lack of knowledge, and the second issue comes from ignoring the ADA guidelines to meet a specific design aesthetic.

On March 28, 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) increased the penalties associated with ADA violations. The penalty for the first violation is $75,000 with each additional offense being $150,000—real money for sure.

As a sign fabricator, architect, or designer, you have the obligation to make

S8

sure the work you’re producing meets the ADA guidelines.

Here are three common things wrong with ADA signs.

1. Font: A Nasty Four-letter Word The word “font” can be one of the nastiest four-letter words when it comes to design. I’m not sure why so many people ignore the fact that the tactile on ADA signs should be Sans Serif or the fact that the character size is regulated.

The language in the 2010 Standard for Accessible Design (SAD) is straightforward: 703.2.2 Case. Characters shall be uppercase.

703.2.3 Style. Characters shall be Sans Serif. Characters shall not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms.

703.2.4 Character Proportions. Characters shall be selected from fonts

SBi ADA/Wayfinding // May 2016

where the width of the uppercase letter “O” is 55 percent minimum and 110 percent maximum of the height of the uppercase letter “I.” 703.2.5 Character Height. Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8inch (16 mm) minimum and two inches (51 mm) maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter “I.” Not everyone wants to use Helvetica for everything. I get it (although I personally like Helvetica). There are so many other ways to make your signs decorative with the use of color, shape, materials, etc.

There’s also the option to create dual message signs where you can have the tactile blend in with the background, as long as the same message is contrasting with the background. This scenario allows you to use Serif fonts for the visual message. signshop.com

all photos: nova polymers.

Reasons your signs are not ADA-compliant.

703.1 General. Signs shall comply with 703. Where both visual and tactile characters are required, either one sign with both visual and tactile characters, or two separate signs, one with visual, and one with tactile characters, shall be provided.

There are several exemptions in the code that refer to the requirement for dual message signs. To read more, refer to the 2010 Standard.

2. Kerning: Do Those Letters Look Funny?

Kerning may possibly be the most hated part of the ADA. The new 2010 Standard says there needs to be a minimum of 1/8-inch between the two closets points of any tactile characters.

703.2.7 Character Spacing. Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent raised characters within a message, excluding word spaces. Where characters have rectangular cross sections, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) minimum and four times the raised character stroke width maximum. Where characters have other cross sections, spacing between individual raised characters shall be 1/16-inch (1.6 mm) minimum and four times the raised character stroke width maximum at the base of the cross

For compliant signs, apply common sense and follow the rules. sections, and 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) minimum and four times the raised character stroke width maximum at the top of the cross sections. Characters shall be separated from raised borders and decorative elements 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) minimum.

When you think about it, this is pretty simple. The tricky thing is that some character pairs are naturally closer together, meaning that, in order to be ADA-compliant, the character sets need to be spaced further apart than normal, making the character spacing appear wrong at times.

The 1/8-inch kerning minimum also makes words longer and causes issues with the size of the sign as you cannot compress the word or reduce the size of the character below 5/8-inch.

Tactile is required so people with visual disabilities can trace their fingers along the tactile to read the information on the sign. The number of people

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Ways to make your signs decorative include use of color, shape, and materials.

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800.331.1891

www.clarkesystems.com May 2016 // SBi ADA/Wayfinding

S9

ADA/WAYFINDING: Style | By Mike Santos

The size of tactile is simple with little room for interpretation.

The problem with non-compliant signs can be boiled down to a lack of knowledge and ignoring the ADA guidelines in order to meet a specific design aesthetic. that can actually read Grade II Braille is low, thus the requirement for tactile.

3. Character Size: Too Big or Too Small?

The size of tactile is simple with little room for interpretation. The minimum height is 5/8-inch and the maximum is two inches. We often see this rule broken when the design doesn’t allow enough room for compliant Braille and tactile. This also happens a lot with certain frame systems.

S10

703.2.5 Character Height. Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8inch (16 mm) minimum and two inches (51 mm) maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter “I.” The exception to this rule is with the dual message sign. In this case, the tactile is allowed to be as small as 1/2-inch.

Exception: Where separate raised and visual characters with the same information are provided, raised character height shall be permitted to be 1/2-

SBi ADA/Wayfinding // May 2016

inch (13 mm) minimum.

By following these three rules and applying a bit of common sense, you’ll create compliant ADA signs that will help all people navigate the built environment with confidence and ease. There are others, but these three highlight the main areas. To read my take on other noncompliant factors, visit signshop.com.

Mike Santos is director of Marketing at Nova Polymers, Inc., and can be reached at mike@novapolymers.com. signshop.com

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Supplying the Industry for 35 years!

LaserBits has announced the availability of Dimensional™ Design Mounts, which offer a unique, contemporary, and attractive way to display a wide range of products (such as eye-catching point-of-purchase displays) or design a complete interior signage system.

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800.331.1891

www.clarkesystems.com May 2016 // SBi ADA/Wayfinding

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all photos: Howard industries.

ADA/WAYFINDING: Post-and-Panels | By Bill Freeman

Consider visitor navigation on a property when placing post-and-panels.

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SBi ADA/Wayfinding // May 2016

signshop.com

Posting Your

Message

The art of using post-and-panels for wayfinding.

P

ost-and-panel sign systems make up a large portion of the freestanding signage you see on properties today. These signs are perfect fits for applications like wayfinding, site identification, and directional signage.

When considering ideal places to set up a post-and-panel sign system, try to think of places requiring visitor navigation—a campus setting (such as a school or a university), a shopping complex, a business park, a healthcare facility, etc.

Post-and-panel signs are available in a wide variety of configurations—doublepost, flag, ceiling, etc.—and they can be customized using paint colors and finishes, decorative posts, designer post caps, word bards, and custom-shaped toppers and panels. LED and incandescent lights can even provide decorative options for some models.

When it comes to posts for these systems, aluminum substrates are strong, lightweight, and non-corrosive. These attributes enable them to withstand a number of weather extremes for years without affecting their appearance.

Aluminum posts can also be mitered and welded, providing the option to display the sign face(s) at different viewing angles.

Meanwhile steel posts can be used for larger signage needs, due to their ability to withstand stronger wind loads.

Aluminum panels can easily be fabricated with radius, peak, slope, or customshaped tops and bottoms. These types of panels can also feature routed copy and/ or graphics backed with polycarbonate for illumination purposes.

Painted aluminum panels easily accept applied cut vinyl letters and logos signshop.com

and routed letters and logos.

However two of the latest decorating trends involve either covering entire panels with solvent inkjet-printed vinyl graphics (similar to vehicle wraps) or printing the message(s) directly to the panel substrate using a flatbed printer.

For a successful installation, an installer needs to know the desired sign's location and the method in which it will be installed. Installation methods include direct embedment, base plate surface mount, wall mount, and ceiling mount, to name a few.

Before attempting any installation, visit the location. Verify that the sign's placement will be functional and easily read by passing vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. Check all local codes for compliancy.

Plan ahead and stake the sign area;

The Power of Project Partnering

ADA & Wayfinding

Selling

Put the resources of Clarke Systems to work for you by partnering with us to win important ADA & wayfinding sign programs in your region. And, teaming up with us means support for: • Meetings & Presentations • Bid Review & Estimating • Design & Planning • Document Creation • Project Management

Supplying the Industry for 35 years!

Posts can be made from aluminum, steel, or wood.

800.331.1891

www.clarkesystems.com May 2016 // SBi ADA/Wayfinding

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ADA/WAYFINDING: Post-and-Panels | By Bill Freeman

Aluminum panels can be fabricated with custom-shaped tops and bottoms.

buried utility lines can quickly become a sign installer’s nightmare.

The size, mounting height, and display angle of the sign are important considerations, as well as passing traffic (both vehicular and pedestrian) readability and signage functionality.

Envisioning the signage project through the eyes of a first-time visitor of the facility or property is the best way to approach wayfinding planning and signage placement. How do you want the visitor to navigate through the facility or property and

S14

use post-and-panel sign systems to do so?

Decide what messages and signage placement will provide the best possible navigation throughout the location.

Modularity is important. Facilities are often changing and growing; using a modular sign system allows these changes, additions, or repairs to be easily made, extending the life of the signage project.

Post-and-panel signs are very easy to install with the use of standard hand tools and some bags of concrete. However note the placement of the sign. Is it very close

SBi ADA/Wayfinding // May 2016

to a roadway, inviting passing traffic to throw road debris onto it or plows to pile snow onto or against the sign?

Keep the sign clear of bushes, protecting the sign surface from unwanted scratches. Placement near sprinklers should also be avoided because some recycled water will stain sign finishes.

Bill Freeman is vice president of Architectural Sales at Howard Industries (howardindustries.com) in Fairview, Pennsylvania.

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Shipping Success

all photos: afp global logistics; signage by gable.

What you need to know to ship your signs safely.

M

uch is written about the fabrication and installation of signs, but how about what happens in between—the shipping and transportation of those signs to the install site?

AFP Global Logistics in Hanover, Maryland, a family- and women-owned business started in 1991 that specializes in all things shipping, handles this side of the sign business. They started servicing signage shipments about fifteen signshop.com

years ago, and since then, it’s become 35 percent of their business—and they constantly bring on additional customers thanks to word of mouth and customer referrals.

“In the Baltimore area, where our actual headquarters are located,” says Brandi Whitecotton, vice president of Sales at AFP Global Logistics, “there are numerous, large sign manufacturers that have the need for partnering up with their installation teams on the

Clear communication between the shop and shipping company helps prevent problems.

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

25

of transportation. AFP even helps the post office handle its shipments.

But no matter who a sign shop decides to work with for its shipping needs, Whitecotton says there are some things they should keep in mind.

Communication Keeping the lines of communication open between the client, the installer, and any other involved parties is huge, and a shop should ensure they’re working with a company that can manage all of that.

Clear communication upfront also helps prevent problems down the line since the shipping company or sign shop can ensure the installer is ready for a package and has all the equipment they need to handle an incoming shipment.

Shops should focus on shipping details as much as they do fabrication or installation.

other end, setting up deliveries, debris removal, etc. There’s a lot of them here in our market that needed the special white glove type of service.”

Just what does that white glove service

26

Insurance involve? The answer: Everything from setting up delivery appointments (including at special times, like at night) to debris removal at delivery sites to communicating with customers about modes

Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

Shops spend a lot of time, effort, and money on fabricating signs, so it’s important to insure them if they need to be shipped to an installation site. Damages during shipping can be costly and take up time, which can push a project

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timeline back.

“If you’re getting ready to put a sign up and you’ve got a scratch on the paint and have to bring somebody on site to fix that, the cost of that is expensive, and you want to get that money back,” says Whitecotton. “We’re all about finding the value of the product and determining whether we should insure it on our end to protect our client or encourage them to do rider policies on their own to insure their product.”

The proper packaging of signs can prevent damage.

Packaging Insufficient packaging can even affect insurance claims.

“When sign companies cut corners and don’t enclose crates for finished signs, they’re leaving a lot of risk for damages,” says Whitecotton. “Even if a company were to purchase insurance on a damaged shipment, and it wasn’t packaged correctly, our insurance company would deny the claim due to improper packaging.”

AFP aims educate their clients on proper packaging.

For those they frequently work with,

they get to know their freight and can point out weaknesses or vulnerable spots in the packaging of previous shipments where they might want to beef it up on current packages. For new clients, they typically have them send a picture of the sign they’re shipping and the dimensions so they can give recommendations.

In specific instances where a more custom touch is needed, AFP turns to its partner package companies. These partners are all over and can even be dispatched to a customer’s location to work one-on-one with them. AFP also

has relationships with special crating teams that can custom build crates, when needed.

AFP even offers options for shops that don’t want to package a sign or that have a sign that proves difficult to package. AFP can instead deliver the sign to the site on a twenty-four-foot straight truck. “We like to give our clients options,” says Whitecotton.

AFP offers up some basic pointers to keep in mind for packing signs: + Design your packaging for both the contents and the means of transport. For

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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example, if the sign will be shipped by air freight or any other type of shipping that requires additional handling, then overpacking should be done. + Reduce the risk of theft during shipping by making sure no one can identify the contents of your package.

Use a plain carton or black stretch wrap with non-descript markings.

Modes of Transportation.

Just as packaging is important, how a sign is shipped matters too.

Air freight is ideal for packages with strict time schedules, but shops should be aware that dimensions like size and weight can restrict signs from air freight.

“If they’re not approved by the TSA as an actual business, then the TSA can reject us from moving anything on an aircraft, as well,” says Whitecotton.

As far as shipping by truck, shops have two options: FTL (full truckload) and LTL (less than truckload).

FTL shipping means a shop has enough product to fill an entire truck or they need a dedicated truck to handle a delicate/high-risk sign. FTL is

faster than LTL shipping and ideal for high-risk shipments since the packaging remains in one truck with minimal handling. However it’s more expensive.

LTL shipping offers shops a more cost-effective option when their ship-

Shops spend a lot of time, effort, and money on fabricating signs, so it’s important to insure them if they need to be shipped.

ments aren’t high-risk and don’t require the full space of a truck. The shipment price is based on the travel distance, overall weight, and type of freight.

LTL shipping also typically offers guaranteed, on-time delivery to keep your project on track. Shops should be

sure to sufficiently and carefully package signs since they will be handled more and travel with other packages.

On the Receiving End Naturally sign shops are concerned about getting signs packaged and seeing them off via the best shipping method, but they should also consider the receiver on the other end.

“A lot of these smaller sign companies we deliver to are residences, and we have to be careful what type of vehicle we use,” says Cathy Moon, president of AFP Global Logistics. “You can’t send in a big, fifty-three-foot trailer when they can only accommodate a box truck that’s maybe twenty-four feet.”

It’s also important to make sure smaller shops or businesses are able to handle your sign shipment, especially if it’s extremely heavy or large. The client receiving the package may need special equipment on their end to handle it.

Overall shops should focus on the details of shipping as much as they do fabrication or installation to ensure their signs get from point A to point B safely.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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Aer ac h Jo F t ui tr e c/t uBrya lA/uBtyh o r s/e/ p / /h/ /a/n / /d/ /C/a/ /r/o/ l/ /B / /e/r/k/ e / // / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

A flagship restaurant gets an all-new branding look with the addition of three custom signs.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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// / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Reservations for Signage An appetizing combination of dimensional materials, vinyl, and lighting.

all photos: ramsay signs.

W

hen Bamboo Sushi began planning their new flagship restaurant in Portland, Oregon, they turned to Ramsay Signs to develop a new branding look.

“Based on their input on interior décor, ambiance, color preferences, and the image they wanted to present, our designer developed a new branding look for this location, and the client ended up falling in love with our designs,” says Darin Hauer, sales representative at Ramsay Signs.

Ramsay Signs is a 105-year-old company based in Portland, Oregon.

Its sister company, Heath Northwest, is based in Seattle, and the company also maintains offices across Oregon in Salem, Eugene, and Medford.

Under the close management of owners Wendy and Joe Gibson, Ramsay Signs is also a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and is thus able to bid on government contracts that provide certain set-asides for women- and minority-owned businesses.

The company is licensed in seven states, and they utilize a large national network of industry partners who can assist with surveys, permitting, and installation when their crews cannot.

“However all the design and manufacturing of our signage is done at our Portland facility,” says Hauer.

The design process on this project was initiated after Ramsay Signs discussed content, colors, and inspiration for the look of this identity sign with the client. The company’s lead designer, Leslie Sullivan, created a concept drawing with a few color combinations for the main corner projecting sign.

“Any time we must present our own signshop.com

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

33

Feature / By Author /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// custom design from scratch for a client, our design department always comes through with a creative design that perfectly reflects the image and message the customer is seeking to convey,” says Hauer. “ And this project was no exception.”

With input from the customer and a couple of revisions to drill down the designs, Ramsay Signs came up with the final draft. “We then created the smaller, secondary projecting signs using a similar look,” says Hauer.

“I then met with the customer onsite to review color samples for paint and vinyl. Once those [elements] were chosen, production prints were created The production team imported the for the factory.”

This Bamboo Sushi location in files into Gerber Scientific Products downtown Portland features three Omega 5.0/Composer program, where signs: There is one main corner project- they performed clean up and detail ing sign, as well as two smaller second- work on the file to make it production ary projecting signs along each of the ready.

After this step, they exported the file two elevation on the building.

The larger corner projecting sign to a .DXF file for their router.

They then set up the routing files usmeasures ten feet, eight inches tall and ing SAi EnRoute CAD/CAM software three feet wide.

Meanwhile the two accompanying and sent them to their MultiCam Sesmaller signs take on the same look ries 1000 CNC router.

Plotting of the vinyl patterns were as the main projecting sign—just in a more compact version. These two pro- transmitted directly from Omega 5.0/ jecting signs are three feet, eight inch- Composer to a Graphtec plotter.

The three signs are all aluminum es tall and two feet, seven-and-a-half construction starting from raw 5052 inches wide The designs were created using sheet and 6063 tubing and angle stock.

The faces consist of routed 5052 CorelDRAW X7 and Adobe Illustrator CS5. For 3D modeling, the company aluminum with Plexiglas G, 3/4-inch acrylic push-thru graphics that the used SketchUp Pro design software. company routed using high-quality Hartlauer and LMT-Belin router bits.

The acrylic letters were constructed using Gerber high-performance series 220-22 matte black opaque vinyl on the face and diffuser on the back.

Ramsay used Sloan VL+ short (white & green) LED modules to illuminate portions of the signs. (Note: LED lighting was used on these signs in lieu of traditional fluorescent or neon illumination, due to the efficiency of the LED product and their low maintenance needs.)

The exterior of the cabinet was finished using Matthews Acrylic Polyurethane automotive-grade paint and wrapped with 3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finish WG-2944 Bamboo laminate vinyl.

The bamboo graphic portion was rout-

Ramsay Signs created a custom design from scratch for the client, which perfectly reflected the image and message the customer wanted to convey.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The signs are all aluminum construction starting from raw 5052 sheet and 6063 tubing and angle stock.

signshop.com

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

35

Feature / By Author /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ed on the Multi-Cam Series 1000 CNC router and backed with white acrylic.

Ramsay Signs applied Vivid Green 3M 230-156 vinyl to the back of the white acrylic and installed green Sloan VL+ short LED in this portion of the

On a job like this, quality products are important, but customer service is what really separates a sign shop from the rest of the competition. sign, rendering the bamboo white during the day and an illuminating bright green at night.

Meanwhile the signs’ lighting sections are baffled, in order to keep the LED colors contained.

The sign structure is fabricated with

36

tracks inside it and light-gauge aluminum panels with LEDs mounted to each side. These panels slide into the tracks within the sign, so if the LED components are going to require any

Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

service or maintenance later on, the sign makers can easily slide the panels out of the sign via access doors.

Ramsay Signs had its preferred local engineer, Miller Consulting Engineers of Portland, perform the engineering calculations based on projection and wind load tolerances to meet state and national building codes. The physical attachment hardware had to be sufficient to meet the needs of the building construction.

Ramsay installed the signs using one of its fourteen Elliott installation cranes with a two-man basket and jib winch.

When asked to relate his essential advice that is key to a successful signage project, Hauer says that every custom sign manufacturer stresses the “quality” of its products, but at the end of the day, Ramsay Signs strives to set itself apart from the competition.

To accomplish this, Hauer feels customer service is what truly sells.

“These days, salespeople in many trades don’t get back to their customers in a timely manner,” he says. “And they don’t put forth the effort to build the trust or honesty required for successful, long-term client relationships.

“However if you respond to your customers immediately, listen to their wants and ideas, and then provide innovative solutions to [meet] their unique branding needs, they’ll keep coming back to you.” signshop.com

TD3

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I d e n t i t y / B y A s h l e y B r ay / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

all Photos: signtech.

The rebranding of a famous Los Angeles venue called for a signage overhaul.

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

And the

Sign Goes to..

An L.A. theater’s name change requires an awardwinning signage update.

T

he former Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California has hosted such glitz and glam events as the Oscars, the Primetime Emmy Awards, the ESPYs, and the American Music Awards.

But when Microsoft acquired Nokia in 2014, the 7,100-seat venue and 40,000-square-foot open-air plaza had to be rebranded to Microsoft Theater and Microsoft Square, respectively. Doing so called for a signage overhaul.

Enter Signtech (signtech.com), a fullservice sign company in San Diego, California that has been around since 1984 and strives “to be the best sign manufacturing company in the United States.”

Andy Schwartzkopff, vice president of Branding at the real estate investment management company Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL), brought Signtech onto the project, since the two companies have enjoyed a trusted relationship and a history of successful projects together.

signshop.com

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

39

Your Direct Source for Sign Information 3 Easy Steps

Receive vital product and service information from manufacturers and distributors by completing the adjacent card or visiting www.signshop.com/infodirect

1. Choose up to 10 categories of interest and check off on card.

2. Select up to 28 suppliers and record InfoDirect # on card.

3. Mail card to start getting info!

Page

InfoDirect #

1

3A Composites USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

32

Outwater Plastics Industries . . . . . 28

2

3M Industrial Adhesives. . . . . . . . . . 3

33

Rapid Tac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3

52

AXYZ International . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3

4Ever Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

34

Roland DGA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

53

Epson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4

AdamsTech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

35

Saw Trax Mfg. Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 13

54

OKI Data Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5

Advance Corporation/

36

SEGD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

55

Onyx Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Braille-Tac Div . . . . . . . . . . . . . S14

37

SGIA Expo.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

56

Outwater Plastics Industries . . . . . 10

6

Alpina Manufacturing LLC. . . . . . . . 46

38

Sign America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

57

Paradigm Imaging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

7

Alpina Manufacturing LLC. . . . . . . . 46

39

Sign Bracket Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

58

SID Signs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

8

Aprintco.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

40

Signs365. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4

59

SloanLED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

9

A.R.K. Ramos.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

41

Small Balls, Inc. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

10

Brooklyn Hardware, LLC. . . . . . . . . 45

42

Southern Stud Weld, Inc. . . . . . . . . 16

11

Channel Letter USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

43

Stamm Manufacturing.. . . . . . . . . . 30

12

Clarke Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9

44

Stouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

13

Clarke Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S11

45

Universal Laser Systems . . . . . . . . 26

14

Clarke Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S13

46

US LED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

15

Coastal Enterprises. . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

47

USSC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

16

DreamScape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

48

USSC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

17

Duxbury Systems, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 45

49

Vista System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

18

Echod Graphics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

50

Wilkie Mfg., LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

19

Epson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2

51

YJ Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

20

Gemini, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

21

Gravotech Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

22

Howard Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . S2

23

International Sign Association. . . . 47

24

J. Freeman Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

25

Johnson Plastics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . S16

26

Metomic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S6

27

Nixalite of America Inc. . . . . . . . . . 46

28

Nova Polymers.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

29

Orbus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

30

Orbus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

31

Ornamental Post, Panel & Traffic. . 45

InfoDirect #

40

Company

Sign Builder Illustrated // May January 2016 2014

Company

Page

InfoDirect #

Company

Page

Companies in Sign Show

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signage elements appear as if they were floating off of the building.

The light boxes for the Microsoft rooftop logo.

Lighting in a Lead Role Signtech worked with JLL, building owner AEG, Yusuke Ito (architect with Gensler), and Ron Sasaki (head of Design at Microsoft) on the sign designs.

One of the biggest hurdles during this phase was finding the right material and the proper color temperature for the LED lighting to accurately reproduce the true color of Microsoft’s logo in the rooftop sign and channel letters.

The team tested a few different lighting and material combinations before Microsoft settled on SloanLED’s V180 Large LED modules. The product was chosen for its brightness and because its Kelvin temperature accurately reproduced the colors of Microsoft’s logo.

On this job, Signtech was tasked with providing forty to fifty interior and exterior signs (including blade signs, entrance signs, wayfinding signage, and ADA signs).

The project also included two very visible sign types—a 50-by-50-foot illusignshop.com

minated Microsoft logo on the rooftop, and four eyebrow signs featuring an illuminated Microsoft logo and channel letters spelling out “Microsoft.” All the signs were designed to minimize any visible fasteners and to make all the

Special Achievement on a Rooftop Logo The 50-by-50-foot rooftop logo is to be viewed by cameras in helicopters flying over events, and it is the largest logo in

May 2016 // Sign Builder Illustrated

41

The rooftop logo is the largest in Microsoft’s history.

Microsoft’s history. Fittingly Signtech had some pretty big hurdles to overcome in its design and installation.

Because the logo is flat on the roof, Signtech had to contend with the puddling of rain on the surface, water drainage, and its serviceability. “They didn’t allow us to tilt the logo, so we had to

make it so that the faces would shed the water,” says Art Navarro, vice president/ partner of Signtech. “We went through multiple plans before we were able to get the water to actually shed and drain properly.”

The solution was a proprietary system with a flexible substrate material

supported by clear rigid supports and trusses to allow for water runoff and proper face illumination.

With this problem solved, the logo was built modularly using 3M Panaflex with 3M first-surface vinyl and the accompanying UV overlaminate.

“There are four sections in the Microsoft logo,” says Patty Soria, production manager and partner at Signtech, who was in charge of overseeing the production of all signs to make sure everything exceeded the clients’ expectations. “Each section was built in two pieces and brought up on the roof and then assembled up on the roof. The faces were then stretched in the field on the roof of the arena.”

The theater’s structural engineer was consulted to approve that the roof could hold the oversized logo and that the attachment methods could withstand high winds.

To get the logo pieces onto the roof, Signtech had to rent a large hydro crane and close down the street while they were unloading the pieces onto the roof. Because of the disruption, this

An Easier Way to get Your Message Across Advertise In Contact Jeff Sutley (East Coast) at jeffsutley@sbpub.com or 212-620-7233 or Heather Bonato (Midwest, West Coast) at hbonato@sbpub.com or 212-620-7225 or Amy Lennox (Marketplace, Buyer’s Guide) at alennox@sbpub.com or 212-620-7221

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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part of the installation had to be done in one night. From there, it took about a week to assemble the logo and bolt it to a steel structure on the roof.

Signtech made sure future access for maintenance would be easy. “These faces are so big [that] we actually installed all the LEDs on a track so they’re all able to pull out,” says David Schauer, president of Signtech. “Every row of LEDs is on its own individual track. We can access all the transformers and all the LEDs without having to remove the faces.”

Outstanding Channel Letters in a Supporting Structure Signtech also faced a design and installation challenge on the eyebrow sign spelling out “Microsoft.”

The clients wanted the letters to appear as if they’re floating off the side of the building. To achieve this, Signtech created a custom steel bracket system to hang the six-foot-one-inch-tall letters.

“We had to hide and custom-fabricate all of the structural supports so that they contoured to the letters and

then contoured those to the building itself,” says Navarro. “Aesthetically they didn’t want to see any visible structural components. Even the dot on the Microsoft on the ‘i’ has a bridge to make it appear as if it’s floating.”

To further contribute to the floating effect, Signtech made the letters modu-

“It’s rewarding to see our work showcased in such a high-profile venue.”

—David Schauer

lar and built them without trimcap so there are no visible seams. The letters and logos have Lexan® faces.

For the installation, Signtech used a crane and had to work during off hours—midnight to 7 am—since they had to shut down the square and work

around the events going on at the venue. In addition, they had to put special booties on their trucks’ and lifts’ tires, as well as plywood beneath their outriggers, so as not to mark up the concrete.

Critical Acclaim All in all, the project took about nine months to complete, with three of the months tied up with permitting and engineering hurdles.

Everyone was impressed with the end-result though. “We had good input from all, and we worked as a great team, even though we had complexities due to the permitting and then scheduling all this work around a very busy schedule for the venue itself,” says Schwartzkopff. “The finished product exceeded expectations, and although this was a nine-month project, it was a lot of fun and a great experience.”

Signtech was also pleased with the finished product. “This is one of the largest single site rebrandings we’ve ever been part of,” says Schauer. “It’s rewarding to see our work showcased in such a high-profile venue.”

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

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SHOP TALK

B y A s h l e y B r ay

Nick Thompson, NSSA Elite Member

Leading the Charge

N

ick Thompson is in the unique position of having learned about many areas of the sign industry thanks to his previous position as an independent manufacturer’s representative for multiple lines of business and currently as a sales manager at distributor Image Supply Source, Inc., in North Tonawanda, New York.

He found his way into the sign industry through some connections who saw an opening for him, and he hopes to continue to foster the growth that first attracted him to the industry. “Never say ‘no’ to an opportunity to learn something that you don’t know,” says Thompson.

Developing relationships is also a part of that growth, and Thompson was recently accepted as a board member for the Northeastern States Sign Association (NSSA). “I think we need to make sure we’re continuing to have young people invested in these boards,” he says. “We need to make sure we have a little bit of say in what’s going on and also be able to draw from those that have been on the board. They have more wisdom and knowledge of how to do things right and how not to do things.”

Young members of the sign industry may not have the experience, but they certainly have expertise in other areas, such as the adoption of new technology.

“I believe that a younger generation coming in can help force the hand of the industry to grab hold of and move forward with some of the new

technologies that are coming out,” says Thompson. “A lot of shops get complacent and comfortable with doing what they’re doing, but as culture changes and the climate of our economy continues to change, we’re seeing developments in certain areas regarding LED message centers, interior and exterior digital signage, and [how] signs are lit.”

Of course there’s the argument that being more cautious in the adoption of technology is the safer way to go. “Alternatively there’s a positive side to the slow adoption in that we let the other industries test out and fail with certain technologies,” he says. “But we don’t want to necessarily be followers. We can be leaders for change in certain areas.”

And within the sign industry, there are plenty of roles for young people to step up and lead the way to change. This includes a variety of trades, which often require just a certification to get started.

No matter what role young people choose to take on,Thompson cautions them to never bash the competition. “You and your products have to stand on their own two feet,” he says. “This is a small industry.

At some point you may work for them, and you don’t want to ruin your credibility by bashing them.”

This tight-knit industry’s network of support is what Thompson believes will help young people succeed. “If we all work alongside of one another more,” he says, “we can really help develop stronger relationships, bond, and take care of one another.”

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Sign Builder Illustrated // May 2016

photos: (top) nick thompson; (bottom) NSSA.

Young people can serve as leaders as the sign industry changes and grows.

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