Posts Tagged dimensional letters
The World’s Coolest Dimensional Logos, in the World.
Posted by Craig in case studies on April 27th, 2010
Every so often I confess to Bojan that I dream of selling widgets. Imagine if we only had three products: an A, a B, and a C. We could focus on being the world’s best A, B, and C provider, in the world. Further more, imagine that we only sold those widgets to Zoos. Then we could further focus on being the world’s best provider of A, B, and C’s to zoos, in the world. Doesn’t that sound easy?
Easy but incredibly boring. Instead we get to sell all sorts of things to clients in just about any industry. Makes the job exciting but is it ever hard to focus. As an example lets look at dimensional signage, specifically logos.
One of the things we do best is dimensional logo work. We produce logos in lots of different materials, finish the materials in different ways and then install them on all kinds of surfaces. We make logos out of things like router cut Sintra (a pvc material), laser cut acrylic and waterjet cut aluminum. We then finish those logos with paint, or laminate or polish. Finally we mount the logos directly to the wall, pin-mount them to the wall, or mount them to some sort of panel which can be metal or acrylic or wood. As you can imagine the possible combinations are infinite (approximate not actual).
That sounds a bit complicated so let’s just say we can take your logo and put it on the wall and make it look just about however you want it to look.
Recently we finished a project for Surgical Specialists of Charlotte which consisted of producing and installing lobby logos and custom ADA signage in three of their recently rennovated locations. The project was brought to us by a talented local interior designer named Chris DeSantis with Studio1616. We’ve worked with Chris on numerous projects in the past and he came through again with a really cool project. If you are in need of an architect or interior designer we recommend you contact Chris.
For this project Chris specified one of the finer dimensional signage materials: waterjet cut aluminum (WCA). WCA letters are the Caddy of dimensional letters in terms of fit, finish and price. One of the primary advantages of WCA letters is the finish, especially the edges. When you cut letters out of aluminum and then polish them, the surface as well as the sides look the same. It’s expensive, but the final product is sharper looking than just using a metal laminate on sintra and painting the edges. The finish pictured here is the anodized clear finish which is one of our favorites.
Install was really trick because of the rough stone finish, lots of holes to drill in all sorts of cracks and crevices. Getting everything level and plumb takes some skills. Remember that the next time you are shopping for a logo. Pretty concept pictures are one thing, the finished product on the wall is another. We rock at installs.
To compliment the lobby logo we also did some additional dimensional letter work above the check in and check out areas as well as some custom ada signage for the offices and exam rooms. Once nice touch on the ada signage was going with two stand offs instead of four. That really lightened up the visual weight of the signs and as an added bonus, reduced the cost. We might try that again.
The Dude Abides: A Bit of Boutique Branding
Posted by Craig in case studies, new projects on March 16th, 2010
One could argue (as my friend VonSchtiffler is so fond of saying) that Gladiator is one of the greatest movies of all time. Starring Russell Crow, with the late Richard Harris, directed by Ridley Scott, featuring men with nets and tridents trying to kill men with swords, exotic locations, wild animals, a chariot scene, a vexed bi-polar antagonist and a forbidden love interest. I mean, really, what more could you ask for? Gandhi? Chil’ please.
One of my favorite lines from the film, besides “Hello, my name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, you killed my family, prepare to die” is when Cicero (Maximus’ valet) says: ”Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to do.” It’s a great line and I often use it on my children when explaining why my idea of time management may differ from theirs. It also turns out to be a useful way to categorize incoming client requests. Let me explain.
Most of the time, our clients call because they need our help with something they have to do. Sometimes, they call because of something they want to do. Once in a great while they call with something they both have and want to do. That’s when we get excited because usually that means something cool.
Case in point is a project we recently did for Blink Eye Care. It’s worthy of attention for the finished product alone but I bring it up because it all started with somebody seeing something they thought was cool. The something was something they both wanted and had to do and the somebody was Dr. Charlene Henderson.
Dr. Henderson was in the process of starting an eye care practice here in Charlotte with her long time friend and fellow optometrist Dr. Tracy MacIntyre. While surfing the web, she somehow came across what we have come to call the “dude.” The dude is a three dimensional sculpture designed by Skills Division for a retail application in Belgrade, Serbia. She thought it would be a perfect icon for the new practice. We loved the dude, and since Bojan (the Held in Hand Held) is a Serb, we knew we would get on with the design firm like a goat with a glass of red wine. (That’s actually a Serbian idiomatic expression that loses a little something in the translation.)
We did a big dude for the entry way, it’s acrylic in an aluminum frame and has sections inside and outside the practice, so it looks like its coming through the window. We also did a bunch of little dudes for a cityscape in a window in the rear of the space, some more little dudes scattered throughout, and a dimensional logo for behind the reception desk. The pieces are unique, fun, and really help to the brand the practice, setting it apart from your run of the mill Eyeglasses To Go.
If you are in need of new glasses, contacts or anything else eyeball related, we highly recommend you check them out. If you need a design group , with mad skills, check these guys out. If you want some help with your wants to do’s, your have to do’s, or both, check us out.
Are you not entertained?
(In the interest of full disclosure, the thing about the goats was not a true Serbian idiomatic expression. I was writing this when it was late and couldn’t get a hold of Bojanius for a real one.)
Getting Our Vinyl Groove On
Posted by Craig in new projects on August 24th, 2009
Woefully behind on posting. I will try to make it up this week. I know I need to get on some sort of regular schedule but the nature of our work makes it oh so difficult.
We recently completed a really cool direct applied vinyl and dimensional lettering project. The project for Bagby, a purveyor of “innovative ideas for lighting” was designed by our friends at A3 Design. The firm is top notch and Alan and Amanda are a pleasure to work with. We enjoyed partnering with them on this project and look forward to doing so again.
The design they came up with used solid colors of direct applied vinyl and painted sintra letters to add some interesting graphical elements to the interior and exterior of the new office/design center. The overall effect is similar to custom paint but at a fraction of the price. It’s durable, low maintenance and can be removed/changed/updated/added to down the road. The use of dark vinyl on light walls and viceversa really makes the graphics pop.
We really like the overall look of the finished project and would love to do some more. If this catches your eye, let us know and we will hook you up.
Lustrous New Logo for the Lobby.
Posted by Craig in new projects on June 12th, 2009
Just installed a new dimensional logo for the lobby we share with the 1060 boys.
The sign is 1/2″ acrylic on brushed aluminum stand-offs with 1/4″ lasercut acrylic letters, custom painted to match our pms colors. Our tag line is in direct applied black vinyl because it was just a little too small to cut on the laser.
I think the overall look is really clean and the drop shadows on the wall will look really cool once we get the lighting package installed. It’s a fine example of our custom logo work and we’d love to put something like it in your lobby. Contact us today if you want to talk about it.
Have a great weekend!
Practical information center display.
Posted by Craig in new projects on June 8th, 2009
We recently delivered a set of information displays to the Department of Social Services division of the City of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County Government.
The displays, used to provide free information to the public in several DSS locations, feature pockets that can be configured to hold eighteen different 8.5″ X 11″ pieces, thirty-six different 4″ X 9″ pieces, or a combination of both. They are made from sintra and acrylic and feature a dimensional header that can be customized. They are rugged, easy to clean, germ resistant and guaranteed to make it easier for your target audience to find the information they are looking for. (Besides that vintage 1983 lit stand with the dark oak trim you are currently using needs to go!)
If you, or someone you know, needs a set, or sets, contact me today and I will hook you up.
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