Well, hope this works.....most are firsts; chalkboards & polystyrene.Interestingly, the chalkboards are from June '99; sealed with hairspray and a few mist coats of Crystal Coat. They have been knocked around a fair bit over the years,flood, moving etc. & yet the colour has stayed intact.The signage layout is a maybe for my business sign,I am happier with the first though it's still not right:constructive criticism welcome.Ok, here goes: [img]http:// community.webshots.com/user/freeloner[/img]
Posted by Linda Seymour (Member # 1904) on :
You do some very nice work! I really admire your artistic ability! I even enjoyed catching glimpses of the christmas cut outs that snuck in for background exposure!
I must say I think the signage layouts are way too busy! Do you have colored versions of these? You picked some very nice elements, but they are like nice elegant lacey doilies overlapping each other so much so, that you can't appreciate the design each doily has. The sub copy is in an elegant script but with the illie the eye is pulled all over the layout at once. I would suggest, finding a way to seperate them and make it easier for the eye to see what is most important, first! Hopefully the colored version does this for you.
[ February 22, 2002, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: Linda Silver Eagle ]
Posted by Linda Seymour (Member # 1904) on :
Hi Linda, I have put some colour versions on the page now. The colours are slightly different in webshots, I want 2 tones of teal;the lighter being for copy and a vibrant purple (it looks like magenta in webshots). The cougar or leopard(haven't decided which yet) would be a camel colour with dusk fade behind. I was thinking of a light textured slab for the substrate. Seems I can't get one big enough at the moment. I have toyed with the idea of sandblasting the background or simply outlining the cougar with a pyro pen. Maybe raise 'signage'.......Then again.... I do tend to clutter (need to get with the KISS programme). I did try a panel with the cougar in an oval but I am restricted by height. I am trying to keep within 1200mm x 2400mm. I have more width if I need it. Lucky I don't have time limit on it.
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
Linda,
What you've got is 5 completely different letterstyles and a detailed drawing. They overlap and even with the colored version, I have to strain to read the "slogan" as it were.
If my client came to me with this layout, I would wash in the cat with the foilage, very subtly in the back ground and ask them to pick between the menu of services or the slogan.
Since the slogan is better understood than the list of services by an average uneducated customer, you might get better mileage with that...this is your call. I would suggest dropping the slogan below the phone numbers to break up the two scripts, if chosing one or the other was out of the question.
If I made anything black it would be the smaller copy and maybe some oomph on the main copy.
I would spend more energy on bevelling the word "signage" and not so much on the outline. You are losing negative space by squishing your elements together and just making them bolder does not give it room to breath.
I would drop the shadow you have for "dare" because there is nothing for it to land on. (Excuse the pun, drop in this instance means get rid of)
Is it possible you could use a bold font for the word dare and contain your pic of the exotic kittie inside those letters?
Then you could cut down the distraction of reading the rest of the copy and have more freedom with the placement.
I would definitly try to use only 2-3 letterstyles here.
Rule of thumb in visual marketing, sub copy needs to be in an easy to read font.
If you picked the word distinction to be your only script, and tried the sub copy in sompn like arial (no swirls or serifs to slow down the reader) you might have a cleaner design (quicker recognition for your clients).
I used to try this method with my clients who wanted a book on their sign, "pretend you're answering the phone, and you are not allowed to breath until you have read every word on your sign, and then said hello."..."Don't forget to sound cheerful, confident and professional, down to the last word!"
Ahem, hence your dilemna, hehehe.
There's lots of ways to resolve this, you have plenty of stuff to play with. Let your elements enhance (embrace) each other. Right now, they are pushing each other outta the way and shouting over each other. A better example for your clients is needed, LOL.
It's always harder to do your own image! I've been struggling with mine forever. I've got my copy cut down on the sides of my van and it still looks like an appliance sale in July, hehehe!
You're too talented to give up now, so just take a deep breath and keep playing with it. You'll get it with a little patience.
Try looking at your lobster menu board for comparison on the KISS method. Big difference!
The best design you ever did is just a thought away! You can do it, I know you can!
Please keep us posted! I'm intrigued and anxious to see how you smooth this out!
Posted by Linda Seymour (Member # 1904) on :
Thanx again Linda, sorry I didn't get back here sooner but pc blew up (literally), just got it back half hour ago. I will have to continue playing with this design I know. I like the idea of putting him in the letter, I had tried this in the beginning with a dragon head....really different! Good to get input though, I was more interested in being able to upload incase I needed to. Anyhow, have to sift through a mile of email now....thanx again.
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Linda,
I love those chalkboards! I like the lettering style on the first one. I also like the Christmas cutouts. The surfboard under Santa's arm looks like a real board. Great job on the painting!!!
I'm just getting ready to try my first chalkboard. If it turns out, I'll post a pic.
Suelynn
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Cool stuff Sue! The color renditions of your card are looking pretty good now. I would use the version with the pink bar on the bottom and change the text inside to white to make it more readable.
