This has been one of the more interesting projects in recent years for me.
I have often noted that in magazines like ‘signcraft’ that signs carry a tag that mentions that the sign was made by so and so in conjunction with somebody else. In other words someone like Gary Anderson was involved in the design stage of the sign. This is the case with this project. Tomas Tuipear has been in the business for a bit longer than me and has insights and skills that are at this stage beyond mine but he is someone who enjoys being involved in areas that are his forte and besides that he is only one man and so can’t do everything! We have worked together on five or six big jobs and I think the results are dramatic.
This customer came to me because I do some work for a canopy (awnings) company. She thought that she needed a canopy to help her business appearance but she was open to other suggestions.
Tomas would tend towards beginning with a logo so that was the first thing to get done. As he lives about an hour away I tend to liase with the customer and relate the project to the client. (also I project manage the work as it progresses with the various tradesmen involved).
Once the logo was sorted the changes in the physical structure was settled upon. In Ireland there is still a lack in understanding in regard to the traditional shopfront and the job of designing them can be in the hands of people who don’t really know what should be done. (Architects, Engineers, joinery shops) Tomas has been involved in many shopfront jobs and has made it his business to understand the process and intent of the various elements required to create a pleasant and appealing look to a business shopfront.
With that under way it fell to me to recreate the logo in 3D format. I turned to a company three hours away who machined the letters and the ‘chip shop’ panel and cut out the upper scroll panels, the bottom left and right purple scrolls are folded from 6mm foamex and it was fun to work out how to cut them flat and then fold them to their finished look. I just used a heat gun to get the plastic to flexible state and bent and allowed to cool.
The elements of the logo were mounted onto dibond and screwed to the wall with some little anxious moments on my part. But it’s done and looks good. I am recovering from the stress of the culmination of the whole job which spanned over 4 months or so but the client is happy so that means so am I.
Tomas and I are hoping that since this is the first sign of this type in Cork city (population 136,000) we may start a trend and a flow of future projects.
Any questions or critiques?
The Fascia board is dibond sprayed with a 2 pack auto paint and the goldletters were routed foam pvc which were fixed from the back of the board and installed as finished product then the timber moulding was placed over the dibond edges to hide the fixing screws.
[ April 12, 2003, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Miles Cullinane ]
Posted by AlanD (Member # 1461) on :
That's about as beautiful a sign can be! What kind of paint did you use to finish the pieces(sprayed?). Also, what design program(s) do you use for logo/sign design? Again, incredible work!
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
Just Fabulous, Miles....
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Beautiful!
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Absolutely fantastic! The type of thing I dream about getting the chance to do! Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
Hi Miles, It's beautiful!
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
I can see that sign on the cover of Signcraft. Very striking job Miles. My toungues hanging out.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Everything about it is great! Wow!
Posted by Keith Slack (Member # 2040) on :
Simply a SUPERB Job!!!!!!!!
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Miles: all the people that have answered this tread have great taste in fine work and this is Mighty Fine Work.Wow wow!!!
Posted by Mark Yearwood (Member # 2723) on :
Absolutely beautiful job, right down to the details on the corbels! I agree, this needs to be on the cover of SignCraft. This is award winning work!
Posted by Talisman (Member # 1869) on :
Simply OUTSTADING work Miles!
Thank you for sharing this eye candy with us!
Joe
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Yes indeed...thats some nice stuff. Can't say any more than to agree with all the others.
Posted by Bill Smith (Member # 2246) on :
The kind of job I WISH I could do. <G> Awesome.
Posted by Brian Crothers (Member # 2888) on :
The work is really totally great. I have three critisms: I would not have covered up the wood it is softer and more welcoming than paint. There is a lot of room at eye level that is not taken advantage of. The entire structure is very unfreindly looking, I don't know what I would have done differently, but something to try add some feel of curves to it somehow. The signs look great though.
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Great looking work Miles! It looks warm and friendly to me!! Judy
[ March 29, 2003, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: Judy Pate ]
Posted by Miles Cullinane (Member # 980) on :
Thanks everyone for the kind comments.
Brian there is a panel yet to go up in the future on the blank space at eye level on the right hand side of the building. It will tell the history of the man Jackie Lennox.
in regards to the wood, we actually replaced the columns and corbels with new timber and since the premises had had timber for so long it needed a change.
to address your last comment, actually, to some extent means we suceeded in solving a certain problem. there is a band of concrete with re-enforcing steel that runs the length of the front and returns around the corner. We had to disguise that and try to prevent the overhang of the fascia from being imposing.
Thank you for the comments brian and i hope that makes it a little easier to understand our reasons for the different approaches.
This business which is a traditional chip shop is famous in the city. It uses seven tons of potatoes a week. the place deserved this kind of reworking!
one more close up
[ March 29, 2003, 04:40 AM: Message edited by: Miles Cullinane ]
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
such a fine job that words escape me!!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
No critiques from here. It all looks tremendous. You are to be congratulated.
Posted by Lee McKee (Member # 3533) on :
Just Looking at your pics makes me want to hop in my car and drive to Cork to see it in person! Great Job!
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
SEVEN TONS A WEEK!! That's a pile of potatoes, even in Ireland!
Seriously, Miles, this is stunningly gorgeous work. I'm pleased to have made the acquaintence of both Tomas and yourself, and it's clear that this is a productive relationship.
See you in Cork in August.
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
WOW! Posted by Jeffrey Vrstal (Member # 2271) on :
Very nice.... very, very nice!
Posted by Stephen Broughton (Member # 2237) on :
Hope their Cod & Chips are as good as their signs because there are going to be a lot of signfolk hanging around outside in August, brilliant job mate absolutely gorgeous.
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
Miles, you have really done yourself proud. The work just broadcasts the finest quality in design and workmanship. We are very proud to have you among us.
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Rave applause here! I love seeing transformations like that. It smacks of pure class!
Beautiful!
Posted by Mark Rogan (Member # 3678) on :
Wow is right. What a beautiful job. Something to hold up against all our work to strive for. Thanks for sharing.
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of potatoes a week. the place deserved this kind of reworking!
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