posted
I am finding myself creatively challenged on an idea for art / logo for the top of a carved township sign. The city of Millersburg, Oregon has contracted me to construct 2 new entry signs and given me limited input. They are in an agricultural area but they don't want the emphasis on agriculture. Originally they had a slogan of "Linking agriculture to industry" I had created some rough drafts with fields, farm, and tractors in the foreground then sunrises, and factories in the background. So far nothing really catches their interest. I think the problem is I am dealing with 3 individuals and they all have differing opinions. So what I am asking is: Does anyone have any art/logo ideas that could include a little agriculture and more industry set in a rural settting? Any help would be greatly appreciated, sketches on napkins even....
-------------------- Jeff Wisdom SignWorks info@oregonsignworks.com Posts: 450 | From: Oregon | Registered: Dec 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's hard to satisfy everyone's tastes. Do they agree on the "look" they want i.e. have they seen another sign they all like? Some people like a textured look others want smooth. It could be a challenge.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1265 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Craig has a good suggestion. You also need to let them know the "meter is running" when you present the options. That might help secure a quicker decision. Otherwise, it will be tweaked to [your] death.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
How do folks successfully deal with this situation? David has one good suggestion. More times than not, committees for schools, churches, etc. will run up design time, obviously with the belief that design is free.
Where do they get THAT idea?
I doubt that this has as much to do with the designs, as it does with three people on a committee that feel no obligation to make a decision in a timely manner.
Guys and gals of Letterville, what is your policy to keep this from ever happening? And without running off a potential good customer in the process.
[ July 26, 2012, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: Don Coplen ]
posted
Don, I ran into this a year or so back when designing for the Carrabelle, Fl entry signs. My advice is do not go nuts with bells and whistles. trying to create a showpiece. Keep things extremely simple. This gives them fewer targets to shoot down. Give more thought to texture and dimension. Let those things be the bells and whitles on a wonderfully simple layout.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
| IP: Logged |
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
When I get into a situation like this with a committee I take a stack of SignCraft magazines into the meeting with me and try to get a consensus of their likes and dislikes that way. I think they get a bit overwhelmed by all the possibilities and tend to let me run with it.
-------------------- Happy Signing...... Marty
M.F. (Marty) Happy Signmaker Since 1974 Happy Ad Sign & Design Regina SK, Canada S4N 5K4 306-789-9567 happyad@sasktel.net www.happyad.ca
Get Happy & Get Noticed! Posts: 773 | From: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: Jan 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Millersburg - "Linking agriculture to industry". Screams of a grist mill themed sign to me. Headpond, Bags of grain, waterwheel, millstones, flour barrels / bags. Have fun.
-------------------- Guy Hilliard Sawdust and Noise CNC Routing / Laser Cutting and Engraving Brampton, Ont. Canada Posts: 164 | From: Brampton. Ont. Canada | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Jeff, I'm not in the sign business anymore, but I do still creep here occasionally! I found it interesting that in your post you wrote "They are in an agricultural area but they don't want the emphasis on agriculture". Then you said you submitted drawing with fields, farms and tractors which didn't catch their interest. And you are still looking for agriculture/industry related artwork. If they said they don't want the focus on agriculture, I think you should keep it simple. Around here, everyone thinks they need a wheat sheaf, a cow head, and a pump jack on their signs. Yuck! I would focus on some really nice lettering with some flow that they could possibly use as a "logo" on tshirts and things.
Another idea is to look into the history of the name. Was there an old mill in the town or something like that? I think you used a graphic like an old mill, it would help people remember the town name...which is kind of the point of the sign
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Good point, Suelynn_i was going to say the same thing-the origins of the town's name? Keep the layout very simple and then make it 3D as mentioned.
What springs to mind is a bit of distorted text Millersburg. with the top line of all letters the same horizontal line, and the baseline as an arch, with M & G being biggest, but also distorted slightly wider apart at the base.
Under the arch could be a silhouetted or distressed mill picture. Maybe the S in the middle of Millersburg could be a tall one with the tail curling right down around the picture, or forming into a road or stream?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic