posted
The process repeats with each and every project.
I get the phone call or email. We set up a meeting. The customer explains their vision, most often in vague terms.
In a few minutes we are excitedly throwing ideas back & forth. We take a walk on the 'site'. The project crystalizes in my head instantly. But it is a broad picture painted with big strokes. Not quite in focus, but all there.
I try to articulate the design to the customer, but not in too much detail. I have to leave room for changes as the final details will morph quite a bit as I sit at my design board.
And the customer always asks a final question before we part ways... "Can you do that??"
With an affirmative answer and a healthy deposit cheque its off the the drawing board. And with that I have another exciting challenge to meet.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
With the projects the size that ours usually are, are best described in John Follis's "Architectural Signing and Graphics, and Wayne Hunt and Gerry Rosentwiegs, "Designing and Planning Environmental Graphics" The SEGD has a guideline on the process also loosley based on the principles found in these books, the release of my bosses 3rd book explains our process through various projects from his company, and essays from collaborators and collegues, looking at it before going to press, it looks like it is a must have, for those wanting to widen out in thier design skills and get into better work. Check out the 2 I mention, dated projects but the information still applies. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
yeah, I think it is the same whether you are a large corporation, or a small sign shop. The customer calls....you meet....they tell you what they need and want...you draw up the designs. I love the design process. But the making of the signs and getting paid are fun parts too. What a great job we have eh?
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
My post above may not have articulated exactly what I was trying to say. I'm not sure it is possible.
What I attempted to describe above certainly is "DOING BUSINESS". But I could "DO BUSINESS" in almost any field and make a LIVING.
The post above was a small celebration (for me) of another job started. It's a good sized job, but that's not what I was excited about. It does provide me and my crew with a good living, and combined with another job currently on the drawing board will keep us very busy for the next 18 months or longer.
But I wasn't celebrating the money on the table... THAT'S BUSINESS.
I was celebrating the creative process started... one small part of what I enjoy doing so thoroughly. I love the discovery of ideas, the designing process. I also enjoy the hands-on fabrication of the project, every aspect of the long and drawn out process.
I enjoy taking ideas and making them into physical places and things. I enjoy designing and fabricating themed environments that have lived only in my head prior to constructing them.
For me it is living a dream. I do what I love and love what I do.
And while it is very nice to get paid well and promptly, the best part about that aspect of "THE BUSINESS" is the money allows me to live and repeat the creative process once more.
And that makes me dance.
-dan
[ March 09, 2003, 10:25 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dan, I think that was articulated precisely. It's not the destination it's the journey kind of thing. I myself just started recieving "real" money for my work. I make signs and "other" stuff not because I have to but because I'm just driven to do so. There is nothing better than to make an idea a reality. The WHAT IF. For me this is the key to the meaning of life, not just for signmakers but for anybody in any career. The people who are happy with what they do are the ones that are putting into action the WHAT IF's in their head, and doing it on their terms. So many people fall short of success because they just can't or are afraid to cross that bridge to action. Kudos to your new project. Live the dream.
-------------------- Bill Jarvis Rookie432@AOL.com
"A customer is someone who deals with you. A GOOD customer is someone who refuses to deal with anyone else." Posts: 81 | From: Cambridge, Ohio, USA | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think there is more to design than business, I think the" been there done that" mentality for some here, is fine for them, it is the "been there done that and I want to do it again", is what it's all all about. Having worked at a mom and pop sign shop, to where I am at now, is worlds apart, some principles apply, but when you are working on a theme park in Spain or a waterpark in Taiwan or a Disney project or a casino in Vegas, there is a process that involves a study of it that should be able to be spoken before even designed, try designing signage or props on a buiding that is 5 years away from being built. I think Dan is talking about pride of your work, being chosen to work on an exciting project, what you can accomplish and what you will accomplish, its what makes this job special, it's not what you base your life on, but if Im gonna work 8-10 hours a day, I want to do something special. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
This brings up another topic to me. I'm sure all of you on here, or certainly most, can visualize things. i.e. what a sign would look like in a certain place, or even what a new addition on a house would look like, etc.. I can close my eyes and see about anything I want to see. My oldest daughter has this gift also. My wife and other daughter do not, however. They can not understand how we can do it. I run into people everyday who just "can't imagine" what something would look like. I "can't imagine" not being able to do so. Is this what makes us artists, or at least artistic, as opposed to others who aren't artistic, or is it just a small part of being artistic, or do you even have to be able to visualize things to be artistic. Is this more "left brain, right brain" stuff? How many more of you have run into the same situation of people who just don't see it. Just curious.
-------------------- Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. signdesigns@casscomm.com Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged |
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic