Documenti di Didattica
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LETTERS AND LOGOS FOR DIMENSIONAL DESIGN
P R E FA C E / I nt roduct i on
About SignDesignBooks.com
SignDesignBooks is the creator of the acclaimed, Inside Sign Design,
published circa 2009. Inside Sign Design is the first book of its kind
clarifying and detailing the craft and art of professional sign design, the
process and procedure. Inside Sign Design reveals that sign design is
more than design, it is a technical drawing plan which is created solely as
a business communication document.
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design is
a natural succession to Inside Sign Design, and focuses entirely on the
subject of dimensional letters and logos.
SignDesignBooks.com creates books and other instructional reference
material on various topics related to signage.
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
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P R E FA C E
Table of Contents:
PREFACE
SECTION ONE
SECTION TWO
SECTION THREE
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A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
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P R E FA C E
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SECTION FOUR
SECTION FIVE
SECTION SIX
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APPENDIX
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P R E FA C E / I nt roduct i on
Source: photos by SignDesignBooks.com (pics 1, 3, 4); Robert Sanders & Co. Signage & Design, Sonoma, CA (pic 2)
OVERVIEW
This tech guide is a result of years of hands-on experience with dimensional
design, fabrication techniques, and installation of various signage. It was designed
to present what works and what does not work with dimensional design. Each area
involved with the dimensional design process is revealed. Many ideas presented
explain how to avoid potential problems with planning, design, and even sales.
Special emphasis is placed on the standard conventions and requirements for
drawing dimensional signage.
This tech guide will discuss dimensional design with a primary goal of facilitating
a design to be made as intended by a designer. Dimensional design is not the
same as graphic design. This tech guide will cover each aspect of the dimensional
design process, including the hidden variables and factors within the process.
Information in this guide is focused on the basics and standards with reasonable
clarity about custom and unique.
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
P R E FA C E / I nt roduct i on
Source: photo by SignDesignBooks.com (pic 1); Signs of the Times, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (pic 2, 4);
John Peachey Innovative Signage, N. Vancouver, B.C. (pic 3)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
S E CT ION ON E
Dimensional Design
Process Overview
Source: Signdealz, Inc. (pic 1); Robert Sanders & Co. Signage & Design, Sonoma, CA (pics 2, 4, 5, 6);
photo by SignDesignBooks.com (pic 3)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
SECTION OVERVIEW
Dimensional design requires knowledge beyond standard design,
and must include a basic understanding of materials and fabrication
processes. A dimensional design must begin as a 3D concept in the mind
of a designer. A dimensional design will eventually be cut, fabricated, cast,
molded, blasted, or extruded into a 3-dimensional product. Dimensional
letter and logo design is a result of the technical craft of professional sign
design. This tech guide will highlight the important factors of dimensional
sign design, in addition to identifying things to avoid, to ensure a viable,
well-designed, and well-used finished product.
SECTION CONTENTS:
Dimensional Design Process Overview...............................................1
SignDesignBooks.com
1. From 2D to Dimensional............................................................2
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
Dimensional
Design Process
Overview
TYPEFACE
Font family; raw material
for letter design.
ADVERTISEMENT DESIGN
Graphics with very little
copy and does not
emphasize bold typeface.
COPY
Communication tool
between departments; refers
to all letter art, design and
layout; general reference;
consists of main copy,
subcopy, and logo copy.
WAYFINDING
Wayfinding is informational
and instructional, in copy
or graphic form, which
assists pedestrians
and vehicles find their
destination.
1. FROM 2D TO DIMENSIONAL
To successfully design dimensional signage, a designer will need to look
beyond the fundamentals of graphic design. Design results from graphic
design and dimensional design are entirely different.
A good example is viewing distance. Imagine a person in a shopping
mall viewing 12 point TYPEFACE in a book or with a mobile device. The
viewing distance for such small typeface is approximately 12 to 18 inches.
Now, imagine a large color advertisement in a window. ADVERTISEMENT
DESIGN is mostly graphics with very little COPY and does not emphasize
bold typeface (an important consideration for dimensional design). The
required viewing distance for an ad design in a mall is probably no more
than 10 feet away. An ad design is created to catch a persons attention
with a graphic image, not letter type. There is no dimensional design
requirement for ad design. The viewing distances presented here are only
arbitrary. This example is used to make a point.
Now, contrast this ad design with a person viewing a company brand
sign from approximately 20 feet away, and more than likely, from greater
distances. Even still, imagine a company brand installed as a dimensional
sign with one thousand store locations; include a 20 foot tall pole sign
for street traffic, and perhaps a larger pylon sign aside a freeway. The
requirements for visual communication are different than graphic design.
Why? Viewing distance, glance-time readability, and instant brand
recognition. These elements are critical factors with dimensional design.
Unlike other 3-dimensional products such as smart devices and credit
cards which are viewed up close and personal, signage is used from a
pure visual point of view. Signage is used by a viewer to obtain instant
information. Signage is designed for identity, information, WAYFINDING,
and in most cases like ad design, to create an emotional response from
a viewer. To be effective, a dimensional design must be functional, viable,
and attractive. It must work. It must achieve a goal.
The unique nature of dimensional letter design requires a different set
of design parameters. With the proper knowledge and understanding of
dimensional design, many potential problems will be avoided. Hence, a
designers original design intent gets made.
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
DESIGN AREA
Space allowance for
dimensional signage, given
in height and length.
12
SPACE
Area given to an amount of
signage permitted.
LOCATION
Overall area where a
dimensional design will be
placed; requires the overall
area measurement with a
height and length dimension
for the placement area.
SignDesignBooks.com
First and foremost, a designer must know a given area for a design, usually
given in height and length. It is important to know a SPACE allocated for
a dimensional design. This information will minimize confusion with a
project and reduce wasted time down the road. Next, a drawing should
have a scale with dimensions to identify height and length. There are
specific dimensions used in the process of dimensional design that must
be included. A novice designer is quickly known by a lack of the proper
dimensions which are required to communicate a design intent. There are
certain dimensions which are not necessary. To add them is meaningless.
But to omit specific dimensions will also stop a project in its tracks. Standard
industry dimensions will streamline drawing communication.
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED
Signage that is lit by an
external light source,
and is usually uneven in
appearance.
NON-ILLUMINATED
Dimensional letter sign
project which has no
lighting applied.
ELEMENT 3: LIGHTING
For most projects, lighting will be a part of a dimensional design, even for
an interior-based project. It is very important for a designer to know the
basics of lighting a dimensional letter.
For a dimensional design, letters will either be internally illuminated or
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED. Dimensional letters may also be NONILLUMINATED. For non-illuminated signage, this information must be noted
on a drawing to properly convey a project intent. A designer must convey all
aspects of a project with a set of design plans in written and visual drawing form.
An interior dimensional letter design will have a certain type of lighting,
common to most interior letter designs. An exterior dimensional letter
design will have one of several common lighting types. While creating plans
for illuminated signage, it is not required for a designer to be an electrician.
However, it is important for a designer to know the basic concept of an
electrical circuit. But more than that, it is helpful to know how lighting will
interact with and affect a final design.
Source: photo by SignDesignBooks.com (pic 1); Robert Sanders & Co. Signage & Design, Sonoma, CA (pic 2)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
METAL
Durable, long-lasting
letter material.
Metals
Plastics
Laminates
Aluminum
Acrylic
HDU Foam
Stainless Steel
and Cor-Ten
Cellulosics (CABs)
Polycarbonate
(for back of halo-lit
letters only)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
S E CT ION T WO
Design Guidelines
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
S E CT ION T H R EE
Source: John Peachey Innovative Signage, N. Vancouver, BC (pics 1, 6); Signs of the Times, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (pics 2, 5);
photo by SignDesignBooks.com (pic 3); Signature Sign & Image, Canada (pic 4)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
S E CT ION F OU R
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
S E CT ION F IVE
Completing the
Layout Drawing
Source: Signature Sign & Image, Canada. (pic 1); photos by SignDesignBooks.com. (pics 2, 4);
John Peachey Innovative Signage, N. Vancouver, BC (pic 3); Robert Sanders & Co. Signage & Design, Sonoma, CA (pics 5, 6)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s
S E CT ION SIX
Insightful Elements
Source: photos by SignDesignBooks.com (pics 1, 3, 5, 6); Robert Sanders & Co. Signage & Design, Sonoma, CA (pic 2, 4)
SignDesignBooks.com
A Tech Guide for Signage: Letters and Logos for Dimensional Design
2 0 1 5 Si g n De s i g n B o o k s