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Sign Design & Layout
I grew up watching my Grandpa (Pops) hand-letter signs at his shop behind his house. It was a neat place to hang-out and tinker with all the different things he had around the place. Some days I might help him carry sign boards, clean brushes and sweep out the shop. But then other days he'd let me spend time
on whatever "important" project I was working on.
I didn't realize at the time what a craftsman he was, and how much talent it took to hand-letter signs as skillfully as he could. I've thought about how quickly I saw the sign business change in just the few years from watching Pops letter signs to me entering
the world of computers, plotters and cutting vinyl. Almost overnight hand-lettering was old school and a lost art. It was just too easy to lay out a design on the computer, let the plotter cut out the letters then transfer that to your substrate. Almost in the same way that a few years later "anyone" could call
themselves a web designer (because of computers and software), suddenly sign shops where popping up everywhere. And in my humble opinion, almost instantly the quality of most sign layouts disappeared. Why? Because now the new "sign designer" only has to able to type and rely on the computer to figure out the letter-spacing, line heights, etc. And come to think of it, the new "sign designer" (thanks spell-check) doesn't even have to know how to spell.
Now I realize that there is a market for fast, uncreative signs - EMPLOYEE PARKING ONLY, FOR SALE - and the stuff that the now
common strip center sign shops are pumping out. But it makes me a little sad to think that these "sign shops" are now the norm for an industry that was once made up entirely of very talented hand lettering pros - artists. Luckily though, these talented pros have passed their knowledge and skills onto a new set of
pros and although most (if not all) are making signs with computers, they are making signs that matter. Great signs. A great sign not only does its job of getting the attention of and informing people, but is admired and appreciated for its layout, design and craftsmanship.
Take a look at our samples, and if you think we can work well together, please contact us anytime.
Sign Design Samples Note: we are in the process of loading this section.
Copyright 1995-2008 Stuart Hughes Design, All Rights Reserved
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