Integrated Signs

Our trip to El Cajon was a different but interesting experience, probably and eye-opener for most of us there towards a different avenue in design, being; monument signage or environmental graphics. Which is currently outside of my comfort zone, going from the 2d to having to look at things in a 3d way. It was cool to see the process of going from concept starting with the  clients idea, to the designers filtering of those ideas or concepts. Then into the physical manufacturing process of these signs.
      We also got some insight on how different materials respond to weather, and materials specific for indoor or outdoor. Learning about different machinery on the production line was pretty shocking when taking monetary value and technique/purpose. Things i would have otherwise possibly never knew existed. He also gave us some insider information on purchasing digital printers, he shared with us that they have a 40% throw away rate, so if "him being the vulture he is", always grabs a slightly used printer off of young shops who throw in the towel after a short while of being in business. 
      Some words of advice he gave us on looking for design work in S.D. was to go fishing in the Bio-Tech and Bio-Med firms. Since there is currently sort of a "gold-rush" going here in that industry, one reason being is that they are able to receive US grants. A cool side fact he shared with us is how when the economy starts to boom, or recover, business such as sign shops are the first hint for those upturns. 

Things to consider when designing a sign:            Sign: advertises, location finder, direction finder

• mock-up 2d & 3d versions
• Look at signs you don't like, and why?
• add extra kerning 
• your eye fuzzes with the color blue
• sway clients to use their corporate colors