Design

This is where it all starts. Whether it be a metal sign, lightbox, truck signage or stationary, the design is the most important part of creating an image that reflects your business most effectively. To create a graphic design for your company, it is necessary to keep in mind some design principles and rules. In most cases to have your business stand out less is more.

• Design has a purpose. It is utilitarian and explains how to navigate a web site, how to serve a client's interests and how to convey information.
• Design is a process that starts by creating from general information to specific details.
• Design is also informational. It visually defines specific examples such as charts, etc. Design is a visual language that uses imagery to give meaning to content.
• Design should follow rules and principles such as balance, contrast, dominance, harmony, rhythm, unity, line, shape, space, texture, value and colour.

File Formats
To help us in designing or printing your logo we require files to be in one of the following formats:
Adobe Illustrator - ai
Adobe PhotoShop - psd
CorelDRAW - cdr
Portable Document Format - eps

Design Tips

Business Name
Does your name reflect your business purpose? If it isn’t obvious you’ll need to link the name to wording or even better...a graphic. A picture speaks a thousand words! Make your key business known on the sign. Educating your customers as to your purpose in relation to your service.


Colour
Remember to choose the right colour to convey the correct feeling and emotion for your company. A few colours will distinguish the message. Many colours, confuse the message and often encourages the eye to pass by. Don’t just choose colours which are "pretty". Choose colours which evoke feeling toward your business or product and in turn will promote your business.


Focal Point
Generally speaking the rules of photography which place the focal point on a "cross-point" can only work if you have a number of objects. It will still be possible if you can work a graphic into the cross point and the wording around it. Alternatively, have your name and logo absorb the greatest part of the sign centre.


Logos and Graphics
Don’t over-decorate your logo. Be sure it’s appropriate for your business and gets the point across. Your logo should be harmonious and obvious.




Space
Optimal negative space should be about 30%. If you stick to this rule it will help you to avoid the problem of crowding with too many colours, fonts and logos.


Text
Like any other facet of the sign the style of text is important. Hence, make it appropriate to the feel you want it to convey. The same colour suggestions apply to fonts. Many different styles don’t allow the eye to move easily around and through the parameters. Without being over simplistic, avoid the chaotic look. An outline can be added to improve legibility. It is also useful to help discriminate between the background and text colour when they are of similar tone. Again, our goal is to make the lettering more easily read.



Wording
Now you’ve decided on the lifespan of your signs. What do you want it to say? Only use words that will be understood by your target customers. If it doesn’t mean anything to them, more than likely they won’t respond to it. Your name is most important, this can then be linked to other wording or graphics that are self explanatory to your business purpose.

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