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The entire modern world of business, commercial and industrial structures, is a clear result of architects and their design. Yet, even today, there is no comprehensive design guideline or procedure in place for architects when designing signage for new and existing (TI) projects. The only guidelines architects have are interior based signage, for example, ADA compliant signs. ADA signage does not define design, and does not cover the entire spectrum of interior and exterior signage, or stand-alone sign structures. This is evident from the hundreds of plans received by a sign company, as they often say, “Where is the sign schedule?” This is not a slant. This is a fact. Selling tools for architectsDesign impediments to signage Adding sign design renderings (into a retail and commercial building project) will enhance the appearance and saleability of a project. Most architectural design projects for small retail and commercial projects DO NOT compensate for signage. Most people believe, signs go last. On the contrary, signs must be considered first along with the initial concept of a project. Any building design for a retail or commercial environment which does not consider signs from the beginning will suffer in the end. Case in point, a building design that includes decorative building elements, for example, awnings, projecting structures, fascia obstacles, intrusive ironwork, are features which leave no room for signs. Decorative architectural elements are, sometimes, designed into a building fascia right where a business sign would go, giving absolutely no room for signage. The problem is compounded when the building is on a corner of a busy street. How is a company to advertise their business? For leasing companies, leasing a space with no place to install a sign is a very hard sell. This faux pas could be avoided with some basic instruction on sign design. What, no building fascia? In another case, suppose a commercial building was designed with no fascia at all. It happens more than you can imagine. Again, most architectural design projects for small retail and commercial projects DO NOT compensate for signage. Most people DO NOT even think about signs. On the contrary, signs must be considered from the very beginning. In fact, in some cases, throughout the design process, and through its finalization, a project will be given a "greenlight" without any building fascia at all. In other words, the final building will have no fascia for a business sign to be installed on. Worst of all, imagine a new center built next to a freeway or other major artery and there is no place to put signs for the businesses. Logically, what tenant would move into a center like that? In the end, in every instance, a building with no fascia will require an ad hoc plan, last-minute-scramble, for a general contractor and a contractor sign company to "create", out of necessity, a support awning, a support grate, or a support appendage, in order to install a business sign. This is another huge faux pas that may be avoided with some basic instruction on sign design. Mike Kreski, Architect, Berliner and Associates (Culver City, CA), states, "This book would have saved me a lot of headaches in the beginning. Thanks." Where does one begin? Chatterbox Designs, Inc. (CDI) can help. CDI is a sign design training and sign consulting company with an extensive array of architectural sign design experience. We have designed hundreds of electrical and non-electrical signs, sign monuments and pylon signs across many facets of business. Our business was created out of necessity to eliminate the chasm between the designer-architect and the fabrication requirements sign company need in order to manufacture signs. Chatterbox will assist your firm in order to clarify the “blurry” requirements of sign design which most graphic designers and designers, in general, take for granted. CDI is not an architecture design company. We design signs, sign structures and architectural sign structures, not buildings. We assist architectural firms with:
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