Custom City Signs Reflect An Area’s Best Attributes

 City Branding and Custom Signs

This week I noticed a lively conversation on facebook regarding City Signs.  The conversation began with Chris Farais of Kitestring‘s status about Hamilton Ontario and the CBC Post about City Signs.  The CBC Show Me A Sign post talks about one person’s plight to have a Welcome sign created for Hamilton.  Chris, being a strategic branding brings, up the question about what would best represent Hamilton Ontario on a city welcome sign? Should it reflect the historic attractions of the city or highlight things to come.

Our answer would be a long one which is what inspired me to write this post about custom signs in regards to welcome signs for communities and attractions.

Over the years we have created many custom signs for cities, attractions and heritage sites.  Each one is very unique as the location itself. It serves the purpose of wayfinding but also foreshadows what people can expect from the locale. The graphics, text, font and choice of colours indicate what the sign is representing and in turn becomes a reflection of the site. In other words it serves as a first impression for that area’s brand.

Custom Sign Creations

The Clappinson Corner sign features a wagon wheel with spokes representing all the different areas that converge on one hub which is a reflection of their historic geographical area.

Tillsonburg’s Downtown combination of custom cedar and digital signage serves as an information centre while letting passersby know about the architecture of the area.  This gives it both a traditional and modern feel.

Quinte West chose to focus their custom sign around their natural areas and that it why it is framed with log posts

New Dundee Ontario chose to mark the Doug Fischer Park with landmark sign that includes donor recognition

The Welcome To Dundas sign features the establishment of the area while not intruding on the surroundings, but instead complementing the garden where it resides.

While the Puslinch sign was created as a very tall pylon sign to capture the attention of the highway traffic and let them know about the local area.

As you can see there are several options when it comes to creating custom city signs.  The city signs vaired by location, sign permit regulations and industrial locates. They are highly visiable without becoming an eye sore for the area. It is important to think about the surroundings when you decide on a permanent location for custom created sign. A great background can bring a sign to the forefront and be a great addition to a community.

Thanks to Chris for getting this conversation started and getting the residents in Hamilton engaged on the topic of their city signs. We look forward to seeing where this discussion leads.