June 2012 Member News
ACCUBRAILLE (San Francisco) was recently contracted to provide all the signage for a 754- unit luxury apartment building in San Francisco’s trendy SOMA neighborhood. The illuminated unit signs include a brushed-nickel laminate faceplate with cut-out unit numbers and an ADA-compliant element featuring AccuBraille’s Infused product with DuPlex font. The DuPlex line meets the recently updated ADA guidelines while allowing for additional design freedom.
ARLON GRAPHICS (Santa Ana, Calif.) launched its new and improved DPF 4560GTX film and the all-new DPF 4500GX film.
The new and improved DPF 4560GTX is a 3‐mil (75-micron) calendered film with a new brighter white finish and a light grey-tinted air egress adhesive. Designed for opacity to directly cover existing graphics or dark substrates while removing cleanly for up to two years, the easy-to-install film is intended for a wide variety of applications, including fleet and vehicle decals and POP displays.
The new DPF 4500GX film is a 3‐mil (75-micron) bright white calendered film with clear bubble-releasing permanent air egress adhesive. It is a low-cost solution that combines vibrant prints with the ease of application for short- and medium-term graphics, says Arlon.
BRANDCULTURE COMMUNICATIONS (Sydney) used dramatic typography to brand the new offices of the Australian Human Rights Commission. The design includes text from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The wayfinding program references famous Australian human rights activists. Room numbers were integrated into the typographic designs on the entry doors for each room. Utility rooms were identified using typography applied to the end sections of door entries so they could be seen from down the corridor.
CLEARPATH SIGNAGE SYSTEMS (Findlay, Ohio) previewed its new Rowmark DigiMark OSi™ print-receptive acrylic sheet material at the recent International Sign Association Expo in Orlando. The material features optical surface imaging technology, increasing its print-receptive capabilities while eliminating the need to apply bonding agents for ink adherence.
GNU GROUP (Lafeyette, Calif.) designed the donor recognition display at the new Legacy Center for the Hanna Boys Center (Sonoma, Calif.), a campus for at-risk youths. The donor display recognizes supporters who helped make a new multi-use auditorium, admissions and alumni building, and the Legacy Center possible.
The GNU Group team designed a glass-and-metal feature inspired by the dramatic stained glass windows in Hanna’s Chapel. Donors are acknowledged on individual etched glass panels. The display appears in a glass alcove flooded with natural backlight.
HARBINGER (Jacksonville, Fla.) added three new members to its team. Paul Charles, project manager, is a graduate of the University of North Florida who brings more than 15 years of experience in sales and account managing. When he is not at Harbinger, Paul is busy running his own custom surfboard company. Erin Hall, 7-Eleven Project Coordinator, will contribute her skills in a wide range of services, from accounts receivable to database administration to graphic design. She attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and in her spare time is a photographer and painter. Michael Hopens, graphic artist at Harbinger Dallas, has more than 15 years of experience in the sign industry. Michael has worked as a graphic artist at American Fastsigns, Federal Heath Sign Co. and, most recently, US Signs.
LAWRENCE SIGN AND NORDQUIST SIGN (St. Paul, Minn.) merged effective January 1, 2012. Lawrence Sign focuses on national and regional sign programs for multi-site customers through out the U.S., while Nordquist Sign focuses on corporate identity, wayfinding, and gaming signage across the U.S.
Nordquist employees and equipment have been moved to the Lawrence Sign facility in St. Paul.
The merger allows the two companies to excel in their respective markets as well as generate overall growth, says Robb Walker, owner and CEO.“ The objective of combining these two brands is to generate growth. We have produced strong double-digit revenue growth during our first four months and we have already added seven new positions. We are solidly on track to meet our annual revenue projections.”
MATTHEWS PAINT (Pittsburgh) introduced Super Satin Clearcoat, a low-VOC acrylic polyurethane clear coat designed for topcoat applications to protect color on painted signage and vinyl graphics or to highlight architectural metals. With a 10-year life expectancy, the new clearcoat is UV resistant, lengthens application life, reduces maintenance costs, and protects against weathering, says Matthews.
PENTAGRAM (New York) welcomed Natasha Jen as a new partner in its New York office. Jen’s work crosses genres and includes the design of brand identities, environmental graphics, multi-scale exhibitions, signage systems, and print, motion, and interactive graphics. Prior to joining Pentagram, Natasha was a designer and art director at firms including Base Design, 2x4, and Stone Yamashita Partners, and established her own studio, Njenworks. She also has the distinction of being Pentagram's first former intern to return as partner.
In other Pentagram news, Partner Michael Bierut led the design of a new brand identity for Mohawk Paper. Based on the letter “M,” the forms of the new logo suggest paper rolls, printing presses, and circuit boards, as well as the idea of connection and communication. The identity is the third Pentagram has created for Mohawk in 20 years.
POBLOCKI SIGN COMPANY (Milwaukee) is offering customers the new Matthews brand Ultra Low VOC paint system as continuing proof of its commitment to positive environmental stewardship.
To mark the availability of the highly durable, environmentally friendly, and long-lasting paint for their customers, Poblocki is offering a special limited-time opportunity for customers. With a donation of $100 to the U.S. Green Building Council, Poblocki will give customers a free upgrade to the new Matthews brand Ultra Low VOC paint system for all exterior signage until Dec. 31, 2012.
“This new paint system is a substantial upgrade and will dramatically improve the look and durability of our customers’ projects for many years,” says Terry McGushin, Poblocki president. “We think this special offer is a terrific way to celebrate the addition of the Matthews Ultra Low VOC paint system, say ‘thank you’ to our customers, and give them an early introduction to the impact it can have on the final touches of their signage project.”
The Matthews Ultra Low VOC paint system features a high-solids formula and maximum pigment content to provide better hiding and faster film build. It is 50% more impact resistant and has 50% better gloss retention. The paint offers enhanced protection in corrosive environments and is significantly better at withstanding extreme changes in temperature. It is a 150% improvement in the amount of VOCs per gallon over the traditional Poblocki Sign Company paint offering and is available in all 70,000 existing color formulas.