Tag: Business Signs

Name: Sign Artist Inc
Price range: $

December 22, 2021

Graphics Present Equipment Depot’s Values

As people devised New Year’s resolutions for 2022, Sign Artist installed multi-media signs to help inspire staff and visitors at Equipment Depot in Itasca, Illinois. An out-of-town sign company contracted Sign Artist to install their graphics. Signs ranged from die-cut vinyl and vinyl on acrylic panels, to dimensional wood letters and accent bars.

Workers at Equipment Depot are “equipped to serve.” One glance at these carefully-selected images and text communicates the nature of Equipment Depot’s niche, as a provider of large scale rental equipment. Incorporating core values and the mission of service into office decor, adds a nice motivating touch to the work environment.

An added bonus, was when Equipment Depot staff put on Christmas music and decorated their office tree nearby, setting a festive install mood for Sign Artist’s crew. Happy Holidays!

If you have a vision for your business that you are seeking to convey in 2022, let Sign Artist help you make this a reality! Inspire your staff with beautiful signs. Give Ed a call at 630-594-4185.

March 25, 2021

Textured Surfaces Add Interest to Lobby Signs

Uneven surfaces? No worries! Sign Artist installs lobby signs and can work with you to find the perfect custom sign solutions. This raw brick facade is at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois. It proved a little challenging on sign install day, but the results were stunning. Elmhurst University has a state of the art Simulation Center at the Hospital, where its medical students train. Sign Artist has fabricated and installed multiple signs at this location, including:

ADA name plates
Artwork plaque
Backlit monument sign with push-through panel
Nursing mission statement wall sign on acrylic.

This lobby sign above, over rugged brick, is 5 ft W X 1.5 ft H, made of 3-dimensional cast aluminum letters. Meticulous measuring, precision drilling and positioning, are always needed to obtain the perfect install. A little added finesse was required for this rugged wall, since every brick juts out at a different depth. The striking bronze-colored letters proved to be a perfect contrast to the neutral earth tones of the bricks.

Sign Artist installed an updated lobby sign to help brand the Elmhurst University Simulation Center, which provides nursing students with the hands-on training they need, to be stellar health care professionals in future.

Does your business have a wall needing signage or art installed? With our skilled crew, our expertise with a wide variety of materials, and a graphic/fine artist and photographer on staff, we can work with you, to design the perfect sign solution! Call Ed at 630-594-4185.

March 4, 2021

Grocery Store Awning is Good Advertising

Sign Artist installed this vivid awning at the new 3N’s Oriental Groceries, Foods & Markets Store in Broadview, Illinois. Awnings help traffic identify businesses.

The printed canvas signage makes the business a standout along busy Roosevelt Road. The store celebrates its Grand Opening this Saturday, March 6, 2021! It officially opens to the public at noon, so go check out this great groceries/carry out food destination at 1422 West Roosevelt Road in Broadview!

To install the 25-foot-wide awning, Sign Artist designed a custom carrier. Our crew defied the weather, bringing a bucket truck and braving 1.5-foot-high snowdrifts to remove the old awning, with its faded canvas. After Sign Artist cut the old canvas from the steel frame, we mounted the frame on our truck, and carried it away, to be covered in bright, printed canvas. A fresh-looking storefront makes any shop pop. 3N’s Oriental Groceries will be an appealing destination for all who love oriental cuisine. The awning is a great aid for directing customers to the shop, and for attracting new clients.

With Spring coming, it’s time to put on a bright face and let an awning identify your business! Whether it’s an awning, wayfinding, exterior or lobby sign, give Ed a call: 630-594-4185.

February 11, 2021

LEDs Light Up Lobby Signs

Eggology earns Grade A for this creative illuminated lobby sign design! Backlit with LEDs, and custom fabricated and installed by Sign Artist, this new restaurant sign in South Barrington, Illinois, is hung and ready to roll. This fresh branding sports a playful yet elegant shape and color scheme, that pop from the anchor wall. Photos below show the final stages of fabrication at Sign Artist’s studio. Our crew took special delight in the creativity and finished product of this sign! Materials include brushed-metal and translucent vinyl, and LED lights, fitted into a custom cabinet built at the Sign Artist studio. The result is a contemporary take on restaurant signage, and an unforgettable branding. With its economy of lines, this 3-D sign shows that simplicity can be ultra-creative, eye-catching and chic. Sign Artist was happy to see Pete, restauranteur and owner of eggology, post his enthusiasm on Instagram, with the comment, “Illuminated sign turned out better than we imagined!” His replies featured a thumbs up and “so cool!!!!” Another post on Pete’s Instagram reads: “Create a vision that makes you wanna jump out of bed in the morning.” Sign Artist is happy in the part we played in adding to the visuals of Pete’s creative and tasty vision! We wish eggology much success!

Posted on eggology’s Instagram: “Illuminated sign turned out better than we imagined.”

Look for the opening of this Chicagoland restaurant Spring of 2021! If you have a unique design in mind and would like help in seeing it hatched, give Ed a call at Sign Artist: 630-594-4185.

February 10, 2021

Secure Your Brand with a Lobby Sign

Sign Artist just installed this lobby sign at Securint Financial Services, Inc, at busy Ellston and Pulaski, in Chicago. Mounted directly on the wall, this acrylic, matte black sign announces the business brand with impactful, 3-D custom-fabricated letters and logo.

A great lobby sign impresses clients from the moment they walk into your business. With new businesses starting, and established ones opening doors once again, it’s time to review your signage needs. Sign Artist is covering multiple projects for Securint, ordering business cards, and returning to the Chicago office to install privacy film. With its corner location, Securint’s windows are flooded by sunshine and the interested gazes of passersby. A frosted adhesive film that Sign Artist will install on the building’s bank of ground-floor windows, will not only temper the sun’s glare, it will provide a little privacy for workers within. Installing the film mid-line in the window, with uncovered strips above and below, will allow workers to view the great outdoors. It will also give potential clients just enough of a glimpse inside, to pique their interest, and attract a possible walk-in visitor.

Sign Artist can help you transform your business name and logo into a wall sign that shows you’re serious about your business. If you don’t have a logo, or its design needs a facelift, our talented artist/designer Erin can refresh the look — or she can design a whole, new logo for you. Styles of lobby signs range from 3-D letters anchored on walls or panels, to printed vinyl. We can illuminate your sign with LED lights, and add drama to the design. Also, consider the wide range of services Sign Artist provides. You’d be amazed at the vast range of privacy films available, and Sign Artist happily fabricates and installs unique wallpapers, murals, and exterior and wayfinding signs, too. Call Ed, (630)594-4185, for more information about how to make your business a standout with eye-catching branding and design.

Securint’s Chicago crew is pleased by its new sign.

September 25, 2019

Signs Have Great Value

Installing a Dimensional Letter Sign in the Reception Area

The University of Illinois at Chicago made the news this week. UIC ranks highly as a great value for quality education. The city location of the growing campus is an important draw and a contributor to the institution’s 5% annual growth. #Sign Artist welcomes the opportunity to participate in the university’s expansion. Dimensional wall #signs communicate the quality education for which the university is renowned. Let us promote your organization’s proud reputation! Reception area signage projects the confidence and excellence that makes your work stand out. Sign Artist will #communicate this to your important visitors! signartistusa.com

#signage #promotionalmarketing #corporatebranding

September 19, 2019

Great Northern Instore Rebrands

United Displaycraft is a subsidiary of parent company Great Northern Instore (GNI). GNI is an expert at designing and building custom retail displays. This includes everything from Gatorade to Bridgestone tires. Each item we see in a store has a carefully engineered display to provide maximum visibility and key information about the product. Great Northern subsidiaries include those specializing in metal fabrication, wood crafting and high resolution printing. When it was time to update the signage, Great Northern Instore engaged Sign Artist Inc. to transform their branding into a highly visible set of signs along the busy thoroughfare north of O’Hare International Airport. Carefully matched to the corporation’s color standard, the bright, highly weather resistant acrylic panels are mounted onto the building using metal studs tightly lodged into the facade with silicone adhesive. The sign will withstand the harsh northern winters and blazing summer heat.

April 23, 2019

Are Sign Letters Gone with the Wind? Try LED Signs!

All of us at Sign Artist play a Where’s Waldo? game of sorts. We spot problematic signs wherever we go! We applaud this dry cleaner in Chicagoland for posting positively and taking the “high road.” He obviously takes a lot of pride in his signs, because the message changes often.

However, we also wonder if the sturdy Spring winds have whisked a couple letters to another county!

Stringing letters manually to a gigantic sign board is one way of getting a message across, and we’ve happily provided changeable letter signs to area clients. But a more modern approach, and one that can be easily programmed with the touch of a finger on a screen, is LED lighting.

LED signs give an updated look, and have exterior and interior uses galore, from way finding, directory and even sports arena signage, to menu and score boards. and open/closed signs. Wifi controller connections allows the owner of the sign to make changes to content as needs dictate.

These electronic message centers provide high visibility to your business!

Let us know if you’d like to update your look, make lettering legible and secure, and simplify maintenance, with a programmable LED sign. We’d be happy to give you a quote for your specific need and application.

April 17, 2019

Be Strategic with Signs

People heading up any enterprise, often pour hours into strategic plans, employee and client interactions, but sometimes miss the obvious — planning for a stunning sign that will turn heads and generate buzz and business. Whether you’re shopping for a new dentist or realtor, a clothing boutique or condo, would you be more willing to try the establishment that features a yellowing, half-lit sign announcing its services…or a fresh sign with all letters intact? Do you enjoy seeing more than plain signage? A well-designed image or two, placed strategically, can make any sign more striking.

We’ve had a brutal winter in many parts of the U.S…and certainly in Chicagoland! Now is a great time to see if your shop, residential or corporate signage needs a face lift. We’ve already seen an uptick in business at Sign Artist, as customers are asking for new directory sign panels, banners for temporary branding until storefront build outs are complete, vinyl wraps to turn vans into moving billboards, and new wall murals to brighten a shop interior.

If you have a dream for how to rev up the interior or exterior of your business, contact us! You may be amazed at the tremendous variety of materials available that can move your project forward. Also, we have a fine artist on staff, who has a wonderful gift for grasping clients’ visions and helping to make them a reality.

If you’re tired of your branding and would like a logo re-design, Sign Artist is up for the challenge. Want to see some of the cutting-edge materials that make contemporary signs pop and also last longer? Reserve a time with us, and then come view samples of every imaginable kind of sign, in our showroom. We look forward to “Springing forward” with you, as our weather changes, and we help you put on a fresh new sign for your business!

April 9, 2019

Every New, Exterior Sign Needs a Permit

Sign Artist’s crew was busily installing a 15-foot pylon sign in a Western Suburb of Chicago, when a city official strode up to check our code compliability. Had the crew obtained proper permits to revamp the sign? When the official saw our paperwork, all signed and sealed at city hall, he smiled and joined us for a photo.

Does code compliance matter? Yes, and many a business owner has discovered this the hard way. On one recent job, Sign Artist was asked to remove a beautiful 10-foot-wide channel letter sign, because the previous sign company had not followed city codes in its installation. The improper sign looked great on the store front, but was not compatible with other storefront signs in the complex, so had to go. Sign Artist took care of removal of the old sign, and design and installation — and code compliant paperwork — for the new sign.

What’s involved in obtaining proper paperwork from city hall? Owners either file for permits themselves, or hire Sign Artist to do the leg and phone work, in sending dimensional and other information, and photos of the projected sign, to appropriate staff at city offices. The process of obtaining permits does require certain fees and can take some time, even several weeks or more. If a business owner wants his or her sign installed ASAP, then the code and permitting issues should be addressed efficiently, or crew and owner will face delays in the install.

Make everyone happy — dot every “i” and cross every “t,” regarding city permits! Give Sign Artist a call for any questions about the process, and we’ll smooth the way for you, ensuring that your sign will make you — and your city officials — smile.

Let Sign Artist do the legwork in obtaining proper exterior sign permits!

February 7, 2019

Electronic LED Business Signs Offer Convenience

Electronic business signs are more convenient than static signage. In addition to the bright, eye-catching quality of LED signs, they offer another benefit. They can be updated by the business owner to rapidly display a timely message. For example, a recent inventory study shows that too many auto air fresheners were ordered. The items have a shelf life and may need to be disposed of pretty soon. A sale on air fresheners can be posted on the electronic message board on the same day of this realization.

Maybe you received notice that an employee is leaving their job. The opening can be on the electronic sign within the hour. In addition, you’re not trying to replace letters on a manual message board in the snow and blizzardy wind. Not only is that a challenge, there’s increased risk of an injury if an employee has to balance on a ladder to make the update.

A larger scale example of the benefit of electronic message centers is that networks of the devices may be managed remotely. Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, has dozens of electronic displays. Many of these are menu boards in the concession stands. Content management software combined with electronic displays allow for remote updates via the internet. Multiple sporting events take place in the stadium and branding on the menus as well as menu items and prices are scheduled to update for each event. This is accomplished by a person at their laptop in any location in which they have internet connectivity.

Convenience is just one advantage of electronic message displays. Visit the Sign Artist Inc. site soon for the next topic in our series on LED electronic signs.

January 10, 2019

Shared Business Space Gets ADA Compliant Signs

Business signs should be ADA compliant. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) became law in 1990. I had just entered occupational therapy school at Rush University in Chicago. It seemed like a good idea at the time; provide reasonable accommodation to people with mobility, hearing, visual and any other type of disability. At the time, I didn’t know that many people who affected by a disability.

Certainly, as an occupational therapist, many of my patients benefited from this law. It provided motivation for cities to add ramps to sidewalks at intersections. Automatic doors became commonplace. Visual aids also became present in elevators, public buildings and corporate settings.

Sign Artist Inc. partnered with Summit Construction to install 90 ADA-compliant architectural signs at a building in downtown Chicago. The 620 N. LaSalle building was a sporting goods store when I moved to the city in 1983. For the last couple of years, it has been vacant. The building is being renovated and will house a number of companies that share workspaces such as conference rooms, technical and business services and other common areas such as kitchens and dining areas.

We were fascinated by the historical building and had the opportunity to tour it from the basement to the roof! Dave, the superintendent, was really helpful in guiding us to the appropriate locations where signs needed posting. He explained how the building originated from two buildings in the late 1800s. The two buildings were connected in the center by a structure that expanded it into a much larger one. You can see where the transitions between the original buildings exist, along with the original brick walls and wide-planked wooden floors. Built to Last!

ADA signs that we installed had raised text, international symbols for stairs and restrooms and included braille for the visually-impaired. Every stairway needed to be marked and to identify the building level to meet both ADA and fire department requirements. ADA-compliant signs must meet the requirements of the regulations and be positioned in accordance with federal guidelines.

January 7, 2019

Signs Earn Customer Trust

Metal Plaques Suggest Stability and Permanence.

There are many options to choose from when designing a sign. One thing to consider is what will the sign will say subconsciously to people?

Banners are a good example. These are best used for special events, sales or as temporary signs while a more permanent one is being manufactured. Banners are great for announcing events with limited duration, such as special pricing or upcoming events. They also work well for art fairs, car washes and other fundraisers. Anniversaries, graduations and sporting events are appropriate for banners because of their portability and wide range of sizes.

Permanent business establishments should display signs that reflect their nature and character. A beautiful routed wood or lighted channel letter sign says something to the viewer that banners and temporary signs do not. It suggests that the business is here to stay. A well-designed and constructed sign reflects the business owner’s commitment to the community and their customers. It portrays the organization as having history, quality and professionalism.

Three-dimensional signs are just one example of a noble permanent sign. Lighted channel letters and carved signs illustrate commitment and legitimacy. Government buildings, schools, libraries and banks may consider an even more robust emblem of organizational significance.

Bronze plaques and other metal signs convey a level of permanence and stability that establishes longevity. These signs indicate reliability and strength and individuals subconsciously respond to this. People are more likely to trust an organization that posts an identity that states that “We’re here for the long haul – you can safely put your trust in us.”

Sign Artist Inc. is well-acquainted with the breadth of available sign solutions. We will help you to identify the impact you need your sign to have on customers and patrons. After establishing this, we’ll help you to navigate through the various options and the level of investment that you’re comfortable with. Our desire is that you feel great about how your new sign represents you and your business.

January 5, 2019

Bella Nora Salon & Spa Updates Its Business Sign

A new business sign announces the Bella Nora nail salon and spa’s updated identity in Plainfield, IL. Owner Johnny Nguyen called Sign Artist Inc. last autumn to discuss ideas to update the branding for his business. An older sign with the previous owner’s name was on the building and he wanted to clarify the current name of the business while letting potential customers know that there was an updated variety of services.

Mr. Nguyen presented ideas to our designer, Erin, who worked with him to create renderings of options. In addition, Sign Artist’s owner, Ed performed a site survey to take measurements of the location where the new sign would be placed. During this visit, the existing sign mounting and electrical supply was reviewed. Ed met with Mr. Nguyen to discuss the findings and the customer decided to replace the existing sign with new LED-lit channel letters.

In case you’re not familiar with sign components, a channel letter sign is an illuminated sign made of custom-formed metal housings. Each letter or word contains an array of LED light modules and they transmit light either through the front, or, through the back, giving the sign a halo-like effect.

Bella Nora’s sign has white, acrylic front panels that diffuse light and illuminate for night viewing. During the day, the black edges provide a sharp contrast with the white face panels, making it easy to read the 22″ high letters from hundreds of feet in the distance. Visibility during both day and night was important to the owner because the business is adjacent to a supermarket and he wanted to attract shoppers’ attention as they walk to and from the massive parking lot.

The sign operates with a timer that is set to turn the sign on at dusk and to also automatically turn off. LED lighting costs a fraction of fluorescent or neon lights and it provides evenly distributed illumination. These signs are built to provide many years of service despite the extremes of weather that the Midwestern climate tees up.

The owner’s new sign professionally reflects the quality and vibrant character of the Bella Nora Salon and Spa’s services. He is pleased to say that now “The business feels like it’s mine.” The sign announces the business and represents the pride that the staff takes in delivering excellent service.

December 20, 2018

Educate Your Captivated Customer

The Vault at the Dump

Business signs educate customers, and The DUMP luxury furniture warehouse does this the moment they encounter beautiful products. The store prepared a showroom of one-of-a-kind fine rugs and informs customers about the quality contents of the museum-like space. Sign Artist applied a large format cut vinyl sign directly to the wall to create a teaching moment for shoppers.

“The Vault” is the gallery name, and we partnered with the talented DUMP marketing team to translate the design into a business sign. It is approximately 20 feet wide and 20 feet high. The letter “V” alone is over 5 feet tall! White vinyl was precision-cut on our digital plotter and prepared for application. We measured and leveled the sign, then taped the large blocks of text into position. Sign Artist specialists applied the enormous wall sign, word-by-word. Finally, we applied heat to ensure fast adhesion to the painted surface.

The result is captivating! Customers stop to learn about the exquisite rugs as they enter the gallery, and before ever examining a product or checking a price.

December 19, 2018

Sign Attracts Business for Elmhurst Auto Care

New outdoor business sign at Elmhurst Auto Care.

Owners of Elmhurst Auto Care updated their outdoor business sign to represent the quality of their service. They partnered with Sign Artist Inc. to update their branding.

Ed and Brad were excellent partners with whom to achieve this goal. They engaged in designing and planning the sign updates. This was key to the project’s success.

Sign Artist Inc. used polycarbonate panels with cut vinyl to create the new look. The changeable letter panels were also replaced to create a great impression.

The enhanced business sign on North Ave. is not only brighter and easily visible to customers, it displays the updated branding. The new logo reflects the quality of service and commitment of the team to customer satisfaction.

Compared to nearby signs on North Ave., Elmhurst Auto Care’s sign is truly “lit.”

August 10, 2018

Aligning for Optimal Health

Dr. Orsini and his Sign Artist Lobby sign.

Connect 33 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic will be celebrating their grand opening on August 15, 2018. They’re located conveniently at 555 Butterfield in Lombard, IL. If you’re experiencing neck pain, numbness or loss of muscle control, give Dr. Orsini a call at (630) 541-8553. Sign Artist had a great experience working with Dr. Orsini on his lobby/reception area sign. The white lettering against the navy blue wall really gets attention as patients walk through the outer lobby. The doctor and his wife created the design and worked with Sign Artist designers to create the attractive graphics for their entryway. Sign Artist accurately reproduced the custom blue letters using our industry-standard digital technology. Patients will now know that they’ve arrived at the right place to “Get Your Head on Straight.”