Chester County, PA – Graphic Design: From Logo Design to Signs and Branding

Graphic design, as defined from Wikipedia, “is the process of visual communication through the use of typography, photography, iconography and illustration.” Graphic designers create and combine symbols, images and text to form visual representations of ideas and messages.

Logo our design team created for Old Skool HVAC.

Typography, visual arts, and page layout techniques are used to create visual compositions. Common applications of graphic design include corporate design (logos and branding), editorial design (magazines, newspapers and books), wayfinding or environmental design, advertising, web design, communication design, product packaging, art and signage.

Graphic designers create art for a wide range of applications, but in the sign industry nearly every application is a three-dimensional product. It’s no longer just a flat drawing, the art needs to take form.

Colors, Shapes and Fonts all have specific meanings which are crucial when designing a logo!

There are specific subsets of skills and knowledge that apply to the different types of messaging you are trying to accomplish. Logo design for instance is the creation of a visual representation of your companies philosophy, culture and image. This design needs to take into consideration the aspects of the business and what image best represents that business. Considerations of the ways the logo and brand will be presented are also key in a successful logo design. Color pallets are defined for the primary logo as well as which combinations to use on alternate backgrounds. For example if your logo is maroon and the background is black the primary logo will not be visible so it is presented in white. Similarly logos need to be able to adapt in shape. Applications like social media require a circular icon where many logos are more square. It’s always good practice to have at least 2 variations of a logo for horizontal and vertical usages. A pretty broad sense of how the logo will be used must be included in a branding guide. Including your logo throughout your letter heads, signage, presentations etc. helps promote branding and a culture within your business, so it’s important that the logo is accessible!

Old Skool HVAC moved into a space and our design team worked to translate their logo with simple text on a bold monument sign our team had previously designed!

Shapes and colors all have subliminal meanings and should be considered in your design.

Exterior signage has another set of parameters that needs to be included in the development of a business. Will the sign be externally or internally illuminated? Will it be in an area with moving traffic? The speed and distance of those passing by is crucial for the sizes and types of signs that will be beneficial. Size restrictions either by municipality regulations or by nature of the sign will affect how the graphic designer fits the messaging so that it is easily seen and legible.

Believe it or not this is a red van with a full vehicle wrap to transform it to this memorable truck!

Vehicle wraps are a key advertising medium for many businesses. Creating a design that works for your business starts with a solid logo and brand identity. From the color choices to type of graphic, the options are truly endless. Vehicle wraps and graphics are a whole different ball game when it comes to design. Vehicles are complex shapes and our design team has to work to create a graphic that when printed and installed on the contours of the vehicle will look like the picture. If you’ve ever tried to wrap an odd shape gift with wrapping paper, then you can begin to understand the complexities of designing for vehicles.

Our design team created this custom frost and translucent vinyl design to create privacy while also creating cohesive branding!

Signage also extends to interior signage including but not limited to dimensional letters, illuminated cabinets, wall signs and vinyl graphics. Interior signs have a different subset of parameters for the designer to take into account such as interior décor, colors and architectural features. The interior signage should be able to grab the attention of the intended audience but not overwhelm the space. It needs to fit in and look natural in the surrounding environment. Architectural features such as glass, steel, sharp or curved features all fall into play for the design as well as materials used in the design.

If you are working on a new logo or sign design, give the experts at Paramount Signs a call for a free consultation. Our design staff has the experience and knowledge to help you get your image in front of your clients.

We believe that getting you noticed is PARAMOUNT!