Signwave Founder Honored

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From the very outset of starting his own sign company, Dan Simon determined that his vision would be to create signs that were both practical for businesses but also beautiful for the community. You may hear him exclaim his signature phrase: “No ugly signs!” at one of his networking events or at a meeting of his HIA-LI subcommittee. Dan has never wavered from the tenet that companies should exist not merely to profit and grow but to serve, both the clients and the greater good. He spends a large amount of his personal time working for local volunteer organizations and building the HIA-LI Business Acceleration Committee. He donates Signwave’s time and resources to help out nonprofit Long Island organizations such as Stage the Change, The INN, and local high school theatrical productions.

The team at Signwave is proud to share that Dan’s efforts are being recognized at a luncheon on December 13, honoring him along with three other community members who make a difference. We see first hand how well deserved this recognition is.

Those interested in registering for the virtual celebration, please click here or contact Halle Grossman at hgrossman@hia-li.org. For sponsorship opportunities, email Anthony Forgione at aforgione@hia-li.org or call 631-543-5355. 

 

About HIA-LI

HIA-LI helps Long Island businesses prosper. For over 40 years, they have been one of the recognized voices for business on Long Island and a powerful force and economic engine for regional development. They provide a forum for business leaders to network, problem solve and obtain advice on critical issues facing their businesses. Their member companies represent tens of thousands of business professionals. They’re headquartered in and support one of the largest industrial parks in the United States. HIA-LI programs and events promote strategic partnerships, targeted networking, information sharing and business advocacy. Members benefit from their committees, educational programs, career resources, research capabilities, mentoring opportunities and business advisory services. For more information, visit http://www.hia-li.org or call 631-543-5355.

Vehicle Graphic Roundup

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Let’s take a closer look at a few of our most recent vehicle graphic projects, from full wraps to simple door vinyl. If you’re ready to take on more business and get more name recognition, Signwave will help you create a mobile marketing “employee” that pays for itself in no time!

High Coverage Spot Vinyl

The following vehicles are not completely wrapped in full coverage vinyl. Each graphic is a separate printed, laminated, and contour cut piece that is precisely applied. But because of the density of the graphics you get the impression of a full wrap.

Box truck printed vinyl wrap

Full Coverage Vehicle Wraps

All these work vans are plain white, but when transformed with a custom-designed commercial wrap they catch the eye and spread your branding message everywhere you go.

 

Cut Vinyl Door Graphics

The most basic of vehicle graphics, door vinyl is often required and neglecting it (and the regulations regarding it) can lead to costly tickets. We create door graphics that are both compliant and beautiful. Remember: no ugly signs!

 

Let Signwave Help You Spread the Word

On a job site, parked in your driveway, or heading to a sales call, your vehicle is seen hundreds of times a day. Let Signwave help you turn this blank canvas into a mobile marketing powerhouse. No matter your budget, there’s a solution for you. Check out our gallery to see even more examples.

It’s a Sun Sign Day – Building Signage Evolves With The Brand

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SUNation, a leading Ronkonkoma-based provider of solar energy services, developed a brand that was all about the sun. They first came to us in 2017 for a building sign that displays the pride the company has in their people and services. Signwave’s design challenge was to create something that looked great by day, but really performed after dark. We created a dual-lit channel letter sign with halo lighting reflecting on the wall behind the sunburst in their logo. We printed the front faces for the channel letters on translucent vinyl that retained excellent vibrancy either front-lit (during daylight) or backlit (after dark.)

illuminated channel lettering

The original SUNation sign from 2017

Fast forward to 2022, when SUNation underwent a complete brand refresh and new logo. Signwave was called in to update the building sign accordingly. Because of our previous experience with the company, the brand, the building and the Town of Islip, we were able to rollout the new signage on spec, on budget, and on schedule.  Congratulations to the SUNation team on your brand refresh!

Installation day!

The beautiful finished sign

If your company is planning branding changes, please contact Signwave at 631.761.9292 to assure your building and office signage, as well as vehicle graphics, are transitioned to your new brand identity.

The Power of a Professional Designer

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Business owners walk a fine line trying to present a professional face to their clientele while still keeping costs down.  Oftentimes we look for ways we can do things ourselves rather than paying someone else to do them, to save some money. But there are times when paying a professional is money well spent, like with electrical work or tree removal. The risks there are unacceptably high for a DIY-er. So what risks do you incur when you don’t spend enough on your design budget? Now we’re not saying that doing your own graphic design can be hazardous to your health. But it can be costly in terms of how your business is perceived, if your marketing is aesthetically below standard.

That’s where a sign company with full time, experienced graphic designers can help.

Logo Design: The First Building Block

Take, for example, our friends at Hauppauge Integrated Wellness Group. They contacted us in need of a new lobby sign using their new logo, and we were excited to take the job. But like many business owners they didn’t have (or even really know they needed) a high resolution vector file that we could use for production. Here is the image they provided, a jpg which is “rasterized” which is why the lines are all jagged and pixelated. This file was not useable for a final product.

Luckily, our designers are experienced in taking a raster file and converting it into the type of file we need–a “vector” file which has smooth edges and can be infinitely enlarged without losing resolution. The software we use, Adobe Illustrator, can even do this for us with a click of a button. But this is where the difference in a professional versus an enthusiastic amateur is clear. The software can only do so much, and as you can see below the automated process rendered text that is oddly lumpy, and has letters attached to one another. Could we use this as a production file to make a sign? Certainly. But would a customer be happy with the finished result? Unlikely.

 

Close up of the initial render

 

The Value of Experience

Our designer wasted no time trying to pass this vector off to production. Instead, he dove into his resources to find a font that was as close as possible to the one used in the logo. Many times we can find the exact font and recreate the text easily. But in this case he had to utilize a font that had similar letters and custom adjust them as needed to match the logo font. This is a painstaking, time-consuming process that was absolutely crucial for a professional finished sign. The letters are now crisp, individual, and ready for production.

The completed vector file

See the end result and judge for yourself:

For a good sign, start with a good design.

What Are the Real Costs?

The next time you need signage, you can put yourself and your business in the hands of a sign company like Signwave that refuses to compromise on the importance of good design and visual impact. Or you can take your chances and potentially have to live with a sign you don’t love, or that you have to pay to have redone.

Signage For Interior Design – High School Cafeteria

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We’re always glad for the chance to collaborate with  talented Interior Design professionals like Mary D’Andrea of MDA Designs, who recently brought us in on a High School Cafeteria renovation project. Mary shared her vision with us of a design based around the school color palette, the school’s mascot, and the school’s values. And the opportunity for customization of a dramatic architectural feature that will last for generations.

Roll-Up Cafeteria Door Logos

Each slat is fully covered by custom printed vinyl graphics, laminated for durability.

First on our list was generating school pride with custom graphics on the rollup cafeteria doors. We designed circular logos and printed them on conformable vinyl that would permit flexibility required by their routine heavy use. We applied a layer of laminate that would help protect the graphics for many years of washing (and the wear and tear that we anticipated they would receive on a daily basis). Installation required precise levelling and  alignment, and careful cutting between each door segment.

Dimensional Letters

In the space above the doors, we collaborated on two sets of dimensional letters spelling out their slogan “Home Of The Friars.” We selected black PVC as the optimal material for these, as it has the tolerance for the thin strokes of the school’s font selection, and to provide a high contrast for maximum legibility. In all it makes for a dramatic approach, doesn’t it?

“Word Cloud” Wall

Beautiful printed vinyl in custom logo colors gives the impression of dimensionality.

The designer collaborated with the school’s decision makers to come up with a series of words and phrases reflecting the school’s mission and values. We created typographical art with a collage of the words they came up with. After several iterations, it was time for color matching. The visible color of printed material can vary significantly under different types of light, so to make certain of our fidelity to the school colors we brought sample prints and held it under the actual cafeteria lighting. After all was approved, and printing and lamination complete, we installed our graphic treatment on the cafeteria’s walls.

Cast Brass Logo Plaque

Finally, we were asked to create a large cast plaque to be mounted on a custom glazed tile wall. The wall was to become the dramatic backdrop for a water feature – a functioning waterfall and catch basin. Because the plaque would be mounted behind the glass of the fountain, we opted for the high visibility of brilliant polished brass with oxidized bronze inset areas. We were able to capture all of the logo details in our design, and engrave and finish in solid brass to assure decades of beauty. A cast plaque is among the most durable of signage materials, and is sure to leave its mark for generations.

Thank you to MDA Designs for sharing this great opportunity with Signwave. We’re proud to make our contribution to your design vision.

A side view of the crowning piece, the custom engraved bronze plaque

Signwave Supports STEM Education

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The Signwave team

Smithtown High School STEM Trade Show 2022

On October 27, 2022, Signwave was proud to participate in the annual STEM Trade Show hosted by the Smithtown High School Career Center and the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board. The goal of the show was to present students with a broader understanding of how STEM education can lead to an unexpectedly wide variety of fulfilling careers. Represented at the show were over 30 Long Island companies that value science, technology, engineering, and math skills in their employees. Smithtown students were given the chance to try hands-on learning activities, ask questions, and make connections that could lead to higher learning or internship opportunities.

Signage as Art and Science

Students try their hand at applying two-layer vinyl graphics

When thinking about STEM careers, your mind might not immediately jump to sign making as an example. However, creating a good sign involves a combination of materials science, engineering, fabrication skill, and computer-aided design. At the Signwave booth, students were given the tools and materials to apply a two-layer cut vinyl design that represents an iconic image in Smithtown: The Bull. Our design & fabrication team, Brian and Jake, were there to walk the students through the techniques required for a clean vinyl application, and to answer questions about what their jobs entail and what led them to the positions they hold now. Dan was on hand to talk about the business side of the coin, and how digital marketing and finance are important to success.

The applied sample graphic

How You Can Participate

The future of STEM is integral to the future of Long Island business, and the students of today will hold the key. If your company would be interested in participating in next year’s STEM fair, contact Philip Como, Smithtown IAB Executive Director at (631) 382-2977 or (631) 382-5210.