Comparing Hometown Signs With Others

ABOVE PHOTO: GABE GRIFFIN, CLEAR SIGN & DESIGN

QUESTION:

Do you think the signs in your city or town are generally better than in comparable cities or towns?

Yes: 36%

• We have larger business areas. NYC is the leader in signs and the diversity of people who need signs. — Paul Boegemann, Paul Signs Inc., Brooklyn, NY
• Visual competition amongst retailers is strong, and community pride. — Myke Baugh, Roughrider Signs & Designs, Jamestown, ND
• Generally very professional, business-like, some areas more creative than others. — Myrna Orensten, Imaginality Designs, Golden Valley, MN
• Because we designed and made a lot of them. — Michael Van der Melen, The Media Works, Norwood, ON, Canada

No: 64%

• I would say pretty average for a nice city like ours. — Sara Geiger, Fox Cities Sign, Appleton, WI
• Restrictive sign code. — Patrick Doyle, Doyle Signs Inc., Addison, IL
• Historic commission has to approve signs. — Raychel O’Donoghue, Lexington Signs & Graphics, Burlington, MA
• Most businesses want rectangle box signs, the cheapest ones. Not too much creativity here because it costs more. — Carey Gray, CAT Graphics Inc., Great Falls, MT
• Old signs are not required to be removed when a business closes. A sign graveyard has now ensued. — Todd Sallas, Coastal Signs & Graphics, Slocomb, AL
• Our signs lack imagination, texture, depth. I would like to see more variety. — Nancy Wilde, Wilde Signs, Vernon, BC, Canada

One Quick Question:

How much inspiration do you take from signage you see when you go out or travel?

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

AI in the Sign Industry:
What would you most like to ask about AI and signwork?

Are you using AI within customer interactions and if so, how? Has anyone been able to fashion an estimating app using AI? Have any companies used AI to assist with production-management scheduling? How do you handle customers who bring in an AI design but want to change something? How many companies are currently using AI in coding or permitting? If so, what are you using and how? Is AI filling gaps, improving process and performance or reducing costs? And at what price? How well does AI play with Adobe and Corel? What have you found to be the best AI program for accurately vectorizing low-res logos?