Signs of the Times - July 2016 - (Page 14)

T e c h nology Upd at e more than a flurry of instructions guided the job of protecting such a distinguished visitor. I blame the kid's chief. Sometimes leaders and managers forget to include important details, or assume the receiving party understands things they may not. Such incidents remind us of other miscommunication stories, many of which are famous in the sign industry. My favorite is the signshop boss who told the new installer the job was along the highway, just out of town. "You can't miss it," he said, but forgot to declare that the job was west of town. You know the result: An hour later, the new guy called in from an Exxon station, 60 miles east of town. The art of telling All instructions pass through a frame of reference, i.e., a natural, human filter embedded in both the sender and receiver. Advanced leadership training teaches one to not only recognize this particular cross-blending action, but to anticipate and value it. Marty McGhie, VP of finance and operations and part owner of Ferrari Color (Salt Lake City) and author of ST-published Business + Management, says many managers believe their communication skills relate to the way they present their message and how well they can get their staff to listen and follow. "On the contrary," Marty said, "the most effective leaders are those who learn to listen. Listening to those you supervise is one of the best ways to effectively lead in any organization." Similarly, civilians who believe military orders are ironclad often misunderstand the reasoning in military instruction. Although discipline and exactness are often required, the US military also sees the necessity of collaborative thinking and creative, out-of-thebox leadership, especially in dire situations. Misunderstandings aside, it wants its leaders to know everything possible about any impending situations before they act, which is reinforced by both classroom lessons and simulated practice, but a professional field soldier also appreciates that he or she must sometimes act independently. In business, this practice is called "empowerment." It allows employees to act independently within their realm of responsibility, which adds creativity, speed and value to actions that support the enterprise. Creatives In the creative fields, an instruction should always be a negotiation - an exchange and development of ideas - otherwise, why have creative staffs? The creative's value is in his individuality and the spawning and development of ideas. For precision, one hires bean counters. n Creating Depth in Flat Designs By Dan Wilson Dan Wilson, Roland DGA's creative director, is responsible for overseeing the design and communications of Roland's product-marketing, advertising, literature, web, public-relations, video and tradeshow efforts. Contact him at dwilson@rolanddga.com. I n wide-format design, you have opportunities to add dimension by printing on dimensional substrates, or by mounting, layering, router cutting or combining props and materials. However, you can also create the illusion of depth in flat-printed graphics, which can make your graphics stand out. Even with solid-color, vector-design elements, subtle graphic treatments can guide the viewer's eye and create a more pleasing look. Here are some ways to achieve depth: Color Create depth with the use of color. Our eyes and brain perceive color in layers based on our view of the natural world. Cool colors like the blues of the sky recede in our depth perception, while warm colors like oranges and reds come forward. To create depth and a more natural look, use warm colors in front of cool colors. 14 SIGNS OF THE TIMES July 2016 Overlap A slight overlap between separate design elements can create a nice sense of depth. A photograph slightly overlapping a letter or a graphical shape, for example, is a simple way to add interest to your design. Horizon Adding sense of foreground, middle ground and background in your design makes an appealing composition. Consider, for example, the use of background horizontal lines and shapes, placed where a horizon line would appear. Scaling the perspective of design elements can further this effect. Shadows Drop shadow effects are not always the best effect, so, instead, try creating a realistic cast shadow. It will help ground the graphic and deliver a stronger look. Effects Adding dimension to a design through drop shadows, bevel/emboss or similar effects can be appropriate in many cases, but can also appear cliché at times. If you consider such effects, try making them unique or subtle in a way that makes your design more sophisticated. Remember to consider which design elements you want to attract the viewer's eye and then use depth in your design to create focus and a more attractive look.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - July 2016

Signs of the Times - July 2016
Columns & Departments
ST Update
Technology Update
Integrating High-End Effects in Your Design
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
Moving Message
Technology Review - Computerized Cutters’ Accu-Form
Technology Review - Cyrious software
Design Matters
New Products
Signs that Invite
Horseshoe-Shaped Window Graphics
Driving West
State of the Industry
Returns to Glory
Enter ST’s Vehicle Graphics Contest
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - July 2016