Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 52

DIGITAL SIGN
MANUFACTURING
NEW IDEAS FROM THE ISA SIGN EXPO 2017

BY DAREK JOHNSON

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

HE sign industry is changing from
a creative field to a manufacturing
field," he said, and although I'm working from memory and may not be
quoting the guy exactly, that quote
is the gist of a statement made by
an industry executive who has top
knowledge of the signmaking field. He said this at a recent
ISA Sign Expo 2017 press conference, adding that signmakers need to acknowledge, gear up for and act on the
ongoing changes in their profession. I believe this speaker
wanted the attending press corps to carry this message
forward. Consequently, the next morning, at a crowded
café and with a Mexican omelet smiling up at me, I asked
Chris and Kathi Morrison about this most unusual statement. They, with their own breakfasts steaming, actively
reviewed the notion: signmaking creativity transforming
to a light manufacturing business model.
The Morrisons know their stuff. They've written ST's "Tech

"T

52

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

JUNE 2017

Review" column for more than 12 years, have owned and
operated a signshop that specialized in large-format printing
and have worked as creative technology and product manufacturing specialists since the current tech era began. At
breakfast, we deliberated the light-manufacturing concept
between breakfast bites when Chris mentioned "maker society" groups, which launched a new line of thinking. Just
then, the waitress asked, "More coffee?" and we said yes.
MAKER SOCIETIES
A Google search reveals abundant "maker society" definitions,
each with unique purposes and places. Thus, to solidify
what we breakfasters saw as a signmaking relationship to
"maker societies," and because one is close to ST's address,
my definition stems from the Cincinnati-based Manufactory,
a 17,000-sq.-ft. membership workshop that claims it is
"chock full" of equipment and tools, and a perfect place to
build "things."
The Manufactory web spin says the clientele comprises



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - June 2017

Signs of the Times - June 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Vehicles + Vinyl
Design Matters
Nuts + Bolts
Trending Times Square
Smart Surroundings
Digital Sign Manufacturing
Strictly Electric: A Goodman Sign
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Signs of the Times - June 2017
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 8
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 12
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 20
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 26
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Design Matters
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Nuts + Bolts
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 32
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 34
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 36
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Trending Times Square
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 40
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 42
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 44
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 46
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Smart Surroundings
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 50
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Digital Sign Manufacturing
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 54
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 56
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Strictly Electric: A Goodman Sign
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 59
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 60
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 61
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 62
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 63
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 65
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 66
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 67
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 68
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 69
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 70
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 71
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 72
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 73
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 74
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 76
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 77
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 79
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 80
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 81
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 82
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 83
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 84
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 85
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 86
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 87
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 88
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 89
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 90
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 91
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 92
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 93
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 94
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 95
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 96
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 97
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - 98
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - June 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_blackbook_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201201
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com