Signs of the Times - January 2012 - (Page 54)

A Global Village A gallery of unique international projects By Steve Aust Given thecontinent of–Europe –mass comparative U.S.’s size its land nearly equals the entire and isolation from the rest of the world with oceans on either coast, it’s easy for Americans to feel disconnected (even in the era of around-the-clock news channels and constant website and social-media updates). And, to be honest, the can-do optimism most Americans possess sometimes mutates into hubris that tends to exclude external input. According to Sarah Singleton, the Intl. Sign Assn.’s (ISA) director of marketing, approximately 4% of its members are from outside the U.S and Canada, with roughly one quarter of this contingent having joined the past year. Various elements drive the industry abroad. “Sign-production methodology is governed by a host of factors, not all of which are intuitive,” she said. “The aesthetic culture of each country influences design, color, size and illumination. Sign styles differ greatly between Buenos Aires and Shanghai. The prevalence of raw materials in a given location also influences production. Skills were passed down for generations before importing and exporting became so widespread.” She also noted that African and Asian businesses usually feature larger and more illuminated signs – and “a preponderance of temporary signs,” whereas South American and European governments tend to impose more restrictive codes. She cited Turkey as a nation where sign companies integrate overall brand management into their repertoire. Eager to find out what set Turkey apart, she learned its median age is 28. “This incredibly young population is eager to be involved in every aspect of the creative process and implement new technologies,” Singleton said. Consider this article a small step toward dispelling the “ugly American” perception with a gallery of attractive sign programs from abroad. Whether colorful or stately, they’re indicative of the sign industry’s vitality on all shores. 54 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / JANUARY 2012 Quay to the City Despite having been a sovereign republic for only slightly more than 50 years, and with only five million inhabitants spread across 63 islands, Singapore has become a powerful player. The city-state proudly stands as the world’s fourth-largest banking and financial center, the second-largest market for casino gaming, and a key international-shipping center and oil-refinery center. In a report published in October, the World Bank lauded Singapore as the easiest place to do business globally. Even amidst global economic chaos, the Far East has maintained strength, with Singapore remaining an essential cog in Asia’s economic engine. High-rise office towers and high-profile residential buildings are constructed almost daily in Singapore, and opportunities correspondingly abound for signage and environmental-graphic-design (EGD) projects. Calori + Vanden-Eynden (CVE), a NYC-based EGD firm, collaborated with a pair of Singaporean vendors to create a signage and wayfinding program for One Raffles Quay (pronounced “key”), a 2-million-sq.-ft., multi-use development in the heart of Singapore’s central business district. Kohn Pederson Fox Assoc. and Architects 61 (U.S. and Singapore firms, respectively) served as the building’s architect for the clients, a joint venture of Keppel Land Intl., Hongkong Land Ltd. and Chueng Kong Holdings Ltd. “Singapore’s hustle and bustle, and heat and humidity, are legendary,” David Vanden-Eynden, one of the firm’s

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - January 2012

Signs of the Times - January 2012
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review
Sign Museum News
New Products
A Global Village
Crane Truck Roundtable
Remembering the Struggle
Four Major Elements of the New ADA
ADA Opportunities and Challenges
The Value of Signs
Ramsay Sign Celebrates Centennial
Industry News
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - January 2012