ShieldCo Art

Custom Metal Signs & Business Logos

Custom Signs

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Can you sew? Interested in helping our PPE cause? We are donating material to seamstresses (anyone who can sew) in the Frederick MD area that can help us make masks and isolation gowns. To get in contact, please join our Facebook Group, Sewing for Lives – Frederick MD , or visit our PPE Page on our website. We have sewing patterns for masks/gowns and fabrication patterns for face shields.

If you would like to donate to our cause, please visit our Venmo Link:

https://venmo.com/ShieldCo
The last four digits of the number for Venmo is 2733.

ShieldCo PPE equipment
ShieldCo PPE face mask
ShieldCo PPE reusable masks

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has become an unprecedented global event, causing significant disruption in the lives of nearly everyone on earth. With half of humanity now staying home to “flatten the curve”, our frontline healthcare workers are putting themselves at risk every day to protect us against the virus.

We are dealing with a “new normal”. For many of us, including small businesses, we cannot predict how the virus will continue to affect our lives, our families, our businesses, and our communities. Although ShieldCo continues to operate (with numerous safety measures in place), we have many other friends in the community – including the restaurant and beverage industries – that had to shut operations due to public safety concerns.

We might not have control over how the virus affects us, but one major way we can help is by supporting the healthcare workers who are in the front lines against the virus. As you may have heard in the news, medical facilities are struggling with the mass shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment) such as masks, face shields, and isolation gowns.

After being approached by our friends in medicine, we decided to help out the best way we could: by mobilizing our team to produce these needed materials, as fast as we could.

We started out by setting up two sewing machines in our shop, and getting the word out to our sales and marketing team (who are working from home) to boot up their sewing machines and spread the word to anyone who wanted to pitch in (big thanks to the family members who have been helping!).

After purchasing fabric, elastic, Plexiglas, marine-grade vinyl and other supplies needed to make large quantities of equipment, we got to work.

(By the way…if you’re a seamstress / someone who can sew and you are interested in materials to make masks/gowns, please visit our Facebook Group, Sewing for Lives – Frederick MD or visit our PPE page. We are donating materials to seamstresses / people who can sew in the Frederick MD area.)

ShieldCo sewing PPE face masks
ShieldCo Luke Markey wearing face mask
boxes of masks made by ShieldCo
ShieldCo employee wearing PPE 1
ShieldCo employee wearing PPE 1
ShieldCo employee wearing full fledged face mask
PPE full face masks
spool of thread used to make PPE masks
iron board full of face masks
ShieldCo employee holding a mask up to their face

Our friends at the Frederick News-Post caught wind of what we were doing, and wrote a story where we were featured:

Our co-founder, Luke, featured in the article.

Seeing this article, a friend put us in contact with Toni Shindlecker of the Asian American Center of Frederick. Along with a team of around 15 seamstresses, they have been working around the clock to produce THOUSANDS of masks – over 8500!

Our team of helpers have combined efforts with the AACF to create and distribute much needed masks and equipment to our healthcare practitioners throughout Frederick.

a row of masks made available by ShieldCo
masks and PPE covering a living room
PPE orders packaged for shipping

As a team, and partnered with AACF, we are motivated to do everything we can to help our healthcare workers fight this virus, even if many of us have to stay at home. Producing PPE is just one way we can give back.

Until the threat of the coronavirus has lifted, we will be working together with our community to provide masks and equipment to the facilities that need it, to keep people healthy and free from sickness.

We feel blessed to be part of such a generous and genuinely caring community – you are the light in the dark!

Thanks so much for reading.

Are you interested in sewing masks/gowns, fabricating face shields, or donating to the cause?

Visit our PPE Facebook Group
Donate to our Venmo

The last four digits of the number for Venmo is 2733.

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These days, there’s so much competing for the attention of your customers.

custom bar and grill sign in Ft. Lauderdale

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Each store is trying everything to attract customers to their brick and mortar. Creative window displays, flashy sale signs, later hours, fancy architecture for corporate spaces… So on busy streets how are you standing out to attract customers to your brand?

Even if you get them right out in front of your store, there’s still plenty of distraction from their phones. So what’s a business to do?

Let’s think about one of the first things someone looks at when they see your brick and mortar location – your sign. What are the 3 things that can make you stand out on your street and attract your customers attention:

Size

Timberline sign outside company building

Marion, IL

In this case bigger is usually better. Step outside and look at your facility from a customer’s point of view- do they need to see you from across the street and down the road a bit? Do they see the front of your building or are they usually coming up from the side where a standout sign would be more appropriate? Consider how people access your building while you’re deciding on the size and placement of your sign.

If you go through all the work of having a brick and mortar and only put up a tiny door sign then you haven’t done yourself justice. You’re letting countless potential customers go by without even noticing you’re there.

3D Yakabo blade sign
metal sign for 2-C Equipment store
Pillar Point Fish House sign
Right At Home blade sign

Color

Best Equipment & Welding sign

Indianapolis, IN

Once you have the right scale for your sign, the next step is color. High contrast colors always go a long way. Whether your logo/design is very simplistic or full of details, the color combinations are going to play a big factor in catching the eye of your customer.

Aside from the design itself, you also want to factor in the surroundings. Will your sign be on a red brick building? A design with lots of matching red tones isn’t going to stand out. Are you surrounded by lots of trees? Maybe green shouldn’t be a dominant color to ensure it doesn’t blend in. Take a moment to again put yourself in your client’s shoes, are the colors going to draw their eye based on what’s around?

This doesn’t always mean lots of bright colors. A black and silver sign can stand out just as much as a bold blue and yellow combo. Just make sure your sign matches your brand and stands out against the building and immediate surroundings. Your sign works for you 24/7, let it be clearly seen!

Layers

paradise bay sign in Oahu, HI

Oahu, HI

One of our favorite elements here at ShieldCo, is to create a sign that commands a double take by making it 3D. This is the artistic part of sign making that sets us apart from other standard sign companies. We exist to turn your logo into a work of art and help you standout among the crowd!

You can have the first two steps of size and eye catching colors nailed, but if you get the third ingredient of building depth through layers then you create a piece that’s truly captivating to your audience. It’s the difference in a passing glance and a longer pause that leads to walking inside as a potential customer.

The flat sticker type signs will get your name on the door but dimensional signs are what give you the wow factor on your street.

Brass Knuckles custom signage
Olde Mother custom signage
Dryden Mutual custom signage
Pepper Express custom signage
Coastal Light custom signage
All Trade Services custom signage
Earth Treks custom signage
Simply Fresh custom signage
Start Your Multi-Layer Sign Quote

Interested in custom business signs and want to read more? Here are some other posts about metal business signage:

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The most common options for lighting interior signage is through LED and Neon lights.

Before we dive into the differences, let’s start with why you even need lighting?

When you’re walking or driving by, let’s face it, an illuminated sign is going to capture your attention way faster than an unlit sign. That means the difference in choosing your store or your competitors.

But why do I need lighting? I’m only open during the daytime.

Even during the day, lighting can make a big impact. If your lobby sign is illuminated, it’s going to make a much bigger and memorable first impression on your customers.

Also, just because you close at 5pm doesn’t mean potential customers aren’t walking/driving by after that. They’re  not choosing to work with you because they didn’t notice your office.

Let your signage work for you even when you’re not there!

client Insta photo 1

So how do you know which type of lighting to pick?

Well, let’s start with the perks of our top choice, LED lights:

  • Last Longer
  • Don’t contain harmful gases
  • Brighter
  • Use less energy
  • Don’t need to be replaced regularly
  • Ability to change colors

Things to consider about Neon:

  • Neon contains mercury which is harmful to the environment
  • Made of glass and easily broken
  • The one perk is the nostalgia of the old school look and warm light
client Insta photo 2

LED lights can be utilized in several ways to create unique effects depending on which layers of the sign they are used on. Here’s some examples of how you can incorporate LED lighting into your custom sign to really make it stand out.

client Insta photo 3
client Insta photo 4
client Insta photo 5

If you’re not sure how to best utilize lighting with your particular logo or design, simply give us a call and speak with one of our designers. Or go ahead and start the quoting process at the link below, and one of our designers will review your information and be ready with some options to discuss.

client Insta photo 6
Start Your LED Sign Quote


Interested in custom business signs and want to read more? Here are some other posts about metal business signage:

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Once a week there seems to be a regional or national protest that happens some place in the country. We decided to find out a little more about these protests and the people who join them 🙂

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Urban wayfinding has several components. Good urban planners pay attention to all of these components and work assiduously to make them work in harmony.   Each component uses the right colors, typography, shapes, logos, materials and nomenclature. If you are an urban planner, ensure that you use the right types of outdoor signs for each of these areas so that people who visit your area can navigate easily.

Gateways and Area Identification

City, regional and district gateways are the first places that should have well-built signs. People should know when they are both entering and leaving these major areas.  Both the entry and exit signs should follow the same format and have the same type of look and material. Signs for city gateways can be freestanding or attached to other landmarks including bridges, buildings and parks. District gateways can include cultural districts, commercial districts, or political districts. The point is to make these areas easy to identify.

Vehicular Wayfinding

Vehicular wayfinding signs are along roadways and direct motorists to districts, cities, parks, heritage areas, destinations and parking. Visibility at high speeds is a must. Vehicular wayfinding signs fall into 3 categories: Controlled Access Road Signs, Regional Signs, Large Scale Signs and Downtown and Neighborhood Signs.

Controlled Access Road Signs direct motorists to destinations along highways. They must follow Federal Highway Administration guidelines even though they are administered by individual states. Regional Signs guide motorists to parks, agricultural facilities, institutional and commercial destinations, and heritage areas outside of urban areas. Distance is typically included on these signs and they are administered either by state bodies, counties, or a combination of counties and towns. Large Scale Signs direct motorists to large scale destination and urban districts.  Finally, Downtown and Neighborhood Signs direct motorists to localized destinations and parking. They can also direct motorists back to interstate and state roads.

Pedestrian Wayfinding

Pedestrian wayfinding signs help pedestrians navigate within a district or neighborhood. There are three types of Pedestrian Wayfinding Signs: Pedestrian Directional Signs, Map Signs and Directories. The names are self-explanatory.

Destination Identity

These signs characterize destinations.  There are 5 types of Destination Identity Signs: Institutional Identity, Gateway, Interpretive Identity, On-Premise Commercial Landmarks, and Parking.  Institutional Identity signs clearly identify government, cultural, educational, transportation or health buildings. Gateway signs are often placed at the entrances of educational, corporate, transportation, and healthcare locations. Interpretive identity signs require some form of interpretation. On-Premise Commercial Landmark signs clearly identify commercial or corporate offices and also serve as landmarks. Parking signs identify parking areas within the district.

Urban and Street Identity

These signs include: street signs, regulatory signs, street furniture, public art, civic banner programs, and visitor centers.

Media and Print Support

Media and print support integrates physical elements, websites, mobile media, print maps and directories with tangible urban design elements.

ShieldCo designs custom metal signs that would be perfect for your state, county, or urban district signs. Contact one of our representatives today to get a quotation for your specific needs.

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Custom signs aren’t limited to storefronts and interior retail spaces. They are also important elements in urban landscapes. Busy commercial districts, parks, playgrounds and other urban areas typically have signs that perform various roles. Understanding their importance will probably make you take a second look at these signs that you see every day. This article focuses on 5 reasons for the importance of signs in wayfinding in urban areas.

Defining a Sense of Place

The ability to identify exactly where we are is extremely important. Street signs follow specific guidelines stipulated by state and federal laws and help us identify the specific names of streets . There are other signs, however, that can help us identify locations. Municipal wayfinding systems generally identify destinations within a city and provide useful information about each destination. These types of signs create what Kevin Lynch, a popular urban geographer, calls the “legible city”.

Highlighting Complementary Destinations

GPS is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand it helps us easily find unfamiliar locations. On the other hand, it causes us to easily pass by less popular areas that may be equally interesting. A city’s wayfinding program incorporates signs that clearly showcase the museums, retail districts, historical areas, and landmarks that visitors may overlook.

Supporting the Community

A community is a brand. All landmarks, storefronts, business places, and areas of interest within that community should, therefore, create a cohesive image that fits into the city’s brand. Each major American city has architectural standards that must be upheld, promotes the production and display of high-quality commercial on-premise signs, creates distinguishable monuments, and builds mounted identifications and marquees.  Additionally, on-premise signage plays a role in real-estate value and business success. Both factors contribute to the overall financial success of a community.

Controlling Traffic and Parking

Vehicular traffic is a necessary component of a traveler’s commute through a city. Motorists have to be able to easily identify public and private parking lots, road traffic signs, and directions to popular destinations in the city. The movement of traffic also has to be controlled. Appropriate signage is one way to effectively address both areas of concern.

Creating Consistency

Organization and consistency make urban wayfinding easier. A proliferation of mismatched signs and random posters creates confusion in a passerby’s mind. Questions that run through the person’s mind include:

  • What should I focus on?
  • Why do I feel overstimulated?
  • How can I know where to go when I can barely see that sign in the midst of the clutter? I’m confused!

Cities that create a consistent environment make it easier for a passerby to quickly read and comprehend signs.

Urban wayfinding isn’t a job reserved for urban planners. Each person in the community plays a role. Ensure that you research the sign and building regulations of your area before building your space or creating a sign. Make a positive contribution to your community.