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Custom Signs Spotlight Business Excellence

Chicagoland’s Drivetrain Service & Components, Inc, is expanding. Custom signs provided by Sign Artist at Drivetrain’s new Elk Grove Village building spotlight its business excellence and spirit of collaboration.
Sign Artist created this brushed aluminum “D” exterior sign for Drivetrain. We met with our client and custom-designed and fabricated the LED-backlit sign based on the solid vision Drivetrain brought to the table.
Drivetrain is the largest Midwest supplier of new and remanufactured heavy-duty truck parts – transmissions, differentials, driveshafts and hydraulics. This 5-star business needed exceptional signs to reflect its expertise. The glowing “D” adds a highly visible accent to Drivetrain’s brick façade, making the building a standout along busy Devon Avenue.
Hand “brushing” the aluminum circle, and using mixed-media elements of acrylic with LED lights, all required a deft hand. So did fabricating and installing multiple other signs for Drivetrain.
Seen below are illuminated, dimensional signs for Drivetrain’s East and West porticos. The dimensional text is faced maroon. The returns (sides) of the text allow for LED illumination. This fresh take on design, complements the cutting-edge quality of Drivetrain. The signs take on a different character by night and day.
Drivetrain can opt to leave the LED lights on 24/7, or turn them off, as preferred.
Sign Artist also designed, fabricated and installed Shipping and Receiving and Customer Service signs. Fabricated on aluminum composite panels, these exterior signs will give years of service. For examples of more Sign Artist exterior signs, visit: https://signartistusa.com/outdoor-signs/
Sign Artist has other signs for Drivetrain in the works. We are working to label interior aisles in the warehouse, and more. For a full range of Sign Artist interior and exterior signs, visit our website and our website “Services” tab. We are a one-stop sign shop for businesses seeking to brand or rebrand.
Custom signs spotlight business excellence! Do you have a vision for your business signage that needs highly-customized design, fabrication and install? Call Ed at Sign Artist, 630-815-5473. Signartistusa.com.

Hi-Tech Vinyl Throws a Curve

The Job

Sign Artist uses die-cut, high-tech vinyl to deliver impactful signs for any space. Jaelex, in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, loves this bold and sophisticated sign for its new office suite. Installing a 3-D lobby sign for a curved wall was not practical, and would not have delivered the optimal punch our client requested. Sign Artist’s solution? An adhesive vinyl sign that pops visually from the wall, hugs the curve, and was sealed by heat, for long life.

 

Jaelex office building  

Sign Artist adjusted the sign’s position strategically, so the Jaelex brand would be centered visually through the front glass door.

 

 

Sign Creation

The careful application process ensures that the 3M adhesive vinyl embraces the subtle texture of the wall, to give a painted-on finish. Heat seals the product, so it adheres for years to come, although the sign is removable by heat, as well, if needed.

 

Transforming Spaces

Designing, fabricating and installing adhesive lobby signs, are Sign Artist specialties! Give Ed a call to help rebrand your office space with vibrant vinyl, which can also feature any photos or art you choose. Discover our other projects here.

630-815-5472

Commercial or Residential Window Film Adds Privacy, Style

Sign Artist installed privacy film in a lawyer’s downtown suite and in an architect’s sleek ranch near Chicagoland’s Lake Michigan shore, in Highland Park, Illinois.  Whether for commercial or residential application, hi-tech adhesive privacy film is one of Sign Artist’s fabrication and install specialties. Many clients choose the subtle glow of a frosted crystal film. Sign Artist die-cuts logos and designs into the film, as requested. Also shown here is a ruled privacy film, that adds a sophisticated architectural flourish. The fine-ruled film shown here, covered windows on a lawyer’s office door, on an exterior door that led to a rooftop, and also a utilities storage closet door in a conference room.

Privacy film installation is a delicate procedure, and uses a wet-install technique. The film takes several days to cure.

Interested in installing privacy film on an interior or exterior window? Give Ed a call at 630-815-5473 to discuss the possibilities.

 

Epic Murals Make a Scene

Sign Artist enjoys installing large-scale murals. Clients are enthusiastic about the impact of such branding! Murals give a dramatic face-lift to a corporate, retail or academic space. Sign Artist’s 64-inch high-definition laser printer gives crisp, vivid results, printing on high tech adhesive vinyl. Our artist/graphic designer on staff either designs the murals from scratch, or works with client art. Our tech/print and fabrication expert works with our designer to create production files that “tile” the art. The adhesive panels overlap snugly, so a seamless effect is achieved upon installation.

   

Our crew installed this epic mural at Lincoln Tech High School’s cafeteria, to inspire students daily.

Murals don’t have to reach floor to ceiling to accentuate a space. Sign Artist installed this partial wall wrap at Elmhurst University. The images portray various student activities and project a spirit of the school’s lively community.

This water drop fills a wall at the Hydrosome facility in Chicagoland. The 3-D “Hydrosome Labs” letters pop from the wall, affixed by studs through the floor-to-ceiling mural.

Sign Artist has installed many murals in university, corporate and retail spaces, and is ready to install yours! Give Ed a call for more details at 630-815-5473. See what large scale adhesive vinyl art or decorative wallpaper designed uniquely for your business can do to inspire staff and clients – and generate more business! Ask about the wide range of textures and finishes available, and learn more about architectural finishes, such as faux wood or metallic adhesives. Think big, for an epic branding impact!

 

 

 

Great Branding Choices — Dimensional, Vinyl & Privacy Film


From Sign Artist computer rendering of the client’s art, to reality…

  “Sign Artist did a great job with new signage at one of our offices. They were accommodating to our rushed schedule and were able to complete the job before our brand reveal. Would recommend them!” — Samantha Heitov, Relogistics, Google Review

    acrylic lobby sign

  1. Dimensional Acrylic
    Explore multi-branding one space with Sign Artist fabrications and installs! Samantha Heitov with Relogistics contacted Sign Artist regarding multiple signs for a sizeable Chicagoland office suite. Sam and her client worked with Sign Artist to choose dimensional acrylic, adhesive vinyl and die-cut privacy film, to help transform Prime 360 into 48Forty Solutions, with several branches. Dimensional acrylic that Sign Artist applied with studs and silicone enhanced the office lobby space and conference room in 48 Forty Solutions’ Schaumberg office.

Out with the old…

    

Sign Artist removed the old wood dimensional letters and logo off the original red walls. A fresh coat of blue helped the new white dimensional art pop. Dimensional signs are a great way to brand your office with Sign Artist.

reception sign

2. Adhesive Vinyl
48Forty Solutions chose to go with flat adhesive, die-cut vinyl from Sign Artist, to create an inviting chat space in its reception area. Vinyl can be printed in any design, and is available in a rainbow of solid colors, allowing for large-scale art to have an impact similar to dimensional — for a lesser price.

 

3. Privacy Film
Practical and decorative, frosted privacy film was fabricated and installed by Sign Artist to add privacy to 48Forty’s conference room. It also added pizazz to the main door, branding this business in a sophisticated way, that allows clients visibility into the newly-refurbished office, at their approach.

   

Let Sign Artist help you with all your signage needs! Brand your office with Sign Artist to find fresh ways to attract clients through signage. Call Ed at 630-594-4185 for a free consultation regarding your business brand needs. Let some of the first signs of Spring, be yours!

3-D Acrylic Brands Rademaker’s Lobby

 
Doug, at Rademaker’s, strikes a happy pose, after Sign Artist installed his new
entry sign at the Lombard, Illinois office of this Dutch-based company.

Rademaker’s logo lends itself perfectly to a 3-d format! Simple lines, but
attractive and well-designed, the striking navy art strip nicely suits this bright
entry space. Sign Artist adhered the art to the wall with studs, for secure and
long-lasting impact.

Our studio also fabricated and installed an aluminum composite doorbell sign,
and bold adhesive vinyl lettering for the back “man door.”

A bonus for the Sign Artist crew? A friendly meeting with “Indiana,”
the Australian Shepherd office mascot (named after adventurous Indiana Jones)!

Interested in how 3-d acrylic or other signage can spruce up your interior or exterior
business space? Give Ed a call at: 630-594-4185.

 

     

Annie Turbin Jumps for Joy

Attract New Customers with Dimensional Signs

Annie’s Branding

Acclaimed fashion designer and boutique owner Annie Turbin, literally jumped for joy over her newly-installed sign — and posted the jump on Facebook, with the Hallelujah Chorus!

Fabricated and installed by Sign Artist, the sign attracts passersby to the new boutique at 716 Central Ave, Highland Park, Illinois. This chic design features dimensional acrylic letters on a black acrylic panel. A perfect match to the sleek black/white style of the storefront, Annie’s sign uplifts the vibe of the whole block of shops. It sets a classy tone for customers before they even step foot in her shop.

Below, Marianna of Sign Artist said “Yes, please!” to trying on a fabulous Oleana wool sweater, the day of the install.

Dimensional Signs Attract new customers! If your shop needs striking exterior or interior signage, give Ed a call, at 630-594-4185.

clothing store sign with Sign Artist

Staging new sign for Annie Turbin with Sign Artist

Sign Artist Installing retail signage  Sign Artist fine tunes a sign installation

watching sign installation Annie Turbin's Store

Sign Artist completes Annie Turbin's sign
Completed Dimensional Letter Sign
Gallery of signs

Graphics Present Equipment Depot’s Values

As people devised New Year’s resolutions for 2022, Sign Artist installed multi-media signs to help inspire staff and visitors at Equipment Depot in Itasca, Illinois. An out-of-town sign company contracted Sign Artist to install their graphics. Signs ranged from die-cut vinyl and vinyl on acrylic panels, to dimensional wood letters and accent bars.

Workers at Equipment Depot are “equipped to serve.” One glance at these carefully-selected images and text communicates the nature of Equipment Depot’s niche, as a provider of large scale rental equipment. Incorporating core values and the mission of service into office decor, adds a nice motivating touch to the work environment.

An added bonus, was when Equipment Depot staff put on Christmas music and decorated their office tree nearby, setting a festive install mood for Sign Artist’s crew. Happy Holidays!

If you have a vision for your business that you are seeking to convey in 2022, let Sign Artist help you make this a reality! Inspire your staff with beautiful signs. Give Ed a call at 630-594-4185.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wall graphics

Signs for God’s Congregation Create a Vibrant Space

Sign Artist was called on stage and publicly thanked by First Lady Gina and Pastor Carl Mabins, at their Grand Opening event.

 

Murals, window graphics, privacy film, door signs — a new business needs branding throughout, and a new church is no exception. Signs create a vibrant space!

God’s Congregation Worship Center’s “First Lady” Gina Mabins and Pastor Carl Mabins had a vision to share, and turned to Sign Artist to help them visualize it in every corner of their new church home in Lombard, Illinois.  A word cloud mural transformed the plain wall below into a centerpiece, defining the core values of this congregation. Sign Artist is shown here on the initial site visit, that launched the branding of this worship space.

Sign Artist also attended the opening of God’s Congregation Church, and First Lady Gina called Ed (President) and Marianna (Vice-President of Communications) to the stage, to thank Sign Artist for its professional and considerate service. Gina especially praised Ed for leading her through the sign design process, that incorporated Pastor Carl’s and her own vision and art, with Sign Artist prints and installs.

This colorful graphic in the youth room is actually a powerful memory device.

First Lady Gina spoke of the need for a large-scale “Hallelujah” graphic in their initial conversations. Ed suggested, “If you’re going to have a ‘Hallelujah Wall,’ it should have trumpets!” Gina provided the image, and Sign Artist printed and installed it.

The existing art of the world and the Lion of God, above, was enhanced by text that Sign Artist installed around the globe. Signs create a vibrant space!

Privacy film cuts the glare in this office space, and protects Pastor Carl from the gaze of passersby.

Perforated vinyl on the windows welcomes visitors, and also visualizes the church’s identity, website and worship information.

Celebrating their new church home, complete with vibrant signage, Pastor Carl and First Lady Gina officially cut the ribbon at their Grand Opening.

Looking for a creative, custom approach to brand your business or church? Give Ed a call at 630-594-4185.

led lawyer office sign

LED Sign for Gebhard Law Office


Adhesive vinyl, dimensional letters, acrylic panel and LED lighting converge to create this harmonious sign for Gebhard Law Office, 8435 W. Burleigh St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lighting cables are hidden behind the wall, and operated by a nearby light switch.

This LED illuminated and simply elegant custom sign was a creation by Sign Artist. It is an example of collaboration between client and our sign company. Mr. Gebhard needed a sign that melded a classic but contemporary vibe, to match the rehab of his vintage building space, that has been in his family for decades.

This one-of-a-kind LED sign is clearly seen from the street, through the office’s large front window. The custom office sign works nicely with the frosted film on the front door, that provides the law firm’s name.


We combine dimensional letters, LED lighting and murals or cut vinyl lettering for backgrounds to help you make a great impression. Want a custom LED sign for your office? Give Ed a call and explore practical, creative sign options. Sign Artist has a fine artist on staff, who can help visualize your unique branding needs. 630-594-4185.

Sign Artist Crafts Menu Boards for Eggology

“I’m in love!” said Eggology Chef Pete Kostopoulos, about his new frames and menu boards, custom designed and crafted by Sign Artist. Eggology refers to this special nook in its restaurant as the “full service ‘Eggology Coffee Bar’ of your dreams…”

Sign Artist fabricated and installed a lobby sign, privacy film and more around this trendy new Barrington restaurant, then created this complex array of coffee and tea specialty drinks.  Sign Artist printed menus on high-tech vinyl, then applied the vinyl to flexible magnetic strips, that are easily applied or removed, as the seasons require.


Each frame was hand cut and varnished, and assembled  to specification, out of attractive poplar wood.    

   


Eggology posted the  top photo of its cheerful servers on its Facebook page.  Check out this bright breakfast/brunch hub at 100 West Higgins Road, Q1, in South Barrington, Illinois. The coffee bar is a stand-alone feature, so you can run in to enjoy what the restaurant calls “warm and creamy chocolate notes and ice-cold concoctions for the coffee/tea obsessed.”

Need custom menu boards or other signs for your restaurant, shop or other commercial business? Give Ed a call at 630-594-4185.  We have a fine artist on staff, who can meet your custom design needs.

Brushed Metal Lobby Signs Set the Tone

   

Sign Artist fabricated and installed custom brushed metal lobby signs for a hub of medical associations in Chicagoland. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, The Hip and Knee Societies, and other medical associations at the  sleek Schaumburg Corporate Center (above right), opted for brushed aluminum seals to display their identities and specialties.

   

The six seals boldly catch the light, and are visible far down the hallway. Artistic black logos on silver finesse these signs, and deliver essential graphic messages. Any observer can see at a glance the wide scope of specialties represented by the associations at this site. By their nature, such brushed metal seals instill confidence in the viewer, that these are associations that are professional and respected.

   

Need lobby signs or art to express the expertise of your business or association? Call Ed at Sign Artist, 630-594-4185. We have a fine artist/graphic designer on staff, who can work with your logo and branding, or develop for your business, a whole new look!

LED Exterior Sign Sparkles

 
An unusual request came to Sign Artist, from a new medical spa opening in a prime location in Chicagoland. “Sparkle Aesthetics” had ordered illuminated, custom 3-dimensional letters from a craftsman in the nation of Turkey. The metal letters arrived in all their  retro glory, reflecting the  “Bewitched” TV show style of the 1960s.

Because the letters were fitted with a power supply from Turkey, the lights wouldn’t operate on U.S. current. Sign Artist rewired them and provided the appropriate electrical fittings. The second challenge was to provide a custom-built backing for the letters,.

Sign Artist loves a challenge! We scaled a ladder at the building site, and hand-bent aluminum panels against the irregular exterior, to serve as a curved template. Back at the studio, we fashioned the aluminum composite substrate into the perfect curve, to nestle against the masonry facade of this historic Oak Park building.  Teal vinyl applied over substrate completed this vibrant sign, which was fabricated and installed in time for Sparkle Aesthetic’s  grand opening!

Have a unique signage need? Call Ed at 630-594-4185, or fill out a contact form at signartistusa.com. It’s the perfect season to install exterior signage that will really “sparkle,” and attract new business!

Sign Artist Installs Jean Koplin Memorial Hall Signs

Jean Koplin Memorial Hall was just inaugurated with a Sign Artist building dedication sign, at Chicagoland’s Elmhurst University! Sign Artist installed a stunning cast bronze plaque, marking a prominent interior space in the Hall.

Our crew also used an articulated lift to install a brushed aluminum, 3-dimensional sign, with each letter averaging 24 inches in height as a building dedication sign. Aloft 50-plus feet, the letters catch the sunlight, and can be seen from blocks away. They stand above the main building’s classical  entrance, adding distinction to a prominent entry to the campus.

In addition,  brushed aluminum building dedication signs were installed by Sign Artist atop both the east and west entryways. Installers created an innovative custom system of triangular brackets and rails, enabling the letters to appear to hover above the roofline.

      

Formerly Circle Hall, the Jean Koplin Memorial Hall was dedicated with its new name in June, 2021, at an event attended by the Koplin family and Elmhurst University trustees. The ceremony was marked by speeches and a string trio.  The newly-dedicated hall and signage was visible nearby throughout the ceremony.

 
 
Trustees noted the beauty of the new sign.  Attendees honored the Koplin family, who are devoted supporters of the University. The occasion memorialized Jean Koplin who, along with her husband, championed the University’s vision through the decades.

Do you have a building you would like memorialized? Sign Artist would be happy to discuss the options! Call Ed at 630-594-4185.

 

outdoor sign

Signs Mark A New Dawn For Sunset Pools & Spas

Home pools offer peace, calm and exercise to people at a time when all those things are in short supply. Sign Artist created both outdoor and indoor business signs to help advertise this local pool and spa builder.

  Custom business sign - Sign Artist

Sunset Pools & Spas provides a great service to Chicago-area  homeowners. Servicing in-ground pools is essential, and pools only provide a benefit to families if they are maintained in a healthy and timely way.  Sign Artist was happy to oversee and install the fabrication of this attractive new 3-D sign for Sunset Pools.

Sign Artist anchored both outdoor and indoor business signs securely.  The outdoor sign was mounted with studs on the brick facade in the Rolling Meadows location (1675 Hicks Road). Sign Artist also installed the attractive sunburst logo indoors, creating an eye-catching lobby sign. Custom business signs will be effective for your business, too. Options include classic silver fittings, and a more budget-friendly high-tech vinyl, that is laid over acrylic.

Lobby sign for pool company - Sign Artist

Some signs exude warmth and welcome, and Sunset Pools & Spas’ sign certainly matches that description! Give Ed a call at 630-594-4185 to see how your business name and logo can be transformed into appealing signage that will attract and keep customers.

led sign

Lobby Signs Welcome Clients and Define Purpose


Every company needs to brand itself clearly. People trust a company that projects a clear mission and focus, projected in a clean, powerful logo, company name, or both. Once you’ve established vibrant, exterior signage that draws new clients to you, and welcomes old, consider the possibilities of your interior walls.


Lobby signs are like a visual handshake and a jumpstart to the imagination. The moment your customer steps into your business, they should be able to tell you the services your business offers.  Imagine a blank, bland wall with no graphics…or a wall with art as generic and nondescript as a 2-star motel. Now, visualize your company name and logo on that wall, prominently displayed. The client steps in, and a bold sign assures that the client has located the correct business.


What materials comprise a great lobby sign? It runs the gamut! Channel letters, cabinet signs, acrylic panels, LED-illuminated, bronze and wood plaques — all make a stunning statement when designed and mounted well. Sign Artist is an award-winning company with a fine artist on staff. To sample an array of Sign Artist’s design and install projects, check out our Lobby Signs and our Design pages. Have no logo but would like one? Never fear, we can design one for you. You’d prefer your company name in 3-dimensional text? We’re happy to guide you to the perfect solution for you, that marries visual appeal with practical install considerations.

Consider…McDonald’s without its golden arches. Geico without its gecko! What business name and logo helps define you and draw customers? Let Sign Artist help you brand your business for a productive 2021! Give Ed a call at 630.815.5473 

Textured Surfaces Add Interest to Lobby Signs


Uneven surfaces? No worries! Sign Artist installs lobby signs and can work with you to find the perfect custom sign solutions. This raw brick facade is at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois. It proved a little challenging on sign install day, but the results were stunning. Elmhurst University has a state of the art Simulation Center at the Hospital, where its medical students train. Sign Artist has fabricated and installed multiple signs at this location, including:

  1. ADA name plates
  2. Artwork plaque
  3. Backlit monument sign with push-through panel
  4. Nursing mission statement wall sign on acrylic.

This lobby sign above, over rugged brick, is 5 ft W X 1.5 ft H, made of  3-dimensional cast aluminum letters. Meticulous measuring, precision drilling and positioning, are always needed to obtain the perfect install. A little added finesse was required for this rugged wall,  since every brick juts out at a different depth. The striking bronze-colored letters proved to be a perfect contrast to the neutral earth tones of the bricks.

Sign Artist installed an updated lobby sign to help brand the Elmhurst University Simulation Center, which provides nursing students with the hands-on training they need, to be stellar health care professionals in future.

Does your business have a wall needing signage or art installed? With our skilled crew, our expertise with a wide variety of materials, and a graphic/fine artist and photographer on staff, we can work with you, to design the perfect sign solution! Call Ed at 630-594-4185.

Grocery Store Awning is Good Advertising

Sign Artist installed this vivid awning at the new 3N’s Oriental Groceries, Foods & Markets Store in Broadview, Illinois. Awnings help traffic identify businesses.

 

The printed canvas signage makes the business a standout along busy Roosevelt Road. The store celebrates its Grand Opening this Saturday, March 6, 2021! It officially opens to the public at noon, so go check out this great groceries/carry out food destination at 1422 West Roosevelt Road in Broadview!

To install the 25-foot-wide awning, Sign Artist designed a custom carrier. Our crew defied the weather, bringing a bucket truck and braving 1.5-foot-high snowdrifts to remove the old awning, with its faded canvas. After Sign Artist cut the old canvas from the steel frame, we mounted the frame on our truck, and carried it away, to be covered in bright, printed canvas. A fresh-looking storefront makes any shop pop.  3N’s Oriental Groceries will be an appealing destination for all who love oriental cuisine. The awning is a great aid for directing customers to the shop, and for attracting new clients.

With Spring coming, it’s time to put on a bright face and let an awning identify your business! Whether it’s an awning, wayfinding, exterior or lobby sign, give Ed a call: 630-594-4185.

LED sign

LEDs Light Up Lobby Signs

 Eggology earns Grade A for this creative illuminated lobby sign design! Backlit with LEDs, and custom fabricated and installed by Sign Artist, this new restaurant sign in South Barrington, Illinois, is hung and ready to roll. This fresh branding sports a playful yet elegant shape and color scheme, that pop from the anchor wall. Photos below show the final stages of fabrication at Sign Artist’s studio. Our crew took special delight in the creativity and finished product of this sign! Materials include brushed-metal and translucent vinyl, and LED lights, fitted into a custom cabinet built at the Sign Artist studio. The result is a contemporary take on restaurant signage, and an unforgettable branding. With its economy of lines, this 3-D sign shows that simplicity can be ultra-creative, eye-catching and chic. Sign Artist was happy to see Pete, restauranteur and owner of eggology, post his enthusiasm on Instagram, with the comment, “Illuminated sign turned out better than we imagined!” His replies featured a thumbs up and “so cool!!!!” Another post on Pete’s Instagram reads: “Create a vision that makes you wanna jump out of bed in the morning.” Sign Artist is happy in the part we played in adding to the visuals of Pete’s creative and tasty vision! We wish eggology much success!

Posted on eggology’s Instagram: “Illuminated sign turned out better than we imagined.”

Look for the opening of this Chicagoland restaurant Spring of 2021! If you have a unique design in mind and would like help in seeing it hatched, give Ed a call at Sign Artist: 630-594-4185.  

Secure Your Brand with a Lobby Sign

Sign Artist just installed this lobby sign at Securint Financial Services, Inc, at busy Ellston and Pulaski, in Chicago.  Mounted directly on the wall, this acrylic, matte black sign announces the business brand with impactful, 3-D custom-fabricated letters and logo.

A great lobby sign impresses clients from the moment they walk into your business. With new businesses starting, and established ones opening doors once again, it’s time to review your signage needs. Sign Artist is covering multiple projects for Securint, ordering business cards, and returning to the Chicago office to install privacy film. With its corner location, Securint’s windows are flooded by sunshine and the interested gazes of passersby. A frosted adhesive film that Sign Artist will install on the building’s bank of ground-floor windows, will not only temper the sun’s glare, it will provide a little privacy for workers within. Installing the film mid-line in the window, with uncovered strips above and below, will allow workers to view the great outdoors. It will also give potential clients just enough of a glimpse inside, to pique their interest, and attract a possible walk-in visitor.

Sign Artist can help you transform your business name and logo into a wall sign that shows you’re serious about your business. If you don’t have a logo, or its design needs a facelift, our talented artist/designer Erin can refresh the look — or she can design a whole, new logo for you. Styles of lobby signs range from 3-D letters anchored on walls or panels, to printed vinyl. We can illuminate your sign with LED lights, and add drama to the design. Also, consider the wide range of services Sign Artist provides. You’d be amazed at the vast range of privacy films  available, and Sign Artist happily fabricates and installs unique wallpapers, murals, and exterior and wayfinding signs, too. Call Ed, (630)594-4185, for more information about how to make your business a standout with eye-catching branding and design.

Securint’s Chicago crew is pleased by its new sign.

Putting on a Fresh Face – Replacing Aging Signage

post and panel signEvery Day Management called Sign Artist for a new sign to make a good impression and to replace an aging sign. A little investigation and discussion led Sign Artist and their new client to agree, that the old sign was past saving. Our designer, Erin, presented a fresh color scheme and a new graphic, to update the vibe of this residential community’s branding. The new post and panel structure is metal, and won’t deteriorate in the harsh Midwestern climate. Sign Artist fabricated the sign in-house, printing on hi-tech vinyl substrate.Aging and rotting sign

reflective vinyl for signs   building a new signinstalling a new sign

Install day brought biting temperatures and a winter storm, but the install went on as planned. The result? A vivid, durable sign to appreciate, and to attract new residents for this Chicagoland neighborhood. It’s clear that new signs make a good impression.

ISA Award for Sign Artist, USA!

Time to celebrate! Sign Artist USA received a 2020 Illinois Sign Association Award!

The ISA Sign Design Awards Program  is a signature recognition program of Illinois Sign Association. This annual industry competition showcases the best of the best in Illinois. The program provides recognition in nine categories for design and installation, showcasing the expertise of sign companies, designers and technicians in Illinois.
Sign Artist was recognized for refurbishing and rebranding the historic Elmhurst University wrought iron archway, in Elmhurst, west of Chicago.  Sign Artist headed the mammoth process of dissembling, sandblasting and painting the iconic 19th-century arch. Our studio arranged for the fabrication and soldering of new gilt letters. Sign Artist designer Erin, painted the decorative cartouche, topping the arch. We worked with master ironworkers, Chicagoland’s All Metal Group, and contracted two theatrical companies from Chicago, to unveil the renewed arch in a special automated “kabuki drop” ceremony at Elmhurst University, Summer of 2020.
Illinois Sign Association noted the breadth of this project in its Illinois Sign Association (ISA) Annual Meeting and Election of Directors, that convened via zoom Tuesday, December 8. Top leaders in the sign industry discussed the state of the industry in 2020, and projections about 2021. A highlight of the ISA event was the Illinois Sign Industry Awards, presenting the Sign Design Awards and the “Best of the Best Award,” with live polling. Illinois sign industry professionals and allied tradespeople from across the state attended.
Sign Artist joined the live event, and was pleased to be awarded the Third Place Award in the category of “Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign.”
The overall vibe was hopeful regarding 2021 operations, technology & industry trends, while acknowledging the deep and difficult impact of 2020, professionally and personally. Sign Artist is honored to be part of the team of talented sign studios across Illinois, who are  helping businesses prepare for better times in 2021.

Monument Sign Update for Arlington Lakes

Sign Artist returned to Orion Arlington Lakes Apartment Homes, Illinois, to enhance the monument sign to guide residents along the drive into the apartment complex. Our studio also designed and installed this sign.

We placed cones to divert traffic from the work site.  Careful measuring and leveling led to the placement of the paper template. We added the 3-dimensional letter strip below the sign’s branding, installed by Sign Artist Spring of 2020. Can you see what important message the client requested to be added?

If you need a monument sign to guide residents, or directional signs to show visitors the way, contact Sign Artist. contact@signartistusa.com

  
 
Voila! Now the two-sided monument bears important contact info, neatly added as the bottom line of script. Inserting the web address is a service to passersby, that will draw new clients. Now information about this attractive residential building is at the tip of people’s fingertips, as they easily find Orion’s site online. This address strip opens a world of floor plans, amenity information and images of actual units within this Arlington Lakes complex.


Sign Artist always welcomes repeat customers, and is happy to add graphics or text to an existing sign, or design a brand new one. This monument is eye-catching, made of the latest technology. The high-density polycarbonate expands and contracts with Chicago’s harsh climate. extending the life of the monument. It’s prominently located, just off of busy Golf Road in Arlington Heights.

Now is a great time to install monument signs, before the ground freezes solid for winter. What are your needs for updating or installing a monument sign for your business? Perhaps you require  a lobby, office or wayfaring sign. Give Ed a call at 630-594-4185 to discuss the options.

Vehicle Graphics Grow Visibility For Local Business


We enjoy spotting our Sign Artist signs out in the community. Here’s one we sighted, rolling north along York Road in front of us! We managed to snap a quick photo from our passenger seat. Sign Artist fabricated and installed this branding and contact information for JPL Property Services, LLC. Clean and simple, the graphics and text transformed their box truck into a rolling advertisement. Wherever JPL landscapers drive to serve clients, they take their advertising with them.

Sign Artist is honored to help spread the good news about this local Elmhurst, Illinois company, that has been cutting lawns, snow shoveling, doing seasonal cleanups and landscaping, around Chicago suburbs since 1969. Founder and operator Jim Lithas (photos below) has put top priority on running a professional, family-oriented business. His goal is to beautify the community, by offering top landscaping services. He wears other important hats in the neighborhood, as a firefighter and an emergency medical technician. Sign Artist wishes the best to Jim and JPL, and is happy to help speed them on their way — with visuals that will help build their business!
 
(Photos courtesy of Jim Lithas, JPL Property Services, LLC, Elmhurst, Illinois)

We can lead you through the process of designing a vehicle wrap that can be a valuable tool in building your business! We are a one-stop shop for vehicle graphics, with our in-house designer, fabrication and install team. Call Ed at: 630-594-4185.

Learn more about vehicle graphics, here.

Directional Signs Show the Way

Directional signs, also called wayfinding signs show us the way. They help us navigate in new situations. There’s an artistry and logic to every wayfinding sign.  Sign Artist often installs these interior and exterior signs, including the ones shown here.

 building directory

directional sign

 

 

Every client looking for directional signage has basic decisions to make, including:

  1. Message
  2. Materials
  3. Colors and design
  4. Optimal placement

Sign Artist will collaborate with you in obtaining impactful directional/wayfinding signs. Your clients will appreciate your professionalism, when they see your attractive and effective signage, guiding them to the correct parking spot, level or suite.

Sign Artist printed these residential unit signs below, for Sandburg Village, in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Our studio applied high-tech vinyl  onto aluminum composite sheets, to withstand the harshest elements. The sign is secured onto the exterior brick face via concrete anchors. Our client attended the install and was pleased by the result.


The “Do Not Enter” sign below at the North Lincoln Parking Garage in Skokie, was manufactured at Sign Artist’s Bensenville studio. We  mounted this sturdy, 8-foot-wide directional using concrete anchors.

Also installed in the Skokie garage and fabricated at Sign Artist Studio, the sign below is a standout, due to its bold font and attractive color. Sign Artist made signs for Levels One through Six. Incorporating a rainbow of colors, helps visitors recall the location of their parked vehicles.


Another look for directional signage, this parking sign below was installed by Sign Artist at  Canal Plaza, a South Archer retail building near Chinatown in Chicago. This digital print on a brushed aluminum substrate makes a refined statement.

This framed evacuation plan, installed at The 1201 North Clark building at Clark and Division in Chicago, is a crucial wayfinding sign. Every directional sign is important, but some provide information that clarifies a life and death decision for the viewer. Sign Artist also erected more than 200 ADA braille, directional signs at this landmark building.

Overall, directional/wayfinding signs ease stress. They guide clients to the correct location efficiently. This results in fewer late arrivals, and a better customer experience. Call Ed to discuss your signage needs: 630-594-4185.

 

Branded Parking Signs for Drivetrain


Drivetrain Service & Components, Inc. in Bensenville asked Sign Artist to install branded signs that reserve parking for Drivetrain visitors only.  Fabricated from an aluminum sheet and Engineer Grade Reflective (EGR) vinyl substrate, the sign displays the Drivetrain logo.  This connects the sign more clearly to the Drivetrain business. Sign Artist also installed entrance signs (below), a lighted cabinet sign, address and Covid directional signs at Drivetrain. The parking signs are another form of branding that re-enforce the identity and professionalism of this Chicagoland semi truck transmission and hydraulics specialist, while ensuring visitors have a clearly-marked spot reserved for them.

10 Reasons to Choose Sign Artist


Ten Reasons to Choose Sign Artist

  1. Repeat Customers: We have a great rapport with customers, who return to us time and again. We keep clients updated on milestones regarding their sign design, fabrication, city code application process and install information.
  2. One-Stop Sign Studio: Businesses typically need more than one type of signage — simultaneously! It’s standard fare for Sign Artist to fabricate and install a monument or pylon sign, lobby and reception signs,  office numbers, ADA Braille signs, branded privacy film and applied vinyl signage, for a new or established business with evolving needs.  We’ve even helped provide business cards and brochures, plus A-frame signs and banners, and wayfinding signs in parking lots and garages.
  3. Our Materials Cover the Gamut: You want high-density urethane that resembles brick and mortar? No problem! Need ADA-compliant signs for your new business or residential building? Absolutely. You’d like an LED illuminated backlit, neon-look, or menu-board sign? Fine! Perhaps applied vinyl on windows, walls or floors? Certainly. Acrylic 3-dimensional letters or a logo carved in wood? Yes, we’ll do it! Let your imagination run wild, and then contact us to explore a variety of materials and substrates to make your creative, stunning sign.
  4. Family-Run Business: Our reputations and livelihoods are on the line, so you’d better believe we’ll do top-quality work for you!
  5. Five-Star Rating: See #4! Our customers rate us highly because we’re passionate about marrying function and beauty in signage, to make our world a more visually-pleasing home for all.
  6. Graphic Designer/Fine Artist/Photographer on Staff: Need a consultation regarding your space, and how signage will make your brand and message pop?  Our designer will happily assist you, and is available to design your logo and signage.
  7. On-Location Service: Sign Artist will come to you if applicable, to do a pre-install visit, so all will go well on fabrication and install day.
  8. Well-Connected: Sign Artist is a member of a consortium of 350-plus sign studios in the U.S. and Canada. This support through Sign World is invaluable, and provides a network that enables Sign Artist to serve clients outside the Chicago area. Sign Artist also taps into a vast network through the Illinois and International Sign Associations, Better Business Bureau, Blue Book Builder’s Network, and Bensenville and Oakbrook Chambers of Commerce.
  9. Contemporary and Curious: With appreciation for all kinds of signage, architecture and design, Sign Artist keeps abreast of the latest materials, applications, and style trends, while respecting time-honored traditions in sign-making, that result in fine, impactful signs.
  10. Healthful Processes: Our high tech printer uses extreme temperatures to bond ink to substrates, instead of old-school solvents that outgas. With special regard for those who suffer from respiratory or environmental sensitivities, Sign Artist is resolved to make our signage as safe as possible. This is especially appreciated in this Covid era.

So many reasons to choose Sign Artist! Our central Chicagoland location, solid client pool, our enjoyment in working with a wide range of businesses, from neighborhood pubs, boxing gyms and veterinary clinics, to city commercial and residential skyscrapers…the list goes on. Is there a special reason not mentioned here, for why YOU choose Sign Artist? Let us know, and we’ll include it in a future post!

Now, how might we serve you?

Pole Sign

Sign Artist Installs Dimensional Letters at The University of Illinois at Chicago

staff smile for photo by dimensional letters installed for the university - Sign Artist
Above, happy team members at the TRIO Program, at UIC,
appreciate the new dimensional letters for the university.

Creating a vibrant and professional environment requires signs that: 1) Work well with surrounding art. 2) Blend beauty and function.

installing the dimensional sign for the university - Sign Artist

Sign Artist installed 3-dimensional acrylic letters at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The letters reflect one of the University’s branding colors, and work well against the stark white wall and bright mural below.  Benefits of using 3-dimensional letter signage? They are long-lasting, easily-readable and bold, stating their message clearly. They’re also available in a wide variety of materials, such as wood, cast metal, die-cut metal, gator foam, PVC, or stacked materials, that give a metallic finish effect at lower cost.

3-dimensional letters do require finesse in installing, due to the perfect measuring and placement needed for a sleek result. Such signage is one of Sign Artist’s specialties, available in fonts and letters, as well as custom logos and graphics.

Our Sign Artist crew collaborates atop a ladder, for perfectly-placed results. Below, the sign-maker and the mural-painter at work, creating results that convey beautifully the purpose of the space.

dimensional sign is completed by worker - Sign Artist

To learn more about 3-dimensional letters installed by Sign Artist, see here.

 

Dynamic LED Signs — A Bright Idea!

Dynamic LED signs scroll and/or flash important messages! Easily programmed, they give a business a custom, eye-catching  design element for little fuss. Sign Artist headed to Chicago’s Finest Beef and Brew in the city’s bustling downtown. We installed a dynamic LED strip that flashes multiple messages: “Chicago Beef and Brew,” “Italian Beef, Burgers,” “Hot Dogs, Salads and More,” and “Now Open!”
Pulsing with color, the sign efficiently highlights key attractions that make Chicago’s Finest Beef and Brew stand out among its competitors. Taking up minimal real estate on the front picture window, the dynamic, LED sign choice is a winner for this hangout on 234 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago. The sign provides an immediate point of interest to captivate the attention and stir the appetite of passersby.
Swiftly and cleanly installed by Sign Artist, the sign required no laborious permit applications. The sign may be easily relocated, if needed, and also re-programmed, with whatever messages this restaurant requires.
If you’re looking for a modern, bright signage solution that’s a riff on neon, then consider a dynamic LED sign! They’re sturdy and reliable, fun and functional. Give Sign Artist a call and ask for Ed, 630-594-4185, to explore LED options for your business.  Sign Artist also offers neon-type modular signs and digital menu boards, plus the full range of A-frame, vinyl-application, mural, monument, environmental, wayfinding and 3-dimensional signs that restaurant-owners crave. Looking for traditional neon? We can provide that, too!
Explore exterior sign ideas here:  https://signartistusa.com/outdoor-signs/

Multi-tenant Signs for Westwood Financial

  
This week, Sign Artist completed our largest project for Westwood Financial, a national commercial real estate developer. Our crew fabricated multi-tenant sign panels for a 16-foot pylon sign at Elk Crossing Shopping Center, Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The applied vinyl on polycarbonate panels replaced old signage that was faded, peeling, and with outdated logos.

The reveal of the new sign includes a striking image of an elk, apropos of the shopping center’s theme. Well-known signs and logos from Panera Bread, Jewel-Osco, Great Clips, T-Mobile, Auto Zone, Citibank and Doctors of Physical Therapy, filled our studio this week, until thepanels were successfully installed yesterday. The result is a nice, clean look for Elk Crossing!

Before our Elk Crossing project, Sign Artist was asked to arrange for a Covid-19 curbside pickup base and post sign for Elk Crossing Shopping Center. Sign Artist installed this colorful trio of directional signs Westwood Financial, clearly marking curbside service for the shopping center visitors.

The project was unique, in that the foundations of four signs needed to be filled with 600 pounds of sand, to keep them stable! That put a new twist on the sun and sand concept, for our father-daughter crew that day.


Westwood first contacted Sign Artist pre-Covid era, after finding us online. This management corporation asked us to install a small directional sign for shops at picturesque  Elmhurst City Center in downtown Elmhurst, Illinois.

Our favorite thing to do, is to provide multiple signs of all varieties to our happy repeat customers. Now…how might we serve you?