This wave of craftsmanship is a welcomed trend, especially here in Melbourne, in a world dominated by pixels. Hand-painted signs convey a quality of craftsmanship that simply can't be replicated with mass production methods. With every brush of paint, a new layer of texture and color is applied giving the sign a unique charm and character that cannot be mass-produced. Each sign is for the artisan to showcase their skills and thus the business to have a personalized identity. It's also a win for local communities, which have the privilege of viewing these pieces from a closer perspective.
The option to have something custom made (designed and built from scratch) is another great aspect of the sign painting community. If one were to order a custom-built sign for their store, hobby, or next grand event, for example, a painter would consult with the customer about what they might be after. This consultation is sure to yield positive results for a returning customer coming back to look for something quite unique. A sign after all should not only be functional but also aesthetically pleasing as a work of art. Want to learn more about joining the culture and keeping the craft spirit alive?
The Art of Hand Painted Signs
Hand painted signs traditionally have always been artistic and crafty. This tradition is kept very much alive here in Melbourne, with a number of signwriters around town applying their brush skills to a range of different architectural canvasses. Each sign is subtly different in that it captures a style that is unique to the artist — the (get out clause – often not noticed) signwriter — that created it. A good sign should aim to say something about or bring out a personality of the business that is being represented.
Beyond the façade of the sign, hand lettering is extremely important. The major reason? Establishing that personal connection. When you see hand-drawn chalkboards, you know that somebody has been out there that day carefully writing the names of foods and drawing a goat…..or cow…or whatever have you. It gives off a vibe that it’s a wholesome, genuine place to eat — the complete opposite of what one would associate with mass-produced fast food… [point one] Hand lettered signs capture people’s attention. And even more so, from a distance!
The Process of Sign Design in Melbourne
Designing a sign is an incredibly collaborative process. Clients are the experts on their business—they know what sets them apart! They have a unique understanding of where they want to take their business and have many of the big-picture pieces in place. They have a vision and have already spent time (sometimes years) building their brand. With the help of a sign artist, these clients are able to translate their vision into something concrete.
This is where the partnership between client and sign artist comes in: the client knows their business inside and out. They can tell their sign artist who their target audience is, where they are, and what their preferred aesthetic is. A sign artist can offer their specialized knowledge on different design options, materials, and functionality.
Clients can discuss with their artist how they would like their sign to be designed. The sign artist can then help the client to achieve a unique sign that matches their vision for the sign when they first get started. They may create a few designs from that initial consult—and they can go from there!
The final product a client receives may not look exactly like the sign the client and their artist originally discussed. The iterative design process gives artists more latitude to achieve a truly unique design that will catch the attention of potential customers.
Popular Trends in Sign Painting Melbourne
Today's hand-painted and artisan signs reveal an intriguing splice of digital design and traditional brush skills. Artists create intricate designs on a computer but apply the final image by hand, ensuring that the final product still possesses the feel of classic hand-painted signs. The artistic quality is maintained, while the aesthetics of the many shapes and lines, both straight and curved, are perfectly executed.
In Melbourne, hand-painted signs can make a powerful difference to your business's branding. Unlike signs created for the masses, hand-painted signs are a piece of art that forces creativity and guarantees that no other business will have the same piece. You can style these pieces to fully encapsulate your brand, stick in potential customers' minds, and remind your local area of who you are.
In turn, you will keep the art of sign making alive in your local community, supporting Melbourne sign makers in their local business. There are very few materials that can't be painted onto, so you will most likely not be limited in terms of design.