Our readers’ submissions arrived from across the country, our judges reviewed hundreds of eligible entries and their scores were tallied. Now, Sign Media Canada proudly showcases the winners of the eighth annual National Sign Competition.
The 2014 competition attracted many projects of very high calibre, representing the best of the best from all corners of the Canadian sign industry. With final scores proving close in many categories, all of the entrants deserve congratulations for the superb quality of their work. So, once again, we are including the runners-up in this special showcase.
The judges—members of the Sign Media Canada editorial advisory board—had to consider each entry’s merits in terms of originality, creativity, appearance and design suitability. Together, they selected winners in nine categories, with the entry earning the highest overall score also honoured as best in show. That top award’s winner will receive a free trip to the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s (SGIA’s) Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., this October.
So, without further ado, here are this year’s winners and runners-up!
|
Building Signs
|
Designer/Manufacturer: The Media Works, Millbrook, Ont. Submitter: Roula Kovios Client: Agency 71 Location: Toronto Materials/Methods: Brushed stainless steel emblem and letters mounted on historic building. Letters lit with red light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Glass doors wrapped with etched vinyl die-cut logo. |
|
|
Designer/Manufacturer: Electra Sign, Winnipeg Submitter: Brett Aho Client: GDL Logistix Location: Edmonton Materials/Methods: Main sign uses 6-m (20-ft) tall aluminum letters. Various other letters and lawn monument sign illuminated with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). |
|
Illuminated Signs
|
Designer/Submitter: Dan Sawatzky Manufacturer/Client: Sawatzky’s Imagination Corporation, Yarrow, B.C. Location: Chilliwack, B.C. Materials/Methods: Sculpting epoxy, 100 per cent acrylic paints, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), computer numerical control (CNC) and computer-aided design (CAD) software, CNC router. |
|
|
Designer: Isaac Hansen Manufacturer: Mattatall Signs, Dartmouth, N.S. Submitter: Aaron Babcock Client: RCR Hospitality Group Location: Halifax Materials/Methods: Custom-fabricated illuminated cabinet (extrusion and face frame) with painted aluminum ornamentation bonded to frame, white polycarbonate face, solvent-based inkjet-printed graphics on first and second surface, pin-mounted black acrylic letters. Lighting controller alternating between white and red for appearance of glowing lava. |
|
Out-of-Home Advertising
|
Designer: Extreme Group Communications Manufacturer: Media Resources, Oakville, Ont. Submitter: Linda Tran Client: Titan Materials/Methods: Billboard printed on flexible vinyl. Three-dimensional (3-D) elements used aluminum for support, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shell, self-adhesive vinyl, wood frame structure and expanded closed-cell PVC rigid board moulded for effect. |
|
|
Designer: Réa Manufacturer: Media Resources, Oakville, Ont. Submitter: Linda Tran Client: Pattison Outdoor Locations: Toronto and Vancouver Materials/Methods: Printed flexible vinyl billboard, with self-adhesive vinyl applied to plywood for medals and maple leaf. |
|
Sign Systems
|
Designer/Submitter: Dan Sawatzky Manufacturer: Sawatzky’s Imagination Corporation, Yarrow, B.C. Client: WhistlePunk Hollow Adventure Golf Materials/Methods: Welded steel, fibreglass-reinforced concrete, high-density urethane (HDU), 100 per cent acrylic painting by hand. |
|
|
Designer: Andrea Sirois Manufacturer: Uno Digital, Richmond, B.C. Submitter: Marc Gonzaga Client/Location: City of Richmond, B.C. Materials/Methods: The city hired an artist and Uno provided imaging services to create the graphics. |
|
Soft Signage
|
Designer/Manufacturer: Mobile Airships & Blimps, Brantford, Ont. Submitter: Dan Speers Client: Roger Waters Location: Winnipeg, Man. Materials/Methods: Welded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) inflatable portion. Graphics painted with computer-cut vinyl stencils. |
|
|
Designer: Various Manufacturer/Submitter: Signex Manufacturing, Steinbach, Man. Client: Winnipeg Football Club Location: Winnipeg Materials/Methods: Direct-to-media digital printing on four mesh banner systems for each corner of the stadium. |
|
Stand-alone Signs
|
Designer: Firedog Communications Manufacturer: Brad Hominick Productions, Thunder Bay, Ont. Submitter: Brad Hominick Client/Location: Township of Nipigon, Ont. Materials/Methods: Steel frame encased in Douglas fir timbers, mounted to concrete footing. All hardware is countersunk into the timbers and hidden with wood plugs for the appearance of timber framing. Aluminum and acrylic raised elements. |
|
|
Designer/Submitter: Sean Pasternak Manufacturer: Hi Signs/The Fath Group, Edmonton Client: Alberta Culture & Community Spirit Location: Fort MacLeod, Alta. Materials/Methods: Weathering steel structure cut to shape and mounted to I-beam structure, with 6.4-mm (0.25-in.) steel cut to shape, painted, screenprinted and pin-mounted 25 mm (1 in.) off weathering steel surface. |
|
Unique Signs
|
Designer: Murirs Manufacturer: Multi Visuel, Sherbrooke, Que. Submitter: Nicolas Giroux Client: Murirs et Jeux du Canada Location: Sherbrooke, Que. Materials/Methods: Aluminum composite material and ink. |
|
|
Designer/Submitter: Ryan K. Greal Manufacturer: RKG 3D Creations, Sidney, B.C. Client: Doug Stevens Location: Mill Bay, B.C. Materials/Methods: High-density urethane (HDU), closed-cell extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, sculpting epoxy. |
|
Vehicle Graphics
|
Designer/Manufacturer: AG Event Graphics, Point Edward, Ont.
|
|
|
Designer/Submitter: Peter Matkovich Manufacturer: Iron Graphix, Kelowna, B.C. Client: Power 104 FM Location: Kelowna, B.C. Materials/Methods: Graphic film with ‘comply’ adhesive, gloss overlaminate. |
|
Digital Signage
|
Designer: Moment Factory, Outremont, Que. Manufacturer: Christie Digital, Kitchener, Ont. Submitter: Carmen Robert Client: National Capital Commission Location: Ottawa Materials/Methods: Image mapping using nine digital projectors. Sound and lights provided by Groupe Phaneuf. |
|
|
Designers: Brue Mau Design, Arsenal Media Manufacturer: Cineplex Digital Solutions, Waterloo, Ont. Submitter: Virginia Durrer Client: Morguard Location: Ottawa Materials/Methods: 48 digital signage ‘cubes’ with multi-touch capabilities, 72 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) forming a digital canvas, gesture-recognition cameras, custom content management system. |
