The Client:

Our client, Unitown Hire, supplies replacement private hire vehicles and has been operating since 1997. In spring 2008, having outgrown their previous offices & with a view to further expansion, the company moved to new, purpose-built premises in Beswick.

The Brief:

MD Jonathan Rose had approached us some weeks prior to the move, to discuss signage for the new bulding. Jonathan selected us to carry out this work, because (in his own words) "We chose VS&G because we had been happy with the quality of a variety of previous work they have done for us & knew them to be reliable"

Jonathan’s brief instructed us to:

• Make good use of the improved company logo
• Ensure visitors were able to find the building & locate the correct entrance easily
• Create as much impact as possible
• Add interest to a blank fascia
• Ensure that the image projected was professional & sophisticated, complementing the company’s status as one of the leaders in their field.
• Complete within 3 weeks (the move was iminent!) and to specified budget

The Discussions:

Vital Signs & Graphics Director, Tony, met with Jonathan to present his proposals, which were accepted. The only outstanding issue was: To illuminate or not? Given that Unitown Hire is sited off the Hight Street & is not concerned with atttracting business outside of regular 9-5 hours, it was felt that, certainly at this time, lighting for the signs was not an important issue. If at any point in the future it’s decided that external illumination would be worthwhile, then this can be added with relative ease. Tony designed & sited the signs with this in mind.

The Result:

Vital Signs & Graphics proposed 2 signs for this new building.

Firstly the main fascia sign, to identify the building. This was made up of a white aluminum ‘tray’ at 3.3Mtr x 1.2Mtr with a 50mm ‘return’. Printed vinyl graphics in soft grey, depicting the logo, were applied to the face of the tray...forming the background of the design. Then, individual letters, reading ‘UNITOWN HIRE LTD’ were cut from 5mm thick black acrylic and applied, by means of stand-off locators, over the grey logo. 

This method of production produces a sign with good depth & substance,  compared with for instance, a flat panel sign. The use of powder-coated  aluminium ensures longevity & value for money. The ‘Unitown’ logo was faithfully reproduced & the inclusion of the strap-line ‘VEHICLE RENTAL’ ensures that the company & its business are closely allied. The sign was sited in the centre of the main fascia, at the optimum height for maximum visibility from the main access road.

Main Fascia Sign

Main Fascia Sign (detail)    

In order to make sure that visitors accessed the correct entrance from the car park, a second sign was proposed. This was sited immediately over the main entrance, and read simply ‘RECEPTION’. In this instance, 250mm high individual built-up letters in black acrylic were used. Built-ups differ from flat-cut letters in that, although the face of the letter is cut from the same thickness of acrylic sheet, a ‘return’ (in this case, 25mm deep) is affixed to all sides of the letter, giving the appearance of a 30mm thick solid shape. This method of construction allows for the fixings to be hidden within the return and gives a very clean look to the finished job. The black colour was selected in order to provide maximum contrast against the grey aluminium cladding which covered a large part of the building.

Feedback:

Unitown Hire MD Jonathan Rose was very pleased with the result & reported that "..the signs have been very positively complimented upon on & Vital Signs & Graphics have gained business by being asked to supply signs to a company which deals with Unitown Hire, on the strength of the quality & appearance of our new signs"