Last week I alluded to a cool project we had coming soon. I've been busy designing for the last week. I pulled out the stops and went wild... and every drawing so far has been approved by the owners. AMAZING!
I've long preached to my customers that signs are not just the name of the place, but rather should encompass the landscaping, building, entry, decor, interior fittings and branding throughout in every way possible. This customer had followed my blog and read of the treatment we did for MultiCam. They understood how we work and wanted us to work this same magic on their project. This one is going to be extra special in every respect.
It's an old British styled pub, about 20 miles distant. It is currently undergoing a refit and expansion and we got the call to help out. The budget allows for a lot of creativity. The owners are Disney fanatics, meaning they connected to me really well. They like my sense of design. Now it was time to get down to business.
The decor will be heavy, old world post and beam with weathered and aged plaster. The ceilings are relatively low, in character with the theme. We'll be adding faux cut stone and brick, with everything very ancient and not at all straight or level. The heavily textured walls will feature many 3D signs depicting fictitious brands of beer and ales - all relating to and telling the story of the pub. The centerpiece fireplace will get the treatment, making it unlike anything anyone has seen. Like the MultiCam project every square inch will get the treatment with subtle branding throughout.
Much of what I have drawn needs to be still under wraps for a while longer... but I'll show a sneak peek of two small pieces for the project...
This is the hostess station by the front door.
Here's one of the story telling pieces of eye candy
This is going to be FUN!
-dan
[ May 26, 2011, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
... & we'll enjoy watching the progress updates- well done on securing another great 'testing' job!
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Wow, can't wait to join you for a pint (Coke, of course) in the finished pub. Tech question: what software do you use or how do you get from the initial pencil sketch to the presentation prints?
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Sketches are done in pen (real quickI in my book, scanned int PhotoShop and drawn freehand with a digital pen. The bottom drawing was done as a preliminary layout in Illustrator and then embellished (shadows and layers) in PhotoShop. The horn was lain in as a separate layer after being done as the first drawing.
-grampa dan
Posted by Debbie Karr (Member # 11598) on :
Wow, I will have to keep watching to see how this turns out. It's pretty impressive so far.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Dan is this Pub in Chiliwack? Congratulations on the Job.. look forward to seeing it progress.
Posted by Steve Luck (Member # 5292) on :
Looks like it's going to be fun for you Dan! I hope you get a healthy deposit up front because every bar owner that I've had to deal with in the past 15 years are not good businessmen and don't pay their bills!
I had to go take a sign down after one guy went out of business and didn't pay for the sign. I'm sure this customer isn't on the same level as the ones I've had but it still would make me cautious.
Hope to see you again in Plymouth in June. I'll be celebrating my 53rd Birthday during the meet.
Sign-cerely, Steve
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
You can't sell that kind of work around here. Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Every customer is approached with caution, and I listen carefully to those warning bells that go off from time to time. In this case I heard no such bells. A 50% deposit check for design work was instantly produced when I asked for it with a smile and no fuss.
The pub is not in Chilliwack... but I can't say more quite yet.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)