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Winners from the 2010 International Sign Contest's Commercial Building Signs Category

By Steve Aust

FIRST PLACE

Fabricator
Timber Signs
Ofterschwang, Germany
(49) 8321-675420
www.timbersigns.com

Designers
Christian Mook
Zenzakan
Frankfurt, Germany

Manfred Didier
Timber Signs

Client
Zenzakan

Selling Price
$19,900 (14,500 Euros)

As Asian restaurants increasingly explore more complex flavors and more diverse ingredients, this restaurant reflects a higher level of sophistication, thanks to this interior sign. The primary text comprises Sign•Foam HDU routed on the shop’s Gerber Sabre 408 CNC router. Didier and co-worker Marcus Goebels fabricated the circle using Magic Smooth epoxy. To decorate the piece, Timber Signs created outlines with a Dremel bit and created a rusting effect with Modern Options iron antiquing finish. Fabricators decorated the routed and carved letters with 23k goldleaf. To fashion a fearsome sword entailed design with ArtCAM 2009 and decoration with paint and cold, sprayable brass. The design process also required Gerber Omega 3.0, Adobe Photoshop and Fireworks software.

SECOND PLACE

Fabricator
Danthonia Designs
Inverell, NSW, Australia
(612) 6723-2213
www.danthonia.com.au

Designer
Nancy Kaiser
Danthonia Designs

Client
Clog Barn Caravan Park

Selling Price
$1,450

The Clog Barn offers the flavor of Holland Down Under – visitors there may purchase handmade, hard or soft clogs. Kaiser designed the sign, which judges lauded for its vibrant colors and intricate detail, using SA Intl.’s FlexiExpert software. Fabricators created the pattern using an Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products Div. carving mask and a Roland DGA Corporation CAMM-1 Pro plotter. Danthonia sculpted, carved and sandblasted the sign, which comprises Sign Arts Products’ Sign•Foam 3 laminated to PVC backing with 3M adhesives. Decorative coating required Dulux Weathershield paints and Liquitex artists’ acrylics.

THIRD PLACE

Fabricator
Danthonia Designs

Designer
Nancy Kaiser

Client
Alpine Fudge Factory

Selling Price
$5,400

According to the International Ice Cream Assn., the frozen-dessert industry tallied $21 billion in sales worldwide in 2005. Danthonia’s sign encapsulates nicely ice cream’s prominence as childhood comfort food as a major driver in its consumption. Kaiser designed the sign using FlexiExpert, and fabricators produced the sign on PVC-backed HDU through carving, sculpting and painting by hand.

HONORABLE MENTION

Fabricator
Danthonia Designs

Designer
Donal McKernan
Danthonia Designs

Client
Black Dot Music

Selling Price
$6,000