iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 1 February 2021 Digital Edition viewable on www.ISA-sign.com. The Official Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association February 2021 SPECIAL EDITION - 2020 Sign Design Award Winners 2020 “Best of the Best” Carlinville Plaza A smash-up design of throwback style and modern techniques, the unique structure sits on Historic Route 66 in the middle of America’s Midwest in Carlinville, IL. The 40’ tall pylon features 44 fabricated circles with LED illumination, over 20.000 sequins, and exposed LED channel letters.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 2 February 2021 2020 Sign Design Awards Competition The ISA Sign Design Awards Program is a signature recognition program of Illinois Sign Association staging the annual industry competition that showcases the best of the best in Illinois. The program provides recognition in nine categories for design and installation that showcase the expertise of sign companies, designers, and technicians in Illinois. Category winners were announced at the 2020 ISA Virtual Sign EXPO on December 8, 2020 Winners were selected by the awards committee in advance. “Best of the Best” winner was selected by virtual polling via ZOOM by the online. The winner receives a $500 cash prize, which is generously being sponsored by ISA’s allied trade members! In addition, the winner will receive a special plaque and the sign will be prominently featured on the cover of the 2021 Member Directory! 2020 SIGN DESIGN AWARDS COMPETITION SPONSORS The Illinois Sign Association was founded in 1969 to elevate and promote the standards and professionalism of the custom electric sign industry in sales, manufacturing, and service.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 3 February 2021 Congrats to the 2020 Sign Design Award Winners! Illuminated Category ◼ 1st South Water Signs - Metropolis ◼ 1st Ace Sign Company - Carlinville Plaza ◼ 2nd Legacy Sign - Vale Park Animal Hospital ◼ 3rd Bendsen Sign & Graphics - 32 E. Green ◼ 3rd Van Bruggen Signs Inc. -Marist HS Non-Illuminated ◼ 1st Prairie Signs - The Candles ◼ 2nd Ace Sign Company -Motor Heads ◼ 3rd Prairie Signs - The Park Neon Graphics ◼ 1st Ace Sign Company - Slow Hands Craft BBQ Commercial Signage ◼ 1st Prairie Signs - LiUNA Local 165 ◼ 2nd Prairie Signs - Shorty's Barber Shop Vehicle Graphics ◼ 1st Ace Sign Company - Edelweiss Boutique ◼ 2nd Prairie Signs - Joes Pizza Pub ◼ 3rd Van Bruggen Signs Inc. - Danrich Carstar Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign ◼ 1st Parvin-Clauss - Youngs ◼ 2nd C. Johnson Sign Co. - Parkview Plaza ◼ 3rd Sign Artist USA - Elmhurst College COVID-19 Innovation ◼ 1st Prairie Signs - Bromenn ◼ 2nd Kieffer/Starlite - Portable Screen ◼ 3rd Ace Sign Company – Safety Message Humorous Sign ◼ 1st C. Johnson Sign Co. Look for all winners on the ISA Website www.isa-sign.com
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 4 Illuminated Sign Category – A tie for First Place! 1st Place Ace Sign Company Carlinville Plaza February 2021
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 5 Illuminated Sign Category – A tie for First Place! 1st Place South Water Signs Metropolis Performing Arts Center After more than 4 years of planning, 2 years in the city for approvals and 1 pandemic, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre has a sign they can be proud to call their own. All the lighting is fully dimmable. EMC boards are 8mm RBG. ¾” push through lettering on the sides and face. LED bulbs throughout. Sign weight is over 10,000 lbs. 12-week fabrication time, 2-day installation. February 2021
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 6 Illuminated Sign Category 2nd Place Legacy Sign Vale Park Animal Hospital Illuminated Sign Category 3rd Place Bendsen Signs & Graphics, Inc 32. E Green February 2021 Double sides, internally illuminated projecting sign. 240” H x 36” W x 16.5 “ Deep. Attached channel letters have white acrylic faces with perforated returns. Principal LEDs shine white behind the faces with a baffle installed allowing the logo to shine green through the perforated returns. The “E” portion of the logo has similar lighting feature that sits on a circle that also face lights green. Incorporated stone veneers – same stone used on building and Stained wood to mimic the wood trusses used in the architecture of the building Illuminated Sign Category 3rd Place Tie Van Bruggen Signs Inc Marist High School Illuminated exterior wall display for chapel of catholic high school. Original image design by customer but modified to work as a wall display. Halo illuminated people and shapes are fabricated aluminum with multi-depth returns (2” x 3” deep) with uniform stand offs. Clear acrylic background panel is 144” x 272” x 4” deep with concealed mounting frame. Finished in satin acrylic urethane.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 7 February 2021
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 8 Non-Illuminated 1st Place Prairie Signs The Candles Non-Illuminated 2nd Place Ace Sign Company Motor Heads This monument structure incorporates Stone columns and base, Limestone caps, Cedar header, and aluminum sign cabinet with aluminum dimensional letters. It is painted with a COPPER paint! A mixture of many natural materials. February 2021 Non-Illuminated 3rd Place Prairie Signs The Park Bottom lit 32' x 32' sign. Sequins give it a shimmering effect. Monument structure utilizes Stone columns and a Brick base, Limestone caps, Cedar header and vertical supports, aluminum sign cabinet with aluminum dimensional letters.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 9 February 2021 Neon Graphics 1st Place Ace Sign Company Slow Hand Craft BBQ
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 10 February 2021 Our client wanted to make a statement with window graphics on the side of the Peoria Civic Center where their tradesmen were working. We designed, printed, and installed a 5-story window wrap. Commercial Signage 1st Place Prairie Signs LiUNA Local 165 Commercial Signage 2nd Place Prairie Signs Shorty’s Barber Shop Our client wanted an “old school” Barber shop design for his storefront substrate sign. We haven’t installed the sign yet, but it has been produced.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 11 Vehicle Graphics 1st Place Ace Sign Company Edelweiss Boutique February 2021 Vehicle Graphics 2nd Place Prairie Signs Joe’s Pizza Pub Turned our client’s vehicle into a mobile billboard with a full-on vehicle wrap.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 12 Vehicle Graphics 3rd Place Prairie Signs Shorty’s Barber Shop Towing company franchise provided logo adapted for use on tilt bed tow truck. Combination of digitally printed reflective vinyl and high-performance vinyl lettering on side doors extending to hood, bulk head behind cab, side cabinets and side rails on tilt bed. February 2021
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 13 Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign 1st Place Parvin-Clauss Young’s Appliances February 2021 Refurbished existing rotating sign and replaced all neon with rope light/faux neon LED . Also restored motor for rotation motor.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 14 Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign 2nd Place C. Johnson Sign Co. Parkview Plaza February 2021 Used existing supporting structure; routed out fabricated clear satin anodized panels; painted aluminum background & skirt; face & side lit vertically running letters; perforated vinyl to give black/white day/night look.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 15 Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign 3rd Place Sign Artist USA Elmhurst College February 2021 Rebuilt the Elmhurst College gateway arch and updated the name to Elmhurst University. Designed and updated the text and worked with the All-Metal Group to rebuild the structure of the arch.
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 16 February 2021
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 17 COVID-19 Innovation 1st Place Prairie Signs Bromenn Our client needed a “clever” and professional way to mark off chairs to assist with social distancing. They had to be aesthetically pleasing, have an effective message, and be user friendly. We developed a sign produced from lightweight PVC with digitally printed graphics that could strap to the chairs via a Velcro strap. The Velcro strap allows for easy installation/removal. The Velcro strap has sewn hems for durability. They are a hit! February 2021 COVID-19 Innovation 2nd Place Kieffer/Starlite Portable Screen COVID-19 Innovation 3rd Place Ace Sign Company Safety Signage
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 18 February 2021 Humorous Sign C. Johnson Sign Co. Interesting spelling choices on this landscaping trailer!
iMAGES Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association SIGN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS SPECIAL EDITION P a g e | 19 2021 ISA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-2021 President JOHN C. JOHNSON C. Johnson Sign Company 9615 Waveland Avenue Franklin Park, IL 60131-1747 847-678-2092 www.cjohnsonsignco.com john@cjohnsonsignco.com Secretary/Treasurer ANDREW CARBY Prairie Signs, Inc. 1215 Warriner Normal, IL 61761 309-452-0463 www.prairiesigns.com acarby@prairiesigns.com DIRECTORS BRANDON BENDER Electro-Matic Visual, Inc. 23660 Industrial Park Drive Farmington Hills, MI 48335 248-622-3684 / 312-237-0573 www.empvisualsolutions.com bhbender@electro-matic.com TABITHA BOWEN All-Right Signs 3628 Union Avenue Steger, IL 60417 708-754-6366 www.allrightsign.com TBowen@allrightsign.com ZAC MARTIN Altec Industries, Inc. 2835 N. Wolcott Avenue, Unit H Chicago, IL 60657 508-745-3341 www.altec.com zachery.martin@altec.com BARRY COX Turnroth Sign Company, Inc. 1207 E. Rock Falls Road Rock Falls, IL 61071 815-625-1155 www.turnrothsign.com turnrothsignbcox@yahoo.com MIKE WEITZ Weitz Sign Company 2400 Kerper Boulevard Dubuque, IA 52001 800-383-1300 www.weitzsign.com mike@weitzsign.com CHAD ENGSTROM Optec Displays, Inc. 1700 S. De Soto Place Ontario, CA 91761 800.876.1668 x258 626.252.8333 www.optec.com SARA WERKMAN Van Bruggen Signs, Inc. 13401 Southwest Hwy. Orland Park, IL 60462 708-448-0826 www.vbsign.com sara@vbsign.com DIRECTORS KEVIN LASKA North Shore Sign 1925 Industrial Drive Libertyville, IL 60048 847-816-7020 www.northshoresigns.com kevinl@northshoresigns.com February 2021 Vice President HENRY VAN DE WERKEN MIRATEC SYSTEMS 640 Olive Street Saint Paul, MN 55130 630-864-7491 / 651-222-8440 hvandewerken@gmail.com henryv@miratecsystems.com www.MiratecSystems.com Past President JASON TOMPKINS Bendsen Signs & Graphics 2901 North Woodford Street Decatur, IL 62526-4715 217-877-2345 www.bendsensigns.com jt@bsg1946.com
Many Thanks to our 2021-2021 Industry Partners ! (Advertising. Opportunities are still available for upcoming issues, website, and Sign EXPO and Fall Conference. Contact the office for more information.) A & C PLASTICS Marshall McQuien (VP of Sales) jm@acplastics.com Sean Carroll (Asst Sales Mgr.) sean@acplastics.com Garret Hohman (Dir of Business Dev) garret@acplastics.com Warehouse: 3801 W. 25th Avenue Schiller Park, IL 60176 713-645-4915 Mailing & Corporate Office: 6135 Northdale Street Houston, TX 77087 713-358-6322 www.acplastics.com Products: A&C Plastics is the nation’s premier plastics distributor boasting a very large in-stock inventory of plastic sheeting, including, but not limited to, acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC and HDPE. A&C specializes in stocking colors, oversize sheets and thick gauge material. Area Served: Local delivery within the greater Chicago area. Nationwide shipping available. RUNNION EQUIPMENT COMPANY Pat Runnion (Owner) 6201 East Avenue Hodgkins, IL 60525 800-824-6704 prunnion@runnionequipment.com www.runnionequipment.com SPONSOR Companies represented: National Crane, Palfinger, Tadano, Elliott, Manitex, Manitex SkyCrane, Trail King Trailers and Dur-a-Lift. Area served: Central and northern Illinois, northwest Indiana, Wisconsin THINKSIGN Brian Lappin (SALES) brian.lappin@thinksign.com 5680 Shepherdsville Rd Louisville, KY 40228 502-909-5976 www.thinksign.com Products: Founded in 1998, ThinkSIGN is the designer and manufacturer of one of the finest on-premise LED signs available. Our superior design, stringent sourcing and quality control coupled with industry-leading software and support allow us that claim. Headquartered in Louisville KY, ThinkSIGN has partners in all 50 states and a dedicated team of professionals to support any project large or small.
WATCHFIRE SIGNS David Wuellner (Sales Director – Central Region) David.Wuellner@watchfiresigns.com Chris White (Northern Illinois Territory Manager) Chris.White@watchfiresigns.com Faye Rowell (Southern/Central Illinois Territory Manager) Faye.Rowell@watchfiresigns.com 1015 Maple Street Danville, IL 61832 800-637-2645 www.watchfiresigns.com Products: Watchfire Signs designs and engineers the best looking, most durable outdoor LED signs and digital billboards to help businesses and organizations increase visibility and drive growth. Headquartered in Danville, Ill., Watchfire has manufactured electric signs since 1932 and LED signs, using meticulously sourced components from around the world, since 1998. Our products include indoor and outdoor LED displays, fixed-digit and virtual scoreboards, gas price signs and digital billboards. Areas served: Nationwide Social Medi Links: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WatchfireSigns Twitter – https://twitter.com/WatchfireSigns LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/watchfire-signs-by-time-o-matic Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/watchfiresigns SPONSOR WORLD WIDE SIGN SYSTEMS, INC. Mike Lawrenz (VP of Operations) MLawrenz@wwsign.com Jeremy Leitzke (Sales) jleitzke@wwsign.com P.O. Box 338 446 North Cecil Street Bonduel, WI 54107 800-874-3334 www.wwsign.com Products: Exclusively wholesale manufacturer of electric signs, pylons, monuments, custom signs, architectural signs, formed or flexible faces, channel letters, routed products and digital prints. Area served: North America & Caribbean SPONSOR ALTEC INDUSTRIES, INC. Corporate Office: 2106 South Riverside Road St. Joseph, MO 64507 Zac Martin (SR ACCT MGR) zachery.martin@altec.com 508-745-3341 Dan Brown (ACCT MGR - ILLINOIS) dan.brown@altec.com 317-793-0884 www.altec.com Products: Aerial Devices, Cranes, Digger Derricks for the sign industry. Area served: Nationwide SPONSOR
DAKTRONICS, INC. Corporate Office: commercial@daktronics.com 201 Daktronics Drive P.O. Box 5128 Brookings, SD 57006-5128 888-325-7446 www.daktronics.com METOMIC CORPORATION Paul Bernstein paul@metomic.com 2944 West 26th Street Chicago, IL 60623 773-247-4716 SPONSOR www.capsandstandoffs.com Products: Sign standoffs in anodized brushed aluminum and polished chrome. MADE IN AMERICA Area served: Worldwide WEITZ SIGN COMPANY Mike Weitz (PRES) 2400 Kerper Boulevard Dubuque, IA 52001 563-556-5316 Fax 563-582-8064 mike@weitzsign.com SPONSOR www.weitzsign.com Products: Wholesale channel letters, flat cut letters, custom fabrication, extruded signs, architectural signs, neon. Area Served: Nationwide Digital Edition viewable on www.ISA-sign.com. The Official Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association February 2021 The Illinois Sign Association was founded in 1969 to elevate and promote the standards and professionalism of the custom electric sign industry in sales, manufacturing, and service.
Digital Edition viewable on www.ISA-sign.com. The Official Newsletter of the Illinois Sign Association February 2021 SPECIAL EDITION - 2020 Sign Design Award Winners 2020 Sign Design Award Sponsors PROUD TO BE A STATE AFFILIATE OF THE https://signresearch.org/www.signs.org
SIGN COMPANIES: SHOW CASE YOUR BEST!! ENTER TO WIN! 2021 Sign Design Awards Program Presented in the Fall of 2021 during the Fall Education Conference & Industry Awards Event No fee to enter! Underwritten by the Allied Trades of the ISA! Here is your call to showcase excellence, quality, and innovation with your team’s ideas, achievements & talents! Unlimited entries per company. The ISA Sign Design Awards Program is a signature recognition program of Illinois Sign Association. Every year the annual industry competition showcases the best of the best of the Illinois Sign Industry. The program provides recognition in eight categories for design and installation that showcase the expertise of sign companies, designers, and technicians in the state. Category winners are presented at the 2021 ISA Fall Education Conference & Industry Awards Program selected by the awards committee in advance. “Best of the Best” will be selected by ballot from all attendees at the fall conference. $500 Cash Prize! The Best of the Best winner will receive a $500 cash prize, which is generously being sponsored by ISA’s allied trade members! In addition, the winner receives a special plaque, and the sign will be prominently featured on the cover of the 2021 Member Directory! Winners of each category be presented an attractive trophy. 2nd and 3rd receive colorful certificates. CATEGORIES: 1. Illuminated Signage and Sign Systems 2. Non-Illuminated Signage and interior or exterior Sign Systems 3. Exposed Neon and Faux Neon 4. Commercial Signage 5. Vehicle Graphics 6. Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign 7. Humorous Sign 8. COVID-19 Innovation place winner will
Sign Company Contact Phone: 2020 Sign Design Awards Program Awards Nomination Submittal- No fee to enter. Designer’s Name Email: Is this an in-house design? Yes No (If no, indicate name below) Design Firm Client Category Date Installed Description (materials used, special effects, unique features/challenges, innovations, etc.) Award Categories: Entries must include digital images as requested below. 1. Illuminated Signage and Sign Systems (include illuminated and non-illuminated day and night photos) 2. Non-Illuminated Signage and interior or exterior Sign Systems 3. Exposed Neon and Faux Neon (include illuminated and non-illuminated photos) 4. Commercial Signage (digitally printed graphics, showcards, window lettering, real estate signs, etc.) 5. Vehicle Graphics 6. Restored or Rehabilitated Existing Sign (BEFORE and AFTER photos are REQUIRED. At least one photo of each entry should be taken from a distance to portray the sign’s relationship to the surroundings or building) 7. Humorous Sign 8. COVID-19 Innovation Award (New, and hopefully only one year…A clever, innovative, response to the market during the crazy era of a pandemic) Entries must be submitted by sign company members of ISA and must be constructed and/or designed by the ISA sign company member submitting the entry. Sign companies may enter all categories listed above with no limit on the number of entries. However, the same entry may not be used for different categories. No identification regarding the sign manufacturer may appear in the photo. Entries become property of, and reproduction rights are granted to, the Illinois Sign Association. ISA reserves the right to retain all images. Contest entries will be limited to those signs installed after January 1, 2020. Signs must not have been previously entered in the ISA Sign Design Awards Program. Judging criteria will be based on… (A) Overall design—15-point maximum (B) Selection and use of materials—5-point maximum (C ) Compatibility of the design with its intended application—10-point maximum. Judging will be done by a panel of representatives serving the Illinois Sign Industry. Please email your nomination submittal form with photos by August 15, 2021 to the ISA. E: signdesignawards@isa-sign.com T: 312-881-9920
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