MA Visual Communication: Online Journal

CONCEPT : Blog entry 25

Today I have been looking into nature reserve signs, to see what has already been done, and also to get an idea of what I should be working towards; to see what works and what doesn't.

I found  few companies online that make these things, the first makes the designs them selves (this is mainly what I would be interested in redesigning)

(Nature Signs, 2014)

These are very similar to the the signs that I photographed at Attenborough Nature reserve, (Blog entry 50) and most signs that you will see around these locations. They all look very similar; a mix of photographs and traditional, painted identification images, all very green, using bits of natural textures, but in a very unimaginative way.

This site says that the designer understands "the need for designs to be colourful, informative, clean, and easily understandable". These are things that I need to take into consideration when making my own designs, however I just think the current signs are so boring! I never read the whole thing, the fact that these signs are practically the same all over the place just makes them more boring. I want to make them more appealing to everyone, although I think with a focus on children and younger people, which is why I've also been thinking about making a game (treasure hunt?) around them? I'm not sure yet..

The Osprey company makes the surrounds for the signs. This isn't something I am not particularly interested in making, but they have an interesting, sometimes more modern design that reflects the environment. Although you can see from these images, that the signs themselves are still the traditional type found in most nature reserves and sites.

(Ospreyco.com, 2014)

These boards were done for a commission by Sally Lackaff. Although these are different to what is around nature reserves now, it still relies on a traditional style of illustration. Despite them looking more interesting and beautiful, I think they are too over crowded and complex, and again I'm not sure if I would try and read the whole thing; I am imediatly put off trying to read the whole thing because of how busy it seems.

"Every one of the signs showcases the pencil-and-watercolor handiwork of Astoria-based artist Sally Lackaff, and eight of them feature her artwork alone.  

“I was really given a lot of free rein,” Lackaff said. “I just got to do whatever I wanted, basically. I could have done oil paintings if I’d chosen.” 

Her task was simple if not exactly easy: create a series of panels that illustrate the natural elements, both flora and fauna, in and around the Little Pompey Wetlands, the treatment plant, the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve and elsewhere along the trail.

Lackaff tried to fill the frames of her canvases with as many species of native birds, mammals, amphibians, fish, insects and plants as possible without making the signs too “busy.”

Two of the panels — titled “An Ecola Creek Forest” and “The Native Wetlands” — depict the land’s indigenous history, how the local tribes once lived in the marshes and woodlands, and what their daily habits may have been.

One panel explains how the treatment plant works, and another tells the history of the tide gate near Second Street. Lackaff and public works employee Tracy Sund collaborated on the latter, which incorporates computer generated graphics alongside Lackaff’s work.

In addition, her artwork is laced with text, penned in black ink, about the wildlife on display. On the finished signs, the paintings will hover above extended information boxes that explain the pictured content in greater depth. "

(www.dailyastorian.com, 2014)

 These images below are from Redtail Interpretive nature signs...these are on a similar level to Matt Sewell for making me want to kill myself for having the most original ideas!

(Facebook, 2014)

  His simplified images are like mine but with more detail...

  I can't see all of his work, these images are just taken from his Facebook page, and I cant seem to find a website, but these images have a lot of the same elements to them that mine do, from the silhouettes of the birds in flight to the patterns of the eggs. Although I don't like his coloured backgrounds; I think these don't make the images seem as clean and contemporary but maybe my images would benefit from the addition of the shadow?

Facebook, (2014). Redtail Interpretive Nature Signs. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Redtail-Interpretive-Nature-Signs/389737977754736 [Accessed 2 Jul. 2014].

www.dailyastorian.com, (2014). Signs of fowl play: Artist creates interpretive signs for nature trail. [online] Available at: http://www.dailyastorian.com/your_town/cannon_beach/signs-of-fowl-play-artist-creates-interpretive-signs-for-nature/article_2661cf94-c212-11e3-a8c6-0019bb2963f4.html [Accessed 2 Jul. 2014].

Ospreyco.com, (2014). The Osprey Company - Special Signs for Special Places. [online] Available at: http://www.ospreyco.com/ [Accessed 2 Jul. 2014].

Nature Signs, (2014). Nature Signs Gallery. [online] Available at: http://naturesigns.co.uk/gallery/nggallery/thumbnails [Accessed 2 Jul. 2014].