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Say It With A Sign
You can see their signatures almost everywhere you look. Signwriters design, paint and build signs and commercial displays on various surfaces including brick, metal, wood and plastic. They do this to attract attention and to provide information. Their work ranges from the advertisements painted on business windows to chalkboard menus in your favourite cafe.
After signwriters and their clients reach an agreement on matters such as concept, design and cost, the signwriting process can get underway. Signwriters prepare their designs either by hand or computer and then go about selecting the materials that will be used. The surfaces they work on also need to be prepared, which means ensuring they are clean and that the correct chalks, paints or computerised designs are selected.
Next, computerised designs and lettering are printed, or designs and letters drawn and painted, while the design of logos also gets underway. At this stage, work boards may also need to be cut to size and framed, and surfaces finished or sealed with chemical sprays.
Their Middle Name Is Creative
While designs and styles may be specified by the client, it's useful to have creative flair and the ability to listen to and interpret other peoples' ideas. As computer manufactured signs are becoming increasingly popular in the signwriting industry, a desire or willingness to work with computers is also helpful.
Signwriters usually have a talent for one or more type of signs - neon, electric, pylon, painted wood or vinyl - and depending on their area of specialisation, may also have painting, electrical and airbrush skills. To attract as wide a client base as possible, it is important for signwriters to create a portfolio of their best work.
Signwriters divide their time between working in a studio or office where they design and draw plans for signs, and on site where they meet with clients and construct signs. A studio or office environment should be well lit and ventilated, and consideration should be given to any safety aspects which may be harmful to the signwriter during work.
On-site conditions vary considerably, and signwriters may work indoors or outdoors, on scaffolding or ladders, and sometimes in physically awkward positions, depending on the nature of the job. Employment opportunities exist in signwriting firms and government departments, but with extensive business training behind you, you can also venture into self employment.
Be Your Own Boss
A signwriting course coordinator at Leederville TAFE, points out that there is, ''enormous potential to be self employed.'' But be cautious, small business training is essential.
It will be largely up to these self-employed individuals to generate business for themselves. This is very much an industry where the ability to promote one's skills really counts, and you'll need to be prepared to 'get out there' and promote your work to interested individuals. Although running your own business can be stressful, the hours are more flexible, even if longer.
The capabilities of self-employed signwriters will invariably have to include keeping abreast of the latest industry trends, bookkeeping, customer service and advertising skills.
Over half of the signwriters in the State work in marketing and business management. The demand for signwriters, which is influenced by levels of business activity and the size of advertising budgets, is expected to remain steady in the medium term.
Apprentice signwriters can expect a starting salary of around $15,000 and this may rise to $30,000 per year. With a few years more experience, signwriters can earn around $35,000 and this may go as high as $60,000 per year.
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