Well after sitting down and really thinking about what I know about Lakewood,
and many of the hopes and dreams of politicians, parents, residents, city
groups and those desperately trying to find something worthwhile to do
even though sometimes they are limited because of oversight, lack of depth,
or even just spinning their wheels, I made some calls and put together what I see
as hopefully the ultimate solution to many of Lakewood's needs and problems.
It seems that we have a now serious, potentially, fatal need to get wayfinding
and signage up and around. I suppose that the end of thee day, I see the
need and the excuses coming together. Groups looking for validation, and
the need to feel success backed with the millions of lost souls that find
themselves lost in the vast throes of "Downtown" Lakewood, and even the
business districts that start and flow from "Just East" and "Just West" of
the massive complex grids that make up Lakewood. To some, who are lost
anyway, it has to border on the loss of a child or a family member. I am sure,
to those of us that work, "Downtown," we have often seen the look of "lost"
on those that come into the big city from Milan, Wooster, Coshocton, even
Olmsted Township. It is a look that often makes me want to reach out and,
offer help, or at least the phone number to a member of the clergy. Certainly
the big city of Lakewood is a little overwhelming. And I am sure it is with
these thoughts LA turned to wthe worl renowned desingers of the Heniens
branding, for relief, and function.
With that being noted, and the urge to turn Lakewood into an Epcot Center of
the North Coast, I mean, who can blame them. The similarities are staggeering
if not odd by coincidence, I looked and spoke with friends there to see what,
if anything, my simple mind could come up with to help us be that vacation
destination and centerpiece. Now, I have always been content with being the
best place to live and work, while others see us as something better, grander,
with an inner fire burning for shopping, shopping, shopping and the need
for fast opening and fast closing big box stores. As I am rarely right, I looked
to Seattle, and Washington DC for help with that thought process.
We have the need to beautify, and cast our lovely little town in a much
more favorable light. This has been done recently with flowers, ribbons, and
window painting that always reminds me of birthday parties, festivals, and
graffiti. Perhaps we can do better, something simple, to the point, and easier to
maintain, after all we have learned as one true civic leader put it, "Maybe
we are not a flower basket city..." I hate to argue, but maybe, just maybe
we have not really examined that burning need and desire enough. It reminds
me of NASA and the Rocket Hammer. There was a need to get a hammer
into space, but no simple hammer would do. So Stanley, ever ready with
a way to help while making a dollar created the "Rocket Hammer" basically
a regular claw hammer with a yellow handle. Cost, $10,000, with all of the
usefulness of any regular claw hammer here on earth.
Voila, a success many times over.
At this point it occured to me that often, even under the best circumstances,
that the streets are just not up to the same standards as Europe, Disney
World, or Elyria. That while the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, and
Mainstreet have their Cleanup DAY, maybe, just maybe, there would be a better
easier and faster way to if not clean out streets direct attentions away from
the litter, the homeless, the downtrodden and especially the miles of empty
almost scary storefronts that dot not only "Dowtown" Lakewood but other
areas as well.
But this brings up another interesting, no fascinating problem, how can local
groups shake down the businesses and residents, without the frosting on
the proverbial party cake known as "Downtown" Lakewood? Without this
near "Italian family style" shakedown, many would not be able to afford the lifestyles
they have become so accustomed and comfortable in? So again, one problem
flowers without care, starts another problem, with no flowers what would we sell er
lease? This would never do. After all a tapeworm needs to be fed, regularly, or it simply
dies. In their world, certainly it is better the host dies than the worm. Which then brings
us to a burning need to be able to shake down grants, the city and large businesses,
as that growing hunger that must constantly be fed.
So here we are.
A very simple 6 color metal stamped signed.
It is perfect for wayfinding as it has additional areas for "Just East Of
Downtown," "One Block West Of Downtown," "Thirty Steps Left OF Kiosk,"
"Not Downtown," "Wishes It Was Downtown," and "Safely Out Of Downtown."
So, as you can see, it is perfect for wayfinding and bleeding cities dry. Possibly
could place them every 30 feet or so. After hanging a couple thousand, it will
be time to clean, repaint, and hang again.
We also know the disaster of our "hanging baskets" Too high, can't be watered,
to low, heat and pollution kills them. To much water, too little, etc. With
this solution, all of these problems disappear instantly, a flower basket sign
hanging from the wayfinding signage, Lakewood will soon seem like a two dimensional
Tropical Rainforest of Flora. Who could possibly be upset with that.
Along with that comes the ability to "lease" the signs hundreds of times,
like selling stock in "The Producers." Cost Who Cares! We can sell 2,000
times the cost in leaseable "Stocks" Like selling, er, leasing the flower boxes.
Unlike the flower boxes that some merchants have reported stolen then
held for ransom, these will be in plain sight.
Unlike the flower boxes that collect cigarette butts and litter and direct eyes
downwards, the new idea will once again lift eyes towards the heavens, for
a positive uplifting experience of beautiful flowers year round, and we will never
be lost again!
C'mon Gary, grab the banjo, heck with Kumbaya, strike up, "I was once lost, but
now I'm found..."
This is a detailed version of the new wayfinding signage system.
It not only incorporates the best of many suggestions, including
the "Geiger's" feel. But it also has room to differentiate as small
of distances as every two feet or less. This gives a great opportunity
for shaing down the locals and the government.
Below is a silk screened picture of hanging flower baskets that are
craved by a few in Lakewood but either cost $80,000 a year to
water, or die before any water can be applied. We could silcone coat
them so the dirt from the streets just falls off in a rainstorm.
This sample shows the amazing visual impact on any area.
Here "Just East Of Downtown" shows that with the right
wayfinding signage system, you might never have to clean the
streets but once a year as all eyes are directed to the heavens.
Again, nowhere near the experience of those other designers,
but I think I know Lakewood and the ability of most Lakewood
groups to deliver the goods.
.
and he happens to have connections with a local graphics company 
