ANNOUNCEMENT: New Logo for Downtown Lakewood

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:28 am

Sean McDermott wrote:We have been very lucky to secure the services of Studio Graphique, a highly respected and talented firm that specializes in graphic design, branding, environmental graphic design, and wayfinding programs.

Jim Oâ€™Bryan wrote:Another possibility of interesting signage for Lakewood's Gateway. This plays off the "Paris of Cleveland's Inner Ring Suburbs" theme that is catching on quickly around the county.

Jim,

I think weâ€™re in luck here. The LakewoodAlive designers, Studio Graphique, already have a French theme going. A collaboration could be very helpful with wayfinding on the Rue de Highland, the eastern border of Lakewood, [b]â€œThe City of Lightâ€

Grace O'Malley · Post by **Grace O'Malley** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:52 am

Additionally, they know and understand Lakewood.

Interesting.

The company located in Shaker Heights, headed by a woman who grew up in Madison and now lives in South Euclid, knows and understands Lakewood better than a long-time Lakewood resident or current business owner.

How, precisely, did you ascertain that "they know and understand Lakewood?

Grace O'Malley · Post by **Grace O'Malley** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:59 am

Curiouser.

How did the committee go about finding this out-of-town company that "knows and understands Lakewood" so well?

And offering services for free?

That's a remarkably serendipitous find. Or was there a previous connection with Studio Graphique?

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:37 am

Grace

I cannot speak for the other sign shops in Lakewood, but I am doubtful we could have done any of the final work for free, as we are backed up with clients, and short staffed.

Perhaps Erie Design another Lakewood owned business could have donated the signs, I know AGS donated many signs to the Lakewood Public Library, as I believe they did as well, but for us anything outside of the design studies would have been nearly impossible.

FWIW

.

Charlie Page · Post by **Charlie Page** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:49 am

Sean McDermott wrote:We have been very lucky to secure the services of Studio Graphique, a highly respected and talented firm that specializes in graphic design, branding, environmental graphic design, and wayfinding programs. Among many other projects, they have performed work and assembled signage and wayfinding programs for Shaker Square and University Circle, in addition to branding for Heinens. Additionally, they know and understand Lakewood.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I did not realize that we had the free help of Studio Graphique. Their free help is welcomed.

Maybe I missed it but I didnâ€™t see where the services from Studio Graphique were free.

Not that Iâ€™m complaining of paying. Such services from an experienced designer on the subject of wayfinding programs appear helpful to further the project.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:24 pm

Charlie Page wrote:
Sean McDermott wrote:We have been very lucky to secure the services of Studio Graphique, a highly respected and talented firm that specializes in graphic design, branding, environmental graphic design, and wayfinding programs. Among many other projects, they have performed work and assembled signage and wayfinding programs for Shaker Square and University Circle, in addition to branding for Heinens. Additionally, they know and understand Lakewood.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I did not realize that we had the free help of Studio Graphique. Their free help is welcomed.

Maybe I missed it but I didnâ€™t see where the services from Studio Graphique were free.

Not that Iâ€™m complaining of paying. Such services from an experienced designer on the subject of wayfinding programs appear helpful to further the project.

Charlie

I guess when I read "lucky" and thought of mission statements, and the hundreds of designers, many international award winning, and 5 sign shops in Lakewood, I just assumed they meant free. What else could it possibly mean?

Rhetorical question I am sure.

.

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:57 pm

Studio Graphique?

Never heard of them.

They sound French.

If I ever run a design firm, I'll call it Stale Baguette, because obviously the French theme is working really well. I can't find a single job in Lakewood, but Studio Graphique can.

Maybe if I changed my name to Ivor Karabatko-wee-wee-ic. No?

I was going to come up with a simple design to maybe get the ball moving, but nah, I'm from Lakewood. I'm already disqualified. Plus, no one asked me to do so.

And I'm sure that French Baguette has a team of eager designers working to make the design look like it came out of a Lakewood mind. You know, Authentic. Like an American Ford assembled in China.

On that note, does anyone remember the thread about the free calendars that everyone in Lakewood gets? A few years back, maybe 2007, there was a series of photographs of pooping seagulls looking over the downtown Cleveland skyline. The guy wasn't even from Lakewood, had nothing to do with Lakewood, and still ended up on a Lakewood calendar.

That idea was quickly scolded on the Deck.

Did anyone see their calendar yet? I just took a look at it last week, and man, talk about progress.

Work done by Lakewood students!

No way!

Happy residents?

Shocking!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Maybe it can be applied in this situation.
FWIW.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 4:41 pm

Ivor

While I have to admit the calendar improvement with work by Lakewood Students as opposed to pictures of Cleveland is a welcome relief from the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.

However, I am not sure that applies here. For the most part people have been willing to post ideas and suggestions. To me good or bad, at least it is better than hearing it after the process is closed. It gives LakewoodAlive to at least understand some of the thoughts and possibly reevaluate what they are about to do. It would seem that they have asked residents for financial support, as well as ideas in the past, so I would hope they welcome all of this.

At the same time, this is not rocket surgery or brain surgery. It is good to have some laughs along the way. It keeps things lite and fun.

I appreciate that LakewoodAlive or more to the point Mary Ann Crampton posted and asked for suggestions. I really believe that most tried to give reasonable ideas and thoughts. I for one will be glad to see the funeral train go, for a much more useable logo, but with the change comes many questions as well.

Does this mean we have dropped out of the Mainstreet Program? Was this another failure? and why? Many had said from day one the program had no merit in Lakewood, how much was spent?

Today I spoke with four businesses all in what I would call the downtown footprint. All are weeks away from closing their doors. If they close, where does this leave "downtown"?

I appreciate everything the people on the sign committee did, giving their time night after night for a "downtown" sign is commendable. I do hope they are not offended by the response, the ideas, and the movement.

Ivor, you would look great in a beret, er freedom hat.

.

Mary Anne Crampton · Post by **Mary Anne Crampton** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:55 am

Thanks for all the input. It will all be taken into consideration as we move forward on this exciting project.

Updates will be posted on the LakewoodAlive website:http://www.lakewoodalive.com I just uploaded the poster boards that were part of the Public Meeting on October 2 (sometimes it takes awhile for them to show up on the site).

Re: Studio Graphique http://www.designwithdirection.com (which is not working for free!)
A northeastern Ohio jewel, and the winner of numerous prestigious awards, Studio Graphique is uniquely qualified to carry out the project. We are delighted to be able to retain their services. Please take a look at their website and note the breadth and depth of their work. Studio Graphique's Marketing Director is a Lakewood resident, the fabulous Allison Copeland Levine. Lucky us!

Re: Funding
Below is the news release published in the September 18 issue of LO.

MAIN STREET LAKEWOOD RECEIVES GRANT
FOR SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING DESIGN

Main Street Lakewood has been awarded a $23,175 grant by Heritage Ohio for a comprehensive signage and wayfinding design package for the downtown district. This project is an outgrowth of the much larger community-based Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan funded by a $75,000 grant award from NOACA completed in December of 2007.

Main Street Lakewood, a program of Lakewood Community Progress Inc (LCPI) whose mission is to revitalize downtown Lakewood, is working collaboratively with the City of Lakewood, which will match the Heritage Ohio grant award over an 18-month period.

â€œWe congratulate LCPI in securing the initial funding for design solutions to downtown Lakewoodâ€™s signage, wayfinding and place-making needs,â€

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:03 am

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:36 pm

When LCPI picked Studio Graphique did they run an RFP or get open bids for this job?

And it looks like what your saying is that the $75,000.00 was for the signs and wayfaring project. And now you need money for the sigsn.

And that Studio Graphique did not donate, but charged, but hey it's business, I understand that, but where did the $75,000.00 go?

Is their a budget and an annuarl report for this non-profit? Which in itself is confusing when there are three names referenced.

Let me see if I have the players straight -

Lakewood Alive is
LCPI which is
MainStreet

NOACA, which is a regional organization provided the $75,000.00 for the project under what grant program?

The $75,000.00 grant was for the the signage and wayfaring and now there is money needed for the signs.

To much clutter here. Tell me if I have it right or have it wrong please?

Also, what is the relationaship between the Chamber of Commerce and Lakewood Alive?

Am I the only one who doesn't understand this?

Can we get a wayfaring grant for getting down to the nitty gritty here?

Mary Anne Crampton · Post by **Mary Anne Crampton** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:27 pm

#1. Main Street Lakewood has been awarded a $23,175 grant by Heritage Ohio for a comprehensive signage and wayfinding design package for the downtown district.

#2. The much larger community-based Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan funded by a $75,000 grant award from NOACA was completed in December of 2007. http://mainstreetlakewood.org/projects.html

#3. We were referred to Studio Graphique by two other full-service design firms. We knew their work. We picked Studio Graphique. We negotiated with SG to get fees/services to fit the grant award. Please go to http://www.lakewoodalive.com for more on Studio Graphique:Lakewood Connection.

Lakewood Alive was LCPI. Scroll down this page for details. http://www.lakewoodalive.com/news/archive/2008_10_01_archive.html
LakewoodAlive is using the volunteer-based National Main Street Program to revitalize downtown Lakewood: http://www.mainstreet.org/content.aspx?page=3&section=2

The 2007 LCPI Annual Report can is located at the bottom of this page:
http://mainstreetlakewood.org/

A 2008 LakewoodAlive Annual Report will be available in early February. It will be posted on our website, along with other updates on this project and other activities.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:26 pm

I got a very strange error message when I attempted to use the address for the 2008 Annual Report.

Stephen Eisel · Post by **Stephen Eisel** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:07 pm

Jim Oâ€™Bryan wrote:
Another possibility of interesting signage for Lakewood's Gateway. This plays off the "Paris of Cleveland's Inner Ring Suburbs" theme that is catching on quickly around the county.

hmmmm

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:39 pm

Mary Anne Crampton wrote:#1. Main Street Lakewood has been awarded a $23,175 grant by Heritage Ohio for a comprehensive signage and wayfinding design package for the downtown district.

#2. The much larger community-based Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan funded by a $75,000 grant award from NOACA was completed in December of 2007.http://mainstreetlakewood.org/projects.html

#3. We were referred to Studio Graphique by two other full-service design firms. We knew their work. We picked Studio Graphique. We negotiated with SG to get fees/services to fit the grant award. Please go to http://www.lakewoodalive.com for more on Studio Graphique:Lakewood Connection.

Lakewood Alive was LCPI. Scroll down this page for details. http://www.lakewoodalive.com/news/archive/2008_10_01_archive.html
LakewoodAlive is using the volunteer-based National Main Street Program to revitalize downtown Lakewood: http://www.mainstreet.org/content.aspx?page=3&section=2

The 2007 LCPI Annual Report can is located at the bottom of this page:
http://mainstreetlakewood.org/

A 2008 LakewoodAlive Annual Report will be available in early February. It will be posted on our website, along with other updates on this project and other activities.

Mary Anne,

Thank you for your informative post.

Steve

.