Impacts of Signboards on Environment

A visitor to Jordan, mainly to the capital Amman, who travels in the main and sub streets of that city, will take a close look at the huge amount of signboards. They may draw his/her attention for quite reasons as their design, which reflects the professionalism of the designer, or their location on the buildings, or their size and the material used in their manufacturing. All these are important factors that would determine the quality of the sign, its design and implementation, the way people perceive the signs, and more, it will determine the relation among man, architecture and environment. The signs has an important role in advertising different type of buildings , such corporate, administrative, financial and retail.
In spite of that Sign target is to communicate a message, so clarification of the use of language is important, as it allows all the people involved in the process to understand each other, and understand or feel their signs sre effective and achieves its aims and considered to be an assert to the building.

The sign aspect related to the environmental graphic design, which is in-tended to plan, design and seek a specific sign system as well other forms of visual communication in the built and natural environment.
In Jordan, I have noticed that the graphic and interior designers as well the architect, who have their own areas of expertise, are not instructed on the specific skills necessary to design a sign. To the majority of the designers in Jordan, designing seems to be deceptively simple, whereas in fact it is usually a complex design matter requiring distinct and innovative skills. Their design process is an appropriate design process in such case should be fed by the designer visual communication skills and knowledge of the relation between the sign and architecture and the environment.


How will the environmental graphic design in Jordan serve the urban environment?
Environmental Graphic Design in Jordan should serve three basic functions: To assist users in negotiating through space by identifying, directing and reflecting the environment visually and protect the safety of the public.
In creating graphic elements for a building or a site, environmental graphic designers analyze the architectural, cultural and aesthetic factors in order to meet the needs of the given society.
It is important for the environmental graphic designers to be professional and qualified by their skills, education and experience. The other fact is that environmental graphic designers will not be able to do their work in an excellent way in the absence of special rules that will manage and organize all sign system in the city. Some sorts of regulations are issued by municipalities, other responsible authorities, and agencies of the executive branch of government. These rules will help preserve environment elements and the most important issues of architecture, culture and aesthetics.
The environmental graphic designers in Jordan need to work with awareness that they design to achieve the standards of visu

al amenity varies in different parts of the city, and is generally defined by the range and nature of land use. In areas where the visual amenity is more diverse, such as commercial or industrial areas, the potential adverse effect of signs is limited by the existing mix of visual amenity. Because of the range in needs and the visual sensitivity of different parts of the city, both rural and urban, consideration needs to be given to different standards for signage in different areas.


The evolution of signage industry in Jordan

Making signs has a long history in Jordan (We can say that evolution of the sign industry is not determined yet) but, we suppose that it goes back to the 1920s of the last century. Since then it started to develop rapidly with increasing development of the economic life in Jordan.

Scholars of the history of signage in Jordan will realize that this industry was characterized with great deal of variation in the raw materials used in making signboards which included metal, leather, clothe, paper, and florescent lighting, and all determined by the function intended for the signboard and the location. But, what clearly characterize this industry in Jordan is that its pioneers were basically calligraphers who studied the Arabic calligraphy, its rules, types, and how to write them, and some of these calligraphers where mainly specialized in the Latin letters. All these pioneers have integrated their knowledge in both the raw materials and the Arabic calligraphy and employed it in the production of signboards. Sometimes, signboards were executed at the location intended for it, i.e. doors, gates, stone, wood, or metal facades. The calligrapher's main role is to produce the most convenient form, by using limited number of colors which are usually determined by the surface to be used.

Signs Industry in Jordan has developed rapidly, in relation with the marketing and advertising development, consequently their materials and techniques have developed as well, a matter which made those calligraphers to utilize the Air Brush technique, and Stencil System to engrave the letters over the surfaces, and to produce the necessary masks to give maximum professionalism at the end. Using Metal (especially, aluminum and copper) as a 3-D material, has flourished at the end of the seventies and beginning of eighties. Before that plastic was used as a surface for painting and designing.

However, the Artists with great knowledge in the rules of calligraphy and its aesthetics were dominating the industry of signage. Few of them were well known, as trademarks, as Sabanikh, Kayal, kattan, Abed Jokhi, Yassen, Hamdi, and others.

But with the emergence of computer in this industry, this has tremendously increased the production and the number of people working in this field as well. But, computer has underscored the role of professional calligraphers, and paved the way for the entrance of professionals who contributed to a large extent to being the developments in signage into Jordan and employed high techniques and potentialities to produce the best of signage. And still they are trying their best to cope with the world Systems of advertising.


How signs are perceived in Jordan?

With development of the economic climate and emergence of the proper marketing tools amongst agents of world trademarks and the versatile products, this industry has witnessed a huge development and become very competitive. It became one of the most important advertising medias in Jordan, as we witness a big amount of signs everywhere especially in Amman the capital of Jordan. Amman now can only be described as a "Jungle" of signboards, the good and bad ones, as concerning designs, locations and shapes. Thus, it becomes necessary to control or put add some discipline to this jungle to protect and maintain the Architectural identity of Amman.

Scholars of these signboards may realize these important pointes which need a thorough examination:

- Abuse of the architectural Identity or character.
- Abuse of the principles and elements of design.
- Abuse of the surrounding environment.
- Visual pollution.

All these elements make us meditate for a long time to find the proper solutions for such negative phenomena. To simplify this attempt, samples have been taken from different geographical area in Amman as a case study for thorough examination and afterwards to suggest the proper solution for each case. By means of employment of number of practical applications, in which some outcomes will be realized, and will be developed into laws to regulate the correlation among partners working in this industry, i.e.:

1- The Architectural Engineer
2- The Graphic Designer
3- Municipalities
4- Signs Industry
5- Owner of the building or the architectural facility.


All partners are correlated together in this system, but each one's role can be identified by exploring certain work machineries which hopefully will be the tool to put an end to such flagrant assaults of this chaotic spread of signboards in the streets, buildings, and commercial facades In Amman. However, the following considerations should be taken into account;

- Man
- Architectural form and character
- Surrounding environment
- The design (Principles & elements)


Suggested Applications:

This mission require to work with awareness that design will achieve the standards of visual amenity varies in different parts of the city Amman, and is generally defined by the range and nature of land use. In areas where the visual amenity is more diverse, such as commercial or industrial areas, the potential adverse effect of signs is limited by the existing mix of visual amenity. Because of the range in needs and the visual sensitivity of different parts of the city, both rural and urban, consideration needs to be given to different standards for signage in different areas.

Graphic Designer: Torn between his Fears and Creativity!

The kind of fear which I shall tackle in this article is an every day feeling or phenomenon. Fear is a totally human reaction and feeling disregarding man’s age, looks, nerves, muscles or how bold he/she is. From the psychological point of view, fear is defined as one of the basic senses or emotions that man feels. However, it may accompany anger, pleasure, grieve, or sadness. Generally speaking, fear is associated with those emotions emanating from real tangible or intangible dangers. But, it stands in the opposite side with concern or yearning, which are normally resulting from a surprise, threat, danger of whatsoever.

Fear may appear when a man is exposed to an embarrassing or humiliating situation, or when watching others undergoing such fear themselves, or when receiving some horrific news. Frequency or long exposure to fear may lead a man to a state of lack of balance, especially when a man resists his fatigue, emotional setbacks, agitation, the organic changes he is undergoing resulting from the nervous apparatus, like increased rate of adrenaline, abnormal cardiac beats, which are all accompanied by excessive sweating, dry mouth and other symptoms. But, this is not the case at all. The case is, how can the graphic designer face this fear ? How can her control such fear in a positive way? How can he succeed to make use of his fears in a creative way?

This phenomenon is widely known among graphic designers regardless of their professionalism, but it hits it utmost levels among graphic design students. However, it takes a special form when it is brought to the work with all its problems. It stems from two main sources: Insufficiency of the student, and the expanding gap between what he has learned and the market demands. The other case is the inconsistency between the student and his co-workers, i.e. lack of a language of communication between the two. Insufficient knowledge of the task of the graphic designer, would also create an awkward situation to the designer himself and would lead him to frustration and tension.

Like other creative men, a graphic designer needs to live a unique state of creativity by which he can reach the climax by producing a complete work which realizes the long aimed hopes. Living such a state would require him to bring out a design, which is a simple and direct visual means of communication that penetrates deeply into the conception of the receiver.

But, where can this case be ?
How does the concept evolve ?

How can the graphic designer reach to a state of both creativity and invention? Both states mainly rely on the ability of the designer to overcome the state of confusion and uncertainty, which usually starts with the initial steps of concepts evolution. Afterwards, such state would gradually develop and turn to fear. It is quite essential that the designer should overcome his fears by overlooking this state, which the fear might reach.

To overcome this barrier, the designer should have three main things:
1- Self-awareness ,
2- Self-acceptance, and
3- Self-respect.

These conditions and perquisites can help the designer maintain his ideas, and the tools of executing them. On owning such conditions, the designer will be able to utilize and employ his personal potentialities, and be open to creative and artistic ideas and experiences. They would enable him to explore the truth, and to be responsible in his feelings, behaviors and practices. These main aspects would form an ideal setting to encourage the designer to work either alone or within a team, with a positive effect and outcomes which will guide him towards creativity.

However, creativity, or lets say “creative thinking”, and problem-solving skills largely depend upon the designer’s ability to organize and classify his information, and extract the important and useful pieces of information. To realize this, he should be acquainted with the required work, his environment, the message he intends to deliver, and the means to execute his ideas. All these would grant him a kind of self-protection and defense to his ideas. He would always be strong to break down his confusion and fear.

I wish this blog will be the mirror of my experience, to show progress. Share thoughts about Design and Art. Show recent activities, work, and creativity. Show possibilities of innovation and creativity as well as social interaction. Wish you all good luck.