Bell Gardens, CA – February 2007. The City of Bell Gardens is dressing up its entries and calling attention to its amenities creating an appealing environment for residents and visitors with a dramatic new program of public signs including city entry monuments, wayfinding and directional signs, district entry gateways, and facility identification signs.

The unique brand developed by Graphic Solutions suggests both a floral bouquet and a Spanish fan which are representative of the City’s history and culture. The brand is incorporated into sign designs, which feature a strong color palette and sustainable materials for durability and easy maintenance.

The City’s Community Development and Planning staff coordinated with Graphic Solutions for design and Fluoresco for fabrication.

Graphic Solutions is an award-winning environmental graphics firm founded in 1970; specializing in branding, gateways, and wayfinding programs for cities and downtowns.

Santa Ana, CA – October 2007. The City of Santa Ana recently dedicated its newly reconstructed historic entry arch as a tribute to the City’s importance in the development of Southern California. The whole effect is classic – color palette, truss, design, support columns – recreating a historic sign which until the 1950’s greeted visitors driving along Southern California’s primary north-south motorway.

The metal truss spans nearly ninety feet, and is anchored on both ends at sidewalks with custom designed columns with historic light fixtures. The sign cabinet features open channel neon letters for clear legibility surrounded by a border highlighted by recessed neon.

Graphic Solutions worked with city staff and community members to develop the design and prepared construction documents so fabrication and installation could be competitively bid.

Graphic Solutions is a full-service graphic design firm specializing in sign planning and design, development of identity programs and preparation of construction documents.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA NOVEMBER 2005 – The Hotel Occidental, a restoration of a 1923 mission architecture building, celebrates its grand opening today at 410 Elm St. The 54 room European style hotel is part of a new wave of urban hotels which can also be found in New York and Chicago, and is expected to appeal to economy-minded business travelers and visitors.

The Hotel Occidental's cozy rooms are designed for short and long term guests with in-suite kitchenettes and convenience to the attractions of downtown. Rooms feature high ceilings, tall windows, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, wireless internet, cable TV, and DVD player. Rates are affordable with rooms starting at $49 a night. More information is available at www.hoteloccidental-sandiego.com or (800) 205-9897.

Developers are Ruben Andrews and Simon Andrews. Construction financing was through Security Business Bank, TSA Contracting Inc. provided the general contracting, and the architecture was handled by James Schmidt Architecture. Fabrication Arts was responsible for sign fabricating.

The Andrews also operate the Hotel Mediterranean in San Diego's East Village.

TEHACHAPI, CALIFORNIA, JULY 2005 - Graphic Solutions, a full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and wayfinding, has completed planning and design of new identity and comprehensive sign program for Historic Downtown Tehachapi. The bold, new iconography is inspired by the city's famous "Tehachapi Loop", a marvel of engineering allowing freight trains to make the steep grade transition between California's central valley and the high desert.

The Main Street Committee, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and local train historians worked with Graphic Solutions to ensure historical accuracy, including the Santa Fe Railway's "Black Widow" locomotive. Sign poles, bases and finials were inspired by old railroad signals and hardware. "Graphic Solutions successfully met the challenge of communicating a new brand for our downtown that is not only crisp, contemporary and welcoming, but historically accurate at the same time", stated David James, Community Development Director.

A focal point is the Railroad Park water tower displaying the new brand. Other applications include gateway monuments, wayfinding signage, and a pedestrian-oriented map listing public as well as private destinations. Materials were chosen for a combination of visibility, durability and flexibility; and include porcelain enamel and automotive paint finishes to ensure long color life and reflective vinyl for high impact graphics that can be modified economically.

Graphic Solutions worked in close coordination with city staff including Marcia Smith and Greg Garrett, and the Tehachapi Main Street Association including manager Ron James.

Other Graphic Solutions' branding and wayfinding projects include Anaheim, Chula Vista, Half Moon Bay, Laguna Niguel, Oceanside and Carson, CA; Scottsdale, AZ, Grapevine, TX, and Henderson, NV.

SAN MARCOS, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 2004 - Graphic Solutions has completed the design of interior and exterior signage and donor recognition for the new 200,000 square foot Kellogg Library at California State University at San Marcos. Design themes reflect the library's unique architectural forms and subtle palette of interior colors. Solutions include typographic characters on digital output, formed acrylic frames, and stylized brackets. A prominent "Torch of Knowledge" interpretive sculpture with crystalline "flames" of cast acrylic and stainless steel recognizes the library's major donors.

Graphic Solutions coordinated its efforts with Library staff and Diane Malone AIA, Associate Director/Campus Architect, Planning, Design and Construction. "We were particularly impressed with Graphic Solutions' creativity and ability to work with our staff and committee in designing an attractive, functional, economical, and flexible program", stated Diane Malone.

Other Graphic Solutions' donor recognition and signage projects include Polinsky Children's Center, the San Diego Padres new PETCO Park, and the Congregation Beth Israel Campus.

CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 2003 - Graphic Solutions, a full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and wayfinding for both private and public projects, has completed design and construction administration for a new overhead "gateway" sign for Chula Vista's Third Avenue, the City's original commercial main street. Chula Vista Mayor Stephen Padilla throws the switch to officially light up the sign at the Dedication Ceremony and Street Party September 5th.

Graphic Solutions' brand for the downtown district will be used in both print and electronic marketing applications, as well as the new landmark sign, which incorporates gold-leaf finishes and glowing illumination.

"Our historic-looking 'brand' will really help create a sense of place," reported Jack Blakely, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association. "It fits in nicely with our existing streetlights and other furnishing. This sign has strong presence - both day and night!"

Graphic Solutions worked in close coordination with the City's Community Development staff including project manager Xavier Del Valle.

Other Graphic Solutions' branding and wayfinding projects include Anaheim, Half Moon Bay, Laguna Niguel, Oceanside and Carson, CA; Scottsdale, AZ, Grapevine, TX, and Henderson, NV.

Phoenix, Arizona, JULY 2003 - Graphic Solutions, a full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and wayfinding for both private and public projects, has completed design of tenant retail signs for Vestar's award-winning new DESERT RIDGE MARKETPLACE, dramatically enhancing the center's unique sense of place.

"Graphic Solutions' creative signage treatments - adding graphic elements, dimensionality and special lighting effects - better express our tenants' personalities and create an exciting, memorable experience for visitors to the restaurants, clubs, cinemas and specialty shops in the 'Lifestyle & Entertainment District,' which is at the heart of Desert Ridge Marketplace," stated Nick Roe, Vestar's tenant coordinator.

Graphic Solutions provided concept design through construction documents and construction administration, and coordinated its work with SGPA Architecture & Planning of San Diego.

Other projects to enhance retail environments and tenant identity include Tustin Market Place, Anaheim Plaza, Del Mar Highlands Town Center, Ocean Ranch (Laguna Niguel) and Uptown District (San Diego).

DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 2003 - Graphic Solutions, a full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and wayfinding for both private and public projects, has completed concept designs and construction documents for new directional, rules and parking facility signs for downtown Downey, CA.

Solutions include bold, classic typestyles and colors, which relate to the City's established themes, distinctive shapes to catch the eye and visual symbols to reinforce the messages. Materials were selected with consideration for initial cost, as well as long term maintenance and replicability.

Graphic Solutions worked in close coordination with the City's Business Development Manager, William Davis, who remarked on the signs' "functionality and beauty."

Other Graphic Solutions' branding and wayfinding projects include Anaheim, Chula Vista, Half Moon Bay, Laguna Niguel, Oceanside and Carson, CA; Scottsdale, AZ, Grapevine, TX, and Henderson, NV.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER 2001 - Graphic Solutions, a full-service graphic design firm specializing in branding and wayfinding for both private and public .projects, has completed design of a comprehensive signage and graphics program for the recently dedicated Congregation Beth Israel on Towne Center Drive.

"Graphic Solutions developed extensive donor recognition and wayfinding signage to fit into our beautiful new facility," stated Stuart Simmons, the Congregation's Executive Director. Typestyles, materials and bronze colors were all selected to subtly compliment the new campus, which includes a sanctuary, chapel, social hall, school, library, offices, outdoor courtyards and gardens. The whole complex, with its striking domes and block walls, reminds the visitor of an old-world settlement.

Graphic Solutions worked in coordination with project architects Austin Veum Robbins Parshalle and artist Laurie Gross of Santa Barbara. Fabrication and installation were handled by Fabrication Arts.

Other Graphic Solutions donor recognition projects include: the San Diego Padres new PETCO Park, San Diego Rotary, Helen Woodward Animal Center, California State University San Marcos, Polinsky Children's Center and the Old Globe Theatre.