 Graphic Arts / Interpretive Design |
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© DogTooth Design, 2006 |
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 What does DogTooth Design do? DogTooth Design specializes in creating interpretive signs, like those found on nature trails, at wayside rests, or in educational exhibits. All facets of a project can be managed by DogTooth Design—conceptualization, research, writing, illustration, photography, layout, and installation planning. Other areas of expertise include nature illustration, publication layout, copy writing and web design. Who is behind DogTooth Design? DogTooth Design is the graphic arts service headed by me, Steve Adams. I am based in Saint Paul, MN, where I've worked in the design field for over 10 years. My educational background is in Studio Arts and Art History, in which I received a BA degree from the University of Minnesota. This has been augmented with continued study of graphic design, conservation ecology and gardening. Memberships include the National Association for Interpretation and the Graphic Artists Guild. For whom have you done work? Among others, major clients include the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. References are available upon request. Do you manufacture signs? No, signs are not fabricated by DogTooth Design. As a graphic arts service, DogTooth Design creates complete, finished artwork, and then works closely with manufacturers to produce top-quality signage. The expertise gained from over ten years of working with various printers and fabricators ensures that the final product will meet all expectations. What type of sign do you recommend for an outdoor installation? When choosing a sign type, the following factors should be considered: budget, location, and permanence. For longer-term installations (10+ years), popular choices include "high-pressure laminates" (HPL) and "fiberglass embedded graphics"; for short-term installations (one month to two years), printed-vinyl "Scotchprints" work well. These sign types produce full-color images with good results, and are very resistant to UV damage for the aforementioned terms. They are relatively economical, with Scotchprints being least expensive, followed by fiberglass signs, and then by HPL signs. For truly permanent installations (25+ years), choices include porcelain-enamel and moulded-bronze signs. Both are very expensive. Porcelain-enamel provides full-color presentation while bronze is most durable. Why the name "dogtooth"? Because it sounds cool. Plus, it is a term associated with design. A dogtooth pattern is sometimes found in architectural elements like crown moulding. The pattern that spans the top of this page is a dogtooth pattern. Furthermore, much of my work revolves around nature/animal subjects: "dogtooth" not only evokes an animal but it is also a type of wildflower. |
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