Step-by-step: Making a sandblasted redwood sign

Early last year, an existing client of mine contacted me about upgrading the main ID sign for their apartment complex. They wanted a sandblasted sign near the entry and asked me to come up with a proposal.

The first task was to survey the site. I needed to determine the best location for the new sign and take a look at the logistics of removing the old. I also took some photos of the building for the design process. I was looking for some architectural elements, if any, that I could tie my sign design to.

As it turned out the building was very boring architecturally-speaking. There was no obvious design element I could find. I decided a wood sign with a dark brown theme would tie into the trim on the apartment balconies. It was the best I could do in this case.