Nowality at times finds itself commenting on pieces of graphic design that exist in the community far from the design commentary and creative halls of fame.

In a pocket of Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs, along a mostly residential road, are two samples of commercial vernacular signing. What is curious about these two samples, is the close proximity of a signing outcome that references hip hop culture, to a sample signing that has just stepped of the late 1970s.

JZ Lee is believe it or not, a plastering and rendering company. The sign is unremarkable in manufacture, yet the contemporary hip hop reference is memorable. This is one of the first samples that we have seen of branding that brings into play hip hop typography into a ordinary and commercial context. There are plenty of youth brands, magazines, band graphics, fashion graphics with hip hop type, but hip hop type for a plaster rendering company?, what the? Could one image a company like Boral or James Hardie with a hip hop inspired brand?

A dry cleaning company called Shield has a look akin with contemporary design cues. What makes this sample of signing stand out is its manufacturing. It represents a time in signmaking where quality and skill was foremost. There are no traces of a vinyl cutter and adhesive lettering to be seen here. Hand sign writing; finely made yet awkwardly stacked light boxes; combined with the overall layout and placement, makes for a truly unique and charming sample of graphic design in the middle of no where.

We have a feeling that Shield may be modernised in the not so distant future. Till then we will write a letter to the owners, urging them to restort rather refresh. In the time in between, one will ride past this work as much as possible. And quite possibly, a future piece of our work may incorporate stacked light boxes, sign writing and bold restrained graphic treatment inspired by its memory.