Meadow Blog

When to Follow Brand Guidelines (and When Not to)

When to Follow Brand Guidelines (and When Not to)

To follow the brand guidelines or not to follow, that is the question. Brand guidelines can give graphic designers a solid starting point and sometimes even inspiration. Other times they are not well thought out, can be unnecessarily limiting, and can hamstring an innovative design.

Pouncing on the Art of Billboard Advertising

Pouncing on the Art of Billboard Advertising

In an era when hand-painted billboard advertisements reigned supreme, billboard artists laid out their work using a pattern transfer technique called “pouncing.”  Pounce patterns were well-known to Renaissance artists like Michelangelo. Sign painters, muralists, fine artists, embroiderers, and quilters still use this method in their work today.

Enchanted Outdoor Advertising

Enchanted Outdoor Advertising

Nestled in the lush forests near Salem, Oregon, the Enchanted Forest Theme Park is a whimsical destination that has delighted visitors since 1971. Designed by Roger Tofte and voted Newsweek's Best Family-Owned Amusement Park in 2024, this roadside venue offers a unique blend of fairy tale charm, thrilling rides, and engaging attractions that make it a must-visit for families and adventure seekers alike.

Wizard of Ads – Who is your Customer?

Wizard of Ads – Who is your Customer?

Finding your target customer is crucial in every area of marketing. For example, when your billboard advertisement does not reach your target market it will not be successful. Roy H. Williams in his book Wizard of Ads’, on page 25 questions this piece of industry wisdom.

The Hand-Painted Legacy of Billboard Advertising

The Hand-Painted Legacy of Billboard Advertising

Before the age of AI design and the room-sized large-format printers that produce printed vinyl wraps used in outdoor advertising today, specialized artists hand-painted billboard ads one at a time. This art form required high skill and creativity, as artists had to paint large advertisements directly onto transportable panels, billboard structures, or walls. Meadow Outdoor Advertising hand-painted many of its designs into the early twenty-first century.

Giving Advertising to Support the Local Community

Giving Advertising to Support the Local Community

At Meadow Outdoor we believe that we are part of a community and have a responsibility to give back when we can. The most common way Meadow contributes to the local community is through what we call gratis advertising. This free advertising is for non-profits, charities, or local events that encourage relationships, and commerce in our area. Meadow has been providing lots of gratis advertising this summer, let’s take a look at what’s been going on in the community!

How to not let your Billboard Blend into its Surroundings

How to not let your Billboard Blend into its Surroundings

Billboards need high contrast to make an impact. The images need to contrast, and the copy needs to contrast with its background. But also, the entire billboard needs to contrast with its surroundings. Billboards have physical locations that are each unique, and to make the best impression, the billboard will need to contrast with its environment. So how as billboard artists do we ensure that happens?

Top 10 Best Creative from Meadow in Q2 of 2024

Top 10 Best Creative from Meadow in Q2 of 2024

Meadow produces a lot of great billboard artwork every quarter and our clients send us lots of great stuff too. We wanted to give a special shoutout to the outstanding pieces that deserve a little extra attention!

4 Features that will make your Billboard Design look Amateur

4 Features that will make your Billboard Design look Amateur

Anyone can make billboard artwork, but not everyone can make good billboard artwork. The principles of billboard design are simple but there are many of them. Here are 4 tips that will help your billboard artwork look less like an amateur’s work and more like a professional’s.

Illuminating One Billboard Advertisement at a Time

Illuminating One Billboard Advertisement at a Time

To illuminate something is to bring it into clarity or visibility, Meadow literally illuminates hundreds of our client’s messages every day. Like most billboard companies, Meadow illuminates our billboards to continue capturing people’s attention after the sun goes down on the commute home or on late night road trips.