I remember the first pieces I ever worked on that were meant to show in public spaces. Nothing fancy, but because I worked at newspapers, I’ve done a lot of rack cards and similar marketing signage. Along with those came event banners, posters, booths and billboards, even a window display at the old Rhino Records store.
I was initially torn about the billboards. In general I think they’re a blight, but I was also kind of eager to try to work in such a large space. Ego trumps ethics. One of my first billboards, though, was a subversive jab at the medium, I made the whole billboard (pic below) a photo of blue sky and clouds. There was, of course, a giant logo in there (or I would’ve been fired) but most of the 20’x80′ area was blue sky.
Many years later we have done a fair number of environmental graphics, many for overseas political campaigns. I still don’t think of us as experts, but we try to bring our best effort to these projects always. —Bill