Exploring the Jiangbei District Warning Sign Factory, the safety protection and urban temperature behind a sign

I passed by Jiangbeizui a few days ago and saw a very conspicuous construction warning sign erected on the construction site, with black characters on a yellow background and light reflecting on the edges. I stopped and took a second look, and suddenly I thought about it.: These various warning signs in the streets and alleys of Jiangbei District - "Beware of Slippery Ground", "High Voltage Danger", "Construction Detour" - where do they come from? Who designed it? How was it made? I couldn't hold back this thought, so I spent some time wandering around Jiangbei District and inquired about several local manufacturers of warning signs. I found that this seemingly inconspicuous business has many tricks in it. It is more like a window that can glimpse a very real side of the operation of our city.

When it comes to sign manufacturers, many people may immediately think of big factories with roaring machines. In fact, in Jiangbei, there are many good manufacturers, but the scale is not necessarily large. Some are hidden in the creative park near Guanyin Bridge, or in the industrial park around Tieshanping. They may not have a very loud brand, but they have close connections with local properties, streets, and construction units. A boss Li I contacted, the factory has been operating for almost ten years, and he said that their business “What you eat is local food, and what you earn is safe money.” , what does it mean? Jiangbei District has many slopes, with business districts, residences, and construction sites intertwined. Each place has different needs for warning signs. For example, along Beibin Road, there are many people walking at night and the lights are relatively dim. The "Beware of the Riverside" warning signs there have particularly high requirements for reflective materials, and the characters must be large and eye-catching. For example, near Huanyu Tianxia, where office buildings are concentrated For indoor "fire exit" signage, more emphasis is placed on the beauty and durability of the material, which must match the decoration style. Local manufacturers are rooted here, and they know the needs for these details and respond quickly. With just one phone call, they may be able to go to the site to check the situation and measure the size in the afternoon. This kind of flexibility and thoughtfulness may not be matched by big brands.

Let’s talk about design, it’s not just as simple as “writing a few words”. A good warning sign must be noticed at the first glance, understood at the second glance, and preferably remembered at the third glance. This involves color psychology, graphic semiotics, and even a little bit of behavioral design. Why are most danger warnings in yellow and black? Because these two colors have the strongest contrast, the greatest visual impact, and can grab attention instantly, some thoughtful manufacturers in Jiangbei District have begun to cooperate with local designers. They are no longer satisfied with just printing the patterns stipulated in the national standard, but adding some more humane considerations on the premise of compliance. I I have seen a set of anti-slip warning signs designed for an old community. Instead of using the common and somewhat blunt "slip" icon, I designed a more cartoonish image of a little man walking cautiously, with the sentence "The steps are slippery, please slow down" next to it. The font is also rounder. The person from the manufacturer told me, “Placed in a community with many elderly people, this kind of sign is not so 'scary', but the effect of reminder is not bad at all, making people more willing to look at it. ”  You see, a brand has begun to have a "user mindset" and pay attention to "user experience".

Production is a real effort, and the materials are now diverse.: Aluminum plates, stainless steel, acrylic, PVC, and various composite metal materials. Which one to choose depends on whether it is used indoors or outdoors, whether it is used temporarily or for a long time. Jiangbei is hot in summer and wet in winter. The corrosion resistance and UV resistance of outdoor brands are particularly critical. I visited the spraying workshop of a factory. The master worker was priming a batch of "speed limit" signs. He told me that the thickness and uniformity of the paint film are directly related to how many years the brand can be used. “Don't underestimate this layer of paint. It will be exposed to wind, sun and rain. The brand we made for Jiangbei Municipal Government is a thickening process, which is more expensive, but it gives you peace of mind. ”  Welding, grinding, silk screen printing, painting, assembly... every process must be done without slacking off. Many brands now also have built-in LED lights, or use more advanced light-storing reflective materials to ensure that they can also function at night and in bad weather. The integration of these technologies requires manufacturers to have the ability to continuously learn.

Speaking of which, the warning sign is a "silent guardian". It stands there and does not speak, but it conveys information and avoids risks all the time. These manufacturers in Jiangbei District produce exactly such "urban safety parts". Their work may not be so glamorous, but in fact, when I chatted with a master, his words impressed me deeply.: “The brand we make is successful if no one gets into trouble because of the dangers written on it. ”  This is probably the simplest value in this industry.

Next time you see a warning sign on the streets of Jiangbei District, you might as well take a second look. The clear text, eye-catching colors, and solid workmanship on it are likely to come from an inconspicuous but serious factory in the district. It is not only a reminder of the rules, but also a local, carrying... Temperature's safety commitment, from design to production, to finally standing beside you and me, this whole process is connected with local industry, people's ingenuity, and the most basic care for everyone in this city. Thinking about it this way, these silent brands seem to have a bit more vivid flavor.