Creative signage can allow your site to speak for itself

[SPECIALISING IN all things visual across multiple channels, The Creative Place is a large format print and production company situated just 30 minutes outside Central London. Their production facility houses direct-to-media printing up to 3.2m wide, with CNC and hand finishing departments, complemented by a fully-certified installation team.

Within the facility they have an in-house studio, delivering a complete end-to-end solution for all graphics needs. That may be anything from defining a business identity and creating or refreshing a brand, to producing and installing eye-catching hoardings on the latest development to maximise that all-important advertising space.

With over 20 years’ experience in the print and graphics industry, and as a member of the International Sign Association, The Creative Place have extensive knowledge in a variety of sectors, from museums to construction sites, and can guide the client through the process of any signage production – be it site safety or visitor wayfinding – ensuring a seamless delivery from initial site measurement to installation, both indoor and out.

A recent project involved the delivery of a hoarding graphics project within a shopping centre redevelopment. A crew of four from the firm’s installation team worked out of hours across a week to fit the graphics, including some reaching drops of up to eight metres on the first floor using powered access equipment. Visits had to be co-ordinated with the main contractor to avoid impacting on their production schedule, as well as minimising any impact on the general public. The fully trained team are CSCS, IPAF and PASMA certified to carry out full site surveys, complete any necessary RAMS and install graphic signage, providing their own safety barriers and protective equipment as required.

With free reign on the concept, the brief required them to create an engaging visual space to brighten the area during development, with visually interesting hoardings to protect the empty shop fronts. The space is a covered plaza area, so they developed a concept which brought the outside in, with a seasonal twist. Taking the brief a stage further with a creative element can make the difference in the success of a project, as perfectly illustrated in that case. Where hoardings can sometimes be either unimaginative or a simple advertising space, the artwork on the mall hoardings resulted in them being more of an art installation, and a definite talking point in their own right among visitors to the centre.

Project director Paul Davies commented: “A combination of freehand illustration with photographic imagery and bold impactful colours made them truly Instagram worthy, whilst the inclusion of interactive photo opportunity areas brought the backdrops to life. The seamless quality and finish of the installation resulted in no reported attempts of vandalism, which is always a good measurable in the success of hoarding design!”

In contrast, when the company successfully tendered for the graphics element on the rejuvenation of heritage site Caernarfon Castle in Wales, they knew the challenges of working within the prestige historical site required them to draw upon different experience. Having worked within heritage sites many times, including at The Royal Albert Hall, they are always mindful of a sympathetic and responsible approach to installing in a variety of environments. The brief required them to produce and apply dibond information panel graphics in dual languages to just under 200m of hoardings, as well as huge scaffold hanging banners. The castle is undergoing a vast renovation to its visitor experience, and it was important to communicate the project works to the public during the period of closure.

In order to rig the banners the installation team had to scale heights of 22m to fix to the scaffold itself and avoid any damage to the building (pictured left). Mesh PVC was used to allow flexibility and movement with any wind, while remaining resistant to the elements and avoiding any fading of the imagery.

“It was an honour to visit this beautiful castle and be a part of the project,” said project director Mark Church. “As the sun set over the castle it was an awe-inspiring view and there was a huge sense of pride amongst the team after what had been a challenging two-day install.” q • For any graphics and signage projects contact info@creativeplace.co.uk, call 01923 227272 or vist creativeplace.co.uk.