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Setting a Benchmark
One of the best things about Sign Industry Awards 2006 was that it highlighted some of the stunning signage projects being carried out by small signmakers up and down the country, such as Signs Express (Glasgow)’s imaginative interior signage for The Saltire Centre. Val Hirst reports
As the hub of learning and student services at Glasgow Caledonian University, the brand new Saltire Centre is one of the most ambitious and innovative educational environments in the UK. In fact, it is anticipated that it will join a select group of similar establishments across the globe, which are setting a new benchmark for design standards. The Saltire Centre’s interior has been themed around the concept of ‘the building as a city’ with clearly delineated districts, borders, landmarks, nodes and paths. Thus, each of its four floors has become a separate entity with its own clear identity and function, which is conveyed both visually, through illustrations and signage and, more unusually, through sound. So whilst the graphics denote a busy city on the ground floor, through ‘airport’ circulation, to country scene, a domestic garden, and a living room, there are ambient market place sounds on the ground floor, dimming to a hallowed ‘hush’ on the fourth floor. However, although each floor is unique, on each there are also references to the other floors. For example, a city scene on the ground floor is replicated in the camera lens on the fourth floor, which helps to ensure that despite the different detailing, the overall impression remains that of a cohesive whole.
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Of course, such imaginative ideas always work wonderfully well when they are still mere drawing board concepts, but in practice it is all too easy for them to turn into a hotch potch of unrelated images. So when husband and wife team, Neil and Carol Fraser, the owners of Signs Express (Glasgow) were asked to provide the sign and graphics element for this interesting new project, they immediately recognised the challenges that lay ahead. Neil and Carol first opened Signs Express (Glasgow) in 1995, swapping their former careers in road transport management and accountancy respectively, for ‘something totally different’ that would help them make better use of Neil’s entrepreneurial skills and Carol’s flair for sales and marketing.
Neil Fraser explains: "We initially collaborated with the design company, Curious Orange, on this project over two years ago, and were really excited by the opportunities it offered. However, although the building was first completed in March 2005, it suffered serious flood damage and the consequent remedial work meant that our involvement didn’t actually start until January of this year. In many ways this was fortunate, because the delays gave us plenty of time to hone and refine the original rather hazy brief into something more considered. It was also an excellent way of celebrating the beginning of our second decade in the sign industry!"
In total, Signs Express produced over 1,000 square metres of digitally printed full colour graphics which spanned all of the Centre’s work and service areas. These were complemented with a series of bespoke slimline lightboxes that were especially designed and manufactured to feature pleasingly rounded edges and engraved text. Tactile panels were bonded on to the bottom section of stairwell lightboxes to satisfy DDA requirements, whilst a side access Perspex panel enables information to be regularly changed and updated as circumstances dictate. Signs Express also produced printed frosted vinyl for use on glass ‘privacy’ screens, fluorescent Perspex floor numbering, bespoke notice boards and even a selection of tree-shaped coat stands!
Neil comments: "Although this was a demanding project in every sense of the word, it was very rewarding to see the original design scheme take shape. The printing formed a big part of the overall workload, but we managed to do all of this in-house using our JV3 Mimaki 160Sp and our trusty Encad NovaJet 850."
Tom Finnigan, Director, Learner Support, Glasgow Caledonian University declares himself delighted with the final result saying: "The quality of the work undertaken by Signs Express was excellent and has greatly enhanced the overall ambience of the building to the enormous benefit of all those using it." And for Signs Express, the benefits have also been far reaching. Neil says: "As well as the satisfaction gained from working on a project which offered us scope to showcase the full scope of our activities, it has also generated a lot of interest both locally and nationally. Other educational establishments and libraries have been so impressed with the outcome that they are applying the concept of theming to their own buildings. And the Saltire Centre has received so much publicity locally that we have gained several new clients as a result."
So much so, in fact, that Signs Express will soon be moving into new custom-built premises in order to further expand its business. When asked if it will be using different colours and graphic effects to denote the different areas within the new building Neil responds: "It’s a great idea, but fortunately we are going to be far too busy to give it a moment’s thought!"
August 2006
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