These graphics are out of this world

by all | 4 February 2013 8:30 am

The Space Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes awareness and exploration of outer space, recently decorated the walls of its new, larger headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., with a variety of large-format printed graphics.

“We developed our own designs for the wall graphics,” says Nancy Reed, director of marketing and creative services. “The goal was to recreate images of space, incorporating soft colours, like grays, blues and purples. Also, instead of creating flat wall art, I wanted the murals to pop out. A multidimensional effect creates a more interesting and unique look.”

The foundation commissioned New Vista Image to create and install the graphics on the walls of its first-floor lobby area, four large conference rooms and second-floor offices. Reed asked the company for substrate recommendations, so as to achieve the multidimensional displays within an affordable budget.

In response, New Vista printed the mural images on a self-adhesive 3M vinyl that could stick securely to the walls’ ‘orange peel’ texture. Routed graphics displayed as the dimensional ‘pop-out’ features were printed on vinyl, too, then laminated onto 3A Composites graphic display boards or acrylic panels. Substrate weight was another important consideration during the creation of the larger displays.

“Foam boards were good solutions as substrates,” says Ann Brown, president of New Vista. “They’re durable over time and fit the budget. They allowed us to create layered, affordable graphics.”

In total, New Vista used 30.5 m² (328 sf) of 3A’s 6-mm (0.2-in.) thick black Sintra board, 8.5 m² (91 sf) of 12.7-mm (0.5-in.) thick white Gatorfoam and 5.6 m² (60 sf) of 3-mm (0.1-in.) thick Dibond with a brushed-silver finish for the Space Foundation graphics.

“The graphics look fabulous and have received many compliments,” says Reed. “They’re eye-catching, impactful and memorable. Several people have come here just to look at them!”

The foundation is now raising funds to create at least an additional 1,115 m² (12,000 sf) of exhibit space, including a teaching auditorium and a space technology hall of fame. It is also commissioning more display graphics for its new visitor centre.

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/these-graphics-are-out-of-this-world/

---