Radiant Vinyl Graphics for The Lighthouse

Vinyl Graphics

Challenge

The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture, is a visitor centre and exhibition space situated in the heart of Glasgow. This venue was the first public commission completed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and now acts as a beacon for the creative industries in Scotland.

Glasgow City Council commissioned a new exhibition called ‘Radiance Reflected’, and as this exhibition celebrated the use of light within the city, they wanted as many elements of the exhibition to reflect this theme.

Having worked together on exhibitions previously, and knowing the space well, Hobs suggested different display items that would give different lighting effects, to compliment wall vinyls and printed display panels.

Key Challenges

  • Textured walls required board panels to apply vinyl graphics
  • Extremely accurate set-up of artwork, and colour consistency across the different printed materials was required
  • Continuity throughout the exhibition was crucial

Solution

The spaces were measured carefully, before the designs were created by the Council’s Design Team and the exhibition curators.  The windows and some walls were flat so vinyl graphics could be applied directly, but other walls were textured so would require board panels.

The first lighting effect transformed the buildings windows into display areas.  Different lighting effects were achieved by printing some elements onto frosted (semi-transparent) vinyl and others onto solid vinyl.

Hobs then created several ‘LED light pocket’ displays, again using the light theme.  Firstly back-lit pieces of film were printed and placed either side of a grid of LED lights, held inside an acrylic pocket.  Solid units were then designed and made in-house from black PVC, and the pockets were suspended in openings using metal wires, which also provided the power to the LED lights.  These portable light box units could be placed in almost any location and the images could also be changed for future use.

The Result

The exhibition was a great success receiving very positive feedback from all the visitors.

“We were quite daunted at the scale of the task in hand for this exhibition, but working with Hobs has helped us to realise the exhibition and turn it into reality.  I would recommend this service to any design practice as an integral part of the design process, Hobs are that good!
The application of the vinyl graphics was superb and accurate, and the installation of the light boxes was first class. The accompanying printed materials all went towards making a stunning exhibition.”

For examples of some of our display graphics projects follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/hobsrepro