Posts Tagged :

Signage

Navigating around Signbox’s headquarters

 800 398 Hamish Kilburn
By:
0

Hotel Designs editor Hamish Kilburn popped in to Signbox’s HQ in Surrey, England, to investigate how quality navigating tools are made…

At first, I wasn’t sure whether I was in Signbox’s reception or whether I was in a luxury hotel lobby. Walking through the door, I immediately recognised some of the commercial signs on the walls that I had previously seen in a number of high-end international hotels. It was while sitting in the reception I realised – probably the for the first time if I’m to be honest – just how visual signage in public spaces has to be. What once was a two-dimensional instruction has now transformed into an extension of the interior design of a space itself – not the mention the accuracy in order to comply with the constantly evolving health and safety laws.

I say this because good-quality signs in hotels should not stand out as bulky objects dictating directions. Instead, they should seamlessly blend in to provide a user-friendly and natural navigation through the public spaces and beyond into the guestrooms and suites.

I deliberately targeted my visit to the headquarters of Signbox to be during the middle of their next big project. The brief was to design and produce all the signage for a new luxury five-star hotel in Cyprus. Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol is planned to open next spring inside a 1960s exterior shell. In order to complete a modern look and feel, opening up the hotel was a must for the architects and interior designers. This required quality signs around the enlarged resort. All of a sudden, an opportunity opened itself up for Signbox to design, manufacture and install all the modern signs for the very modern hotel.

Public area signs at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol

Image caption: Public area signs at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol

The first task for the sign experts was to sign off the artwork and designs of a total of 70 external signs and 822 internal signs, just six months after being hired by the client. The inspiration behind the product in this hotel came from the ‘60s, the ‘70s and today. A group of talented graphic designers sit upstairs away from the heavy machinery designing and perfecting fonts (in both English and Greek), styles and icons.

“Signbox designed, manufactured and installed the most iconic sign in the UK.”

Once this was signed off in May, the company began the manufacturing process, which consists of cutting and printing the final designs onto glass signs made of as well as other materials. “Glass, in particular, is becoming a more popular choice for clients for a number of reasons,” explains managing director Mark Bartlett. “Firstly, it’s sustainable, which is a big draw. Glass is also easy to clean and looks modern. Finally, glass actually has the same consistency in thickness from end to end. Other materials, such as acrylic or timber is not as easy to work with during the printing process because its not the same consistency throughout.

Public area signs at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol

Image caption: Public area signs at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol

As well as fitting out large-scale projects like the hotel in Cyprus, Signbox also has an E-shop which sells standardised products such as funky toilet signs.

Black and white factory printing machine

The company doesn’t only work across hotels. In fact, Signbox designed, manufactured and installed the most iconic sign in the UK. The revolving tri-sided New Scotland Yard sign still stands today as one of the company’s biggest challenges. The sign that weighs more than a mini cooper was required to include LED illumination. “This was a challenge because we had to create a system that illuminated whilst revolving,” explains Mark. “We literally had the sign set up in the factory to work out a way around this.”  Another issue came with all the media attention that New Scotland Yard attracts. The sign had to revolve no more or no less than 7.9 rotations per minute. Any faster or slower would distort the TV cameras and create blurring on the TV screen. It also had to be silent.

From my short and sweet visit, Signbox has shown me that signs are an extension of design – and should be carefully considered and relevant to the overall aim of the design.

The project itself is now in full swing, and Hotel Designs will catch up with the team once the hotel has officially rut the ribbon.

Signbox are one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

Signbox shares its tips for architectural hotel signage

 999 573 Daniel Fountain
By:
0

Sponsored by Signbox

The hospitality sector is the place where architectural signage truly comes to life. The impression guests receive when they first arrive at your hotel and step inside can make or break their experience and determine the success of your business. Architectural sign company Signbox lists the top ten architectural sign solutions for the hotel industry.

We’ve spent 30 years conceiving remarkable signage solutions that have inspired, motivated and empowered our clients around the world. We put it down to an innate creative energy that our team embraces every day and channels it into iconic, intelligent sign schemes that bring buildings to life.

Welcome to a world of signs to take your breath away.

 Top 10 architectural sign solutions for the hotel industry:

1. External brand signs

The sky is the limit when it comes to exterior signage – projecting or post-mounted fabricated letter signs, with various finishes to complement your building and brand, high-elevated letters and LED illumination are just a few of options. Go for a bespoke architectural sign that will create a remarkable first impression.

2. External wayfinding

Powerful exterior wayfinding signage will welcome your guests and direct them within unfamiliar surroundings, informing them that they arrived at the correct destination. Signbox’s full range of exterior signage solutions includes directional signs, directory signs, landmark signs and entrance signs and, whether illuminated or otherwise, all are designed to be low maintenance, durable and complement their environment perfectly.

3. Internal reception signs

Upon arrival your guests first interaction is at reception – an inviting lobby where the guests feel welcomed and a reception sign, designed on brand and manufactured to high standards will convince your guests that they will be well looked after.

4. Internal wayfinding

Use wayfinding signs to help your guests find what they need with ease, feeling safe, informed and engaged. From the elegant and easy to install off-the-shelf Signkit collection of signage components to bespoke architectural signs that are designed to inspire and captivate, Signbox pushes the boundaries of sign design and creativity.

5. Meeting room signs

If you have meeting rooms you need appropriate signage to direct multiple users efficiently – take the signage to the next level and use a sign that shows the occupancy status. Signbox has an eye- catching solution for you – Project Lumos can incorporate an RGB switchable LED from red to green or white to signal that a room is ‘engaged’ or ‘vacant’.

6. Manifestation for glazing

Glass manifestation is one of the best solutions for privacy, safety and branded visual impact. It’s mandatory to avoid accidents, but can also be a great way to enhance the environment using CAD cut designs or digitally printed graphics. If you have a meeting room with large windows, make sure they are part-covered to ensure privacy.   

7. Digital wallpaper

Vibrant environmental graphics will exude quality and deliver an amazing guest experience. Digitally printed wallpaper also reveals your style –  luxury, modern and contemporary, traditional or boutique hotel.

8. Hotel room signs

The secret of an effective room identification signage scheme invariably lies in its simplicity. Signbox guestroom signs are manufactured using a wide range of materials, including timber, metals and contemporary glass/acrylic. They are designed to be elegant and beautiful, yet robust, tamper proof and low maintenance. Project Lumos signs are another sought after solution because they are attractive, colourful and visible in low lit corridors.

9. Statutory signs

Statutory signs such as safety, fire safety, hazard and warning signs are fundamental to the safety of your guests and employees. They should be located at strategic points and include prohibition, warning, fire action, mandatory and escape signage elements. Signbox designs and manufactures a range of high quality fire and safety signs that comply with all current regulations.

10. Wall art

There is no rule for all when it comes to wall art. Tell us what you want to display and we will translate your 2D vision into a 3D reality. We’ve spent 30 years conceiving remarkable signage solutions that have inspired, motivated and empowered our clients around the world. We put it down to an innate creative energy that our team embraces every day and channels it into iconic, intelligent sign schemes that bring buildings to life. Welcome to a world of signs to take your breath away.

Contact: 01784 438688, signbox.co.uk

Signbox delivers stunning brass-effect directory for prestigious London office building

 1024 719 Daniel Fountain
By:
0

Signbox has supplied a bespoke tenant directory sign for the reception area at 12 Arthur Street, near London Bridge. Having won the opportunity with contractors Kingly Developments through a competitive tender process in January 2017, the work was completed in mid-June.

The project formed a key part of the extensive reception and lift lobby refurbishment in this prestigious office building which currently lists Prudential and A.M. Best among its tenants.

Signbox manufactured the directory sign in-house on a Tekcel EXR router using 20mm thick acrylic and 6mm thick aluminium. The sign components were finished with a tarnished brass metal effect, a revolutionary process that applies a veneer of a metal coating to the surface and gives the look and feel of solid metal.

Signbox delivers stunning brass-effect directory for prestigious London office building 12 Arthur Street
This Metall-FX manufacturing process involves artisan hand-finishing, polishing and painting multiple layers to achieve the appearance of aged brass, matching other architectural details in the build. The surface edges of the sign were bevelled with a pencil round router bit and sanded to a specific grit finish to achieve the optimum surface. Though it was time-consuming, the weight and cost savings over traditional brass fabrication were considerable.

Signbox delivers stunning brass-effect directory for prestigious London office building 12 Arthur Street

“The architects on the project, Morrow + Lorraine, had originally requested a solid metal fabrication that would have been very expensive to produce,” explains Signbox managing director Mark Bartlett. “With our extensive experience of manufacturing techniques, we were able to value engineer the design, presenting an alternative proposal which offered significant cost savings to the client. We also worked closely with the specialist concrete cladding contractor – Graphic Relief – in order to facilitate a first fix of the support channels to secure the directory to the wall behind reception.”

“We have worked with Kingly Developments on a number of high-profile projects over the years,” Bartlett adds. “We were delighted to team up with them again on this project and, together with the architects and other specialist contractors, deliver a finished product that met all of the client’s expectations, while also coming in under budget.”

“Working with Signbox on the brass effect tenant directory for 12 Arthur Street has been a real success,” says Daniel Hall, Associate at Morrow + Lorraine Architects. “We have developed a good rapport through the period of design development, and have been impressed with their ability to advise on finishes and manufacturing processes that respond to the brief, ensuring the product was delivered on programme and within budget. We would be happy to work with Signbox again on future collaborations.”

www.signbox.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 1784 438688

Modulex – delivering a brand identity with signage for First Hotels across Scandinavia

 733 489 Daniel Fountain
By:
0

Endorsing their brand positioning, the Scandinavian hotel group First Hotels have been working with Modulex on more than 10 hotels – designing, delivering and installing both internal and external signage.

With a focus on creating positive and memorable guest experiences across their 90 hotels located in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Spain, Modulex are Preferred Partners with First Hotels.

The arrival experience for weary travelers is an opportunity for hotel operators to deliver excellent customer service. By carefully planning the arrival journey, signage can be positioned in the optimum location using all the tools at the disposal of the Modulex design team to ensure clear visibility. This experience can set the tone for the entire guest stay and is an opportunity to endorse core brand values.

Modulex at First Hotels across ScandinaviaWith Account Managers based across Scandinavia Modulex is perfectly placed to accommodate the requirements of First Hotels whose teams are located in Sweden and Norway. The design team based in Oslo ensured not only consistent, quality brand delivery but also worked with Modulex on local analysis of the arrival experience and will be continuing to work with Modulex during 2017.

To discover how Modulex can help your hotel brand deliver wayfinding and signage excellence whilst optimising the guest experience contact Modulex on info@modulex.com

Eric Kirwan, Modulex

Signage Q&A: Eric Kirwan, CEO-President of Modulex

 1000 616 Daniel Fountain
By:
0

Hotel Designs had the pleasure of catching up with Modulex CEO Eric Kirwan at the recent Sleep 2016 event and chatted to him about what makes good wayfinding in hospitality…

Hotel Designs: Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your career in the industry to date and your involvement in Modulex?
Eric Kirwan: I am Eric Kirwan, CEO and President of Modulex A/S, founded in Denmark in 1963 by the LEGO Group and have been providing wayfinding and signage to many of the world’s most iconic projects. Prior to that I was part of GROHE’s International Projects Team working with many of the leading hotel groups and their design teams.

In 2014 I rejoined Modulex as CEO and President of the Group at the headquarters in Billund, Denmark, responsible for global operations, leading the implementation of projects across market sectors including healthcare, education, corporate and hospitality. Recent hotel projects for Modulex include First Hotels, Park Regis, Melia projects in the USA and Caribbean and the Gainsborough Bath Spa (shortlisted European Hotel Design Award 2016).

Q&A: Eric Kirwan, Modulex

ME Miami Interior and exterior signage from Modulex

HD: Modulex specialises in ‘wayfinding’ – how would you summarise what that means and just how important is it?
EK: Wayfinding is simply spatial problem solving. In the same way that a designer considers the best use of a space with careful consideration of its potential users, the role of the wayfinding consultant is to take into account the area and the users, identifying circulation patterns, decision making or dither points and carefully directing users in the necessary direction or perhaps even disrupting them, when and where appropriate.

Q&A: Eric Kirwan, Modulex

Sleep 2016 Working with the organisers of Sleep on their wayfinding strategy for visitors

HD: What makes good signage/wayfinding – especially in the hospitality industry?
EK: Good wayfinding is intuitive, seamless, integrated with the architecture and interiors. To deliver it means understanding the users of the space – first time or frequent visitors; demographics; their needs and wants, their state of mind and their level of concentration or distraction. Next comes the physical understanding of the built environment. Primary and secondary routes need to be established, decision making or ‘dither’ points noted as this is where you may need to ‘wake people up’ so as not to miss an important turn or event. Are there any landmarks which can aid wayfinding? Has lighting been considered and reading distance and sightlines calculated? Only then can you begin to design. Selecting materials, colours, graphics and typefaces which ‘blend’ and where necessary contrast with the environment.

Q&A: Eric Kirwan, Modulex

Gainsborough Bath Spa Shortlisted at European Hotel Design Awards 2016

HD: We recently read about ‘playfinding’ – wayfinding mixed with enjoyable experiences for people to interact with on their ‘journey’. Just how innovative is this sector?
EK: This is a hugely exciting trend and an opportunity for hotel brands to further endorse the brand experience, particularly if they are targeting a particular demographic. At the recent Sleep event, where Modulex worked with the organisers on wayfinding, the Sleep Set rooms were designed for a specific “Tribe”. The winning room from Gensler designed for the Digital Avant-Garde Tribe would definitely be a group who would grab the opportunity for some “playfinding”.

Q&A: Eric Kirwan, Modulex

Gainsborough Bath Spa Shortlisted at European Hotel Design Awards 2016

HD: What sort of technological trends are we seeing coming through in signage?
EK: Digital signage is not a new innovation but we are seeing a significant increase in requests from operational managers in large hotels looking to simplify their conference and events systems. These same large hotels could also benefit from indoor navigation technology which enable visitors to navigate to their meeting room, for example, using their mobile phone. With the increase in self check-in within some hotel groups there will be more demand for digital solutions to wayfinding which can be quickly updated in real-time.

Q&A: Eric Kirwan, Modulex

Park Regis Birmingham Interior digital signage from Modulex

HD: If you could tell architects and interior designers one thing about wayfinding, what would it be?
EK: Keep it simple. The best wayfinding solutions use the least amount of signage to guide people from a to b; take advantage of the architecture and landmarks as part of the solution. Make sure to ask yourself four simple questions about the signage: Can they see it? Can they read it? Can they understand it? Can they trust the information? If you have positive answers to all the questions then you’re working with a good scheme. If not, contact us!

Q&A: Eric Kirwan, Modulex

Park Regis Birmingham Interior digital signage from Modulex

www.modulex.com
+44 (0) 1604 684020
info@modulex.com

Modulex to present 'Sleep Walking' at Sleep 2016

‘Sleep Walking’ with Modulex signage at Sleep 2016

 602 301 Daniel Fountain
By:
0

Drawing on thoughtful analogies between the psychologies of how people navigate around hotels and trade shows, Modulex is designing an entirely new concept for Sleep entitled ‘Sleep Walking’.

Embracing the use of landmarks, icons and other signage, Modulex will be disrupting unconscious behaviours and sparking curiosity to entice and reassure visitors as they wend their way through Sleep’s myriad experiences.

'Sleep Walking with Modulex' at Sleep 2016

Research tells us that on average 15% of the population experience sleepwalking or parasomnia. That’s a lot of people, but how many more spend some of their waking moments ‘metaphorically’ sleepwalking? Moving through environments whilst drifting from being consciously aware of surroundings to unconsciously passing through spaces, hotels or even trade shows oblivious to what is happening around them?

'Sleep Walking with Modulex' at Sleep 2016

It is this state of dreaminess which inspired ‘Sleepwalking with Modulex’ with the goal to help Sleep 2016 attendees make the most of their visit through intelligent wayfinding. After all hotels and trade shows have a lot in common – visitors who return year after year, following the same routes and visiting the same areas alongside first timers with no previous knowledge and keen to experience all a hotel or show has to offer, whilst optimising revenue generators.

'Sleep Walking with Modulex' at Sleep 2016

Good wayfinding is intuitive. Seamlessly integrating with the architecture and interiors. To deliver it means firstly understanding the users of the space – frequent or first time visitors, demographics, their needs and wants, their state of mind and their level of concentration or distraction.

Next comes the physical understanding of the built environment. Primary and secondary routes need to be established, decision making or ‘dither’ points noted as this is where it may be necessary to ‘wake people up’ so as not to miss an important turn or event. Are there any landmarks which can aid wayfinding? Has lighting been considered and reading distance and sightlines calculated?

Only then can you begin to design. Selecting materials, colours, graphics and typefaces which ‘blend’ and where necessary contrast with the environment.
Sleepwalking with Modulex will bring the science of wayfinding into focus, informing and guiding visitors to Sleep 2016 so that you don’t miss anything – whatever your conscious state.

www.modulex.com
+44 (0) 1604 684020
info@modulex.com

Modulex - Bath Spa

Award-winning Bath spa works with Modulex’s signage

 1000 667 Daniel Fountain
By:
0

With a restrained and elegant range of environmental graphics Modulex complement the scheme created by New York based Champalimaud Design in collaboration with EPR Architects for the luxurious Gainsborough Bath Spa in Bath which opened last year and has since gone on to be awarded the prestigious Tatler Spa Awards 2016.

The period details of the elegant Georgian architecture in Bath have been subtly incorporated into the designs whilst adhering to the international brand concept created by Malaysian YTL Hotels for their first venture in the UK.

Although in classic Georgian and Victorian buildings the inspiration behind the overall scheme also come from its site on a former Roman Bath House and continues its original purpose with eleven treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, ice chamber, natural thermal water pools and a new double-height glass atrium roof enclosing the pool.

Working in collaboration with Champalimaud Design, Modulex have utilised their print technology to create subtle effects by printing to the rear of their standard Infinity Glass product and then applying a protective laminate in order that they maintain their appearance for many years complementing the harmonious architecture of this 5 star luxury hotel.

To contact the Projects Team email: info@modulex.com