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just like this client did.
WRHN
CREATING AN ILLUMINATED SIGN SOLUTION FOR A NEW BRAND
Location: The Boardwalk, Waterloo
Project: Illuminated exterior signage, interior signage, design development, permitting and installation coordination
Project Overview
When Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation needed new exterior signage at its office at The Boardwalk, WRHN was operating under a newly established brand and no illuminated exterior signage had yet been created using the new identity. There was no existing application to reference for how the brand colours, logo and typography should translate into an illuminated building sign. unLOCKEd worked through that process with the Foundation to develop an approach that maintained the integrity of the new identity while functioning effectively as exterior signage.
The Challenge
The WRHN identity relies heavily on Indigo and Moss Green along with the multicoloured bird symbol. Standard translucent vinyl options were not available in colours that accurately represented the deep Indigo and Moss Green. Printing the colours onto translucent material was considered, but particularly with the dark Indigo, illuminating through the face could significantly change how the colour appeared. Different illumination methods were explored to preserve the new identity during the day and after dark.
Developing the Solution
Halo illumination became the preferred approach for the WRHN lettering. The letters could remain finished in the brand’s Indigo and Moss Green while white light illuminated the wall behind them, creating a halo around each character. The multicoloured bird required a different treatment so its colour variation could be preserved. The concept combined Indigo and Moss Green dimensional letters with white halo illumination and a front-illuminated bird logo with a translucent printed face.
Helping Everyone Visualize Something New
Because this was a new signage application for WRHN, unLOCKEd developed mockups showing the lighting treatment and supplied real-world examples so the Foundation and property management could understand how the effect would translate to the building. Multiple rounds of discussion, mockups and approval helped establish the final approach.
What unLOCKEd Managed
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Review of the new WRHN brand and colours
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Exterior signage concept development
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Evaluation of illumination options
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Halo-light and nighttime mockups
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Material and colour considerations
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Design revisions and approvals
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Property-management coordination
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Permit documentation and coordination
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Production-ready artwork
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Interior WRHN signage
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Production and installation coordination
The Result
The finished signage established a professional exterior presence for Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation while staying true to a brand that had not previously been translated into this type of illuminated application. The solution was developed around what the brand actually needed rather than simply selecting a standard sign construction.
The unLOCKEd Approach
A brand may look perfect on a screen, but translating it onto a building introduces questions around colour, lighting, scale, materials, architecture and visibility. Our job is to work through those questions, explore the options and manage the details until the brand works just as well in the physical world.
