This two phase project began as a wayfinding exercise. Portion Solutions contacted us to design and implement directional signage and custom printed office graphics to their brand new space. The site was modern and presented as an exciting blank canvas. Their Operations Director, Rob was keen to add their branding and make the building feel like their own. We couldn’t wait to get started. As with many of our projects, they’re often driven by a forthcoming visit from head office or key client, this was no exception. With a fixed deadline only a few weeks away, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.
Our design team were given a basic brand guidelines document, outlining the corporate colours, font and company logo. Based on this, our creative designers developed a comprehensive signage system and style to deliver a consistent look and feel across all the custom printed graphics. A custom made totem shape with a curved top corner, reflected the brand logo and created a bespoke feel. We designed the totems to be powder-coated white with custom printed vinyl mounted to the face. This approach provides maximum flexibility for the client. Directions, locations and information can be easily added, updated and removed with minimal cost and effort.
The external signage consisted of one large totem visible from the main road, designed to greet visitors and direct delivery drivers, plus two smaller totems. The smaller totems followed the same system with a curved top corner and vinyl graphics; one providing information for visitors and direction to reception; whilst the other gave important health and safety instructions to delivery drivers and warehouse staff. The external signage also included parking bay signs and electric vehicle charging guidance.
Inside, our custom printed office graphics began with branded window manifestations that needed to provide more privacy than the standard DDA dots. New-build office spaces often have square or circular DDA manifestations as standard to meet building regulations, but we like to be more creative. Portion Solutions wanted a simple dusted vinyl band to provide adequate privacy in their glass-walled meeting rooms with brand logos printed to the face. We chose to print these logos using white ink to deliver great contrast, keep neutral tones and avoided over-using the strong brand red.
The largest room on the ground floor was the staff canteen. Here we introduced three large acoustic fabric displays from our Suono Signature range and a feature wall using Slat Wall Panels which we customised with colour-matching vinyl detail. The acoustic qualities of these products were used to address the echo within the canteen. Hard surfaces such as tables, worktops, vending machines and hard chairs create sound-bounce that can be reduced with our clever acoustic solutions.
Suono Signature features a custom printed fabric graphic with an industry approved acoustic wadding. Together these two materials absorb sound and reduce echo within a space such as this. In addition to this, the fabric graphic is easy to change in the future with a new image or message. So easy in fact, we simply pop a new graphic in the post and you can change it yourself in a couple of minutes! We selected images from Telford and surrounding areas from our resource bank of over 12 million images, and when we couldn’t find one we liked, we went to Telford and took our own photos. These images formed the foundation of the custom printed office graphics before we added graphic treatments and brand colours. Slat Wall Panels are a popular product in commercial spaces, but we like to get creative and make it feel bespoke for our clients. We selected colours from the canteen decor and wrapped a handful of slats in matching vinyl to add interest and detail to the large feature wall.
Another great way that Portion Solutions added their branding to their office space is a pair of custom printed noticeboards. These clever magnetic noticeboards are really durable and are made to measure. We select a size that fits the space, and not a predetermined size. They are printed to match branding and we can add charts, lines and boxes to record data, engage with staff and create a completely custom design.
Foliage is becoming increasingly popular within commercial spaces including offices, hotels, restaurants and retail stores. Its textured quality provides effective acoustics and echo reduction while adding low-maintenance greenery that will last for years. There are hundreds of options, from reindeer moss and bun moss to tropical leaves and flowers. Artificial foliage can be used indoors, outdoors and even hung from the ceiling. As with this recent project, using custom cut acrylic mounted over the foliage adds depth and fantastic branding opportunities such as this project we complete for PMW Properties.
We completed Phase One in time for their special visit and everyone was really pleased with the final results. A year later, Portion Solutions had had time to settle in to their new office and warehouse, get comfortable and use the space. It was time to move on to the next Phase – and another exciting visit from their European head office! A small number of items from Phase One had been put on hold and the company structure had undergone a small rebrand. Our smart totem design was perfect for this type of adjustment. The branded banner that featured across the bottom of every totem was easily updated with a new vinyl graphic to keep them current and on-brand.
Portion Solutions is the UK’s market leader in portion packing, providing portioned goods for a diverse range of industries and some well-known businesses. The colourful little sachets sparked our creative genius and we used them as key components in a series of professionally framed displays. From biscuits to tomato ketchup, we planned decorative patterns meticulously glued into place and then framed into a bespoke case. Sugar packets and mustard sachets made engaging wall art that promoted their client base and added a clever twist to their wall displays.
A large landing area on the first floor was our next area to add some creative branding. Brand logos are great in reception areas to welcome visitors and staff, but not necessary to repeat in every space. Our studio team designed a custom made 3D acoustic piece of art. The design incorporated various elements of the logo and the parent company logo in an abstract, tactile way in their brand red to match nearby furniture. This huge art piece measures 2000 x 1000mm including an acoustic frame to ensure neat edges and a professional finish.
Door naming and office signs are small details that are often overlooked but they are an opportunity to add a hint of branding and make your space feel tailored to your business. These simple door sign for Portion Solutions used a beautiful high-gloss red acrylic in the brand shape. The door signs followed the signage system we had developed for Phase One. We printed white ink to the face and mounted with a high-adhesive tape to avoid drilling into their lovely new doors.
We introduced a further five fabric acoustic displays from Suono with images of Telford and surrounding areas to their long office wall. These frames are the same specifications as Phase One, which means they can switch and change the graphics around the office.
If you’d like us to design your custom printed office graphics we’d love to hear from you. Let’s have a chat and we can get the ball rolling!
Call one of our team today on 01332 613 900 or email ideas@mxdisplay.co.uk
Notifications