email: news@signlink.co.uk 7 INDUSTRY / NEWS Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 Between October 1st and October 4th, 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the scrapping of the Manchester leg of the HS2 project to focus money and resources on other transport projects. Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK has described the decision as “deeply frustrating”. HS2 was largely seen as a way of better connecting the North and South divide, which would create better ways for the likes of signage businesses to work throughout the UK and also source materials in a more practical way. Make UK ‘frustrated’ by HS2 Gov decision Positive impact of OOH A report by PwC has revealed that 46% of revenue spent on out-ofhome (OOH) goes back into the local community. The report, commissioned by Outsmart, found that the industry has invested around £1.1bn in public infrastructure, with £411m being contributed in 2021 to services, communities, and employees. This investment includes the installation and maintenance of structures like bus shelters and phone boxes, including those that do not include advertising. Broader economic contribution includes the employment of around 2,000 people and around £202m in rent and revenue being invested and re-circulated into the economy. Following the success of the inaugural Sign Awards in March of this year, the freshly named Sign & Wrap Awards will take place on February 26th, 2024. 50% more sign and graphics companies submitted their entries to this year’s awards before the extended December 8th deadline. The Sign & Wrap Awards will take place on the evening of the second day of SDUK (Monday 26th). This year’s event has expanded to cover new categories in signage as well as vehicle wrapping and architectural film installation. Sign & Wrap Awards sees 50% entry increase Bristol-based 2601 recently helped a local school bring history to life with new graphics with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The school wanted a timeline that was factually accurate and clearly illustrated the length of time of each era compared to the modern day. Using history books and online photo libraries, 2601 mapped the length of time from 7000BC through to modern day over 32m of wall space and incorporated a 3D chiselled effect. The design needed to illustrate how people lived, what their leaders were like, and what they wore, and Nigel Davies of 2601 explains that it was almost impossible to find stock images that corresponded with these requirements. Instead, the company utilised online digital image generation and found that it could get extremely close to the specification without compromising on quality. 2601 also used AI to generate the copy in a style that tenyear-olds would understand, which Davies describes as 90% perfect with just a bit of tweaking needed for the final text. The graphics were produced using specialist wall vinyl printed on 2601’s HP Latex with Foamex panels over the top printed on a Mimaki flatbed. A world map was also printed on a single piece on the company’s 3.2m Mimaki. The project took six months to plan and design and saw 2601 use AI in the design process AI brings history to life for school Co-locating alongside Printwear & Promotion LIVE! following the purchase of the event by Datateam, Sign & Digital UK (SDUK) will debut its first Sunday date on February 25th. Organisers of the three-day event, traditionally held midweek, say the Sunday date will make the event more accessible for small business owners without losing valuable business time. The co-locating shows will be held from Sunday, February 25th to Tuesday 27th in two halls with a link between them, meaning visitors can easily browse from one event to the next without needing to exit and re-enter through different entrances. Currently listed on the floor plan are names such as Roland DG, Epson UK, Premier Paper, Soyang Europe/Josero, Vivid Laminating Technologies, and Quality Print Services. A popular feature of 2023, the Explains Lounge and Sign Surgery hosted by ISA-UK will return featuring a full programme of presentations and panel discussions presented in a theatre-style setting. Sign & Digital UK will see its 35th edition hosted on a Sunday for the first time due to co-locating with Printwear & Promotion LIVE! Registration for SDUK 2024 now open The Museum of London has asked the public to suggest popular city signage from both past and present to be used in a 2026 exhibition. Titled ‘Hanging Out’ the event will draw from the museum’s own collection and focus on signs from the last 80 years that represent London’s many communities and social diversity. Hanging Out will be a permanent installation planned for the new London Museum which is currently being updated before its 2026 opening. The museum will be open early and close late to reflect London’s 24-hour character and allow school children and the local community to benefit from the space. Desired signs will be a minimum of 50 x 50cm and from venues like (but not limited to) sports venues, cinemas, theatres, cafes, pubs, music venues, and social shops. The installation will be part of the ‘Our Time’ section of the museum which will explore London in living memory. The Museum of London has now closed its London Wall site in preparation for its 2026 relocation Museum of London seeks historic signage By Carys Evans
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