Orchardside School Bespoke vinyl wallpaper and glass manifestation
When school’s out, vinyl’s in. We made the most of empty corridors during the half term holidays to fit out Orchardside School, an educational institution in Enfield, with custom wallpaper and glass manifestations.
Headteacher, Celeste Fay, approached us after being impressed with our signage at her old school, and we were thrilled she recalled our work. This time around she gave us a short and sweet brief – create a stimulating, inviting and inclusive environment in the main reception area.
While conceptualising signage designs based on how a space should feel can be a daunting challenge, given our rapport with the client, in this case, we were happy to take on something abstract and actualise it.
With Celeste’s blessing, we decided to develop bespoke graphics in line with the earthy imagery of the school’s brand. Considering we were working on a section of the building that links the outdoors to the indoors, this worked out perfectly - reinforcing a connection with nature, while brightening up the hallway walls and front facing windows as requested.
First off, our designers kitted out two floor-to-ceiling windows at the school’s entrance with safety manifestations that doubled up as displays. They decided to use a premium printed glossy film as their material of choice, showcasing the school’s tree emblem on the left of the glass doorway, and a word cloud of the greeting ‘welcome’ in multiple languages on the right, to reflect the diversity of the school.
In keeping with the visual language of the establishment, the designs were nature-led in style, with wonderfully subtle green tones that were reproduced on the reverse of an ultra clear self-adhesive vinyl, providing a seamless finish that made it near impossible to distinguish between glass and graphic.
Next, for the main reception area, our design team aimed to capture the spirit of the brief. They imagined and built an inkjet laminate of a woodland scene in homage to the school’s name, featuring a flurry of auburn leaves against a striking lime green background to form a brilliant first impression for students upon their arrival, in both the metaphorical and literal sense.
With approval from the designers and the client, our production team printed the design across multiple Standard Avery vinyl rolls, and carried it through to some glass manifestations for a sense of cohesion throughout the space. Our skilled fitters then pieced these together across the walls and windows on site, generating a truly full width graphic.
The beauty of a brief like this is that it's fairly open to interpretation, and we enjoyed creative licence throughout the process. The end result was an exhilarating transformation that provided the perfect energy to greet students as they returned from their half-term break.
FAQs- Orchardside School
We selected a premium glossy vinyl film for the bespoke glass manifestations, providing a crisp and vibrant look. The main reception's woodland scene was custom designed and printed on Standard Avery vinyl rolls, known for their high quality and durability, ensuring that the signage withstands the daily bustle of school life.
Vinyl signage, along with its adhesive backing, typically has an outdoor lifespan of 3-5 years, extending considerably when placed indoors due to less exposure to harsh elements. Manufacturers rigorously test vinyl against extreme conditions, ranging from intense desert heat to the frigid arctic, to ensure durability. To prolong the life of your vinyl, regular maintenance is key. For indoor signs, occasional dusting with a mild cleaner can keep them looking fresh. Outdoor vinyl benefits from a soft wipe-down with a moist cloth, sticking to plain water to avoid any potential damage from harsh chemicals. Regular yet gentle cleaning not only extends the lifespan of the vinyl but also keeps its appearance vibrant and professional.
The entire process involved close collaboration to ensure the final designs met Celeste's vision, and that the implementation phase caused minimal disruption to the students. Given the open nature of the brief, the design process was a blend of creative interpretation and strategic planning. After conceptualising the initial ideas, our team developed a series of tree-inspired graphics that brought a sense of the outdoors into the environment, and gave a nod to the school's branding. To work with us on your own project, reach out here.
At our shop in Shoreditch, we carry a wide range of different self-adhesive vinyls in transparent, translucent or opaque colours and frosted effects, which can all be the base material for your manifestation. You can also opt to print on vinyl to create something completely customised.
Whichever you choose, these can be cut to shape to create repeat patterns or decal displays, or they can be left in large swathes to provide greater coverage.
Whatever your preference, the most important factor for a glass manifestation that's designed for safety, as was the primary objective in this project, is that you install a high contrast window graphic that can be seen in all light conditions and draws the eye. Explore all your options here.
From transparent and translucent to opaque and frosted - we carry a huge array of ready made self-adhesive vinyls, or we can manufacture rolls of custom printed vinyl just for you. Once you know what you want, these can be used as decals, which are cut out bits of lettering or graphics such as the text in an exhibition or arrows that are part of a wayfinding scheme, or as murals. The latter can be created by arranging cut vinyl into patterns on your walls to make the impression of wallpaper, or used in swathes of sheets much like the real deal, allowing you to cover entire surfaces. Learn more here.
The installation culminated in a striking transformation of the school's main reception. The seamless integration of graphics and glass, coupled with the vivid colours of the woodland wallpaper, created a welcoming and energising entry point for students, truly embodying the spirit of Orchardside School.
