Transforming the Learning Environment with Signs

By: Chuck Gerardi, VP of Operations Signarama

No one could have predicted the effect a sustained pandemic would have on our workspace and learning environments. For many, after a prolonged hibernation at home, returning to the workplace or classroom was met with hesitation and anxiety. For some, working and learning from home gave us time to take a step back and reflect on priorities, spend more time with family and re-think our surroundings. Businesses, including our learning institutions, continue to pivot and change course to fit the needs of its students, parents, customers and staff.

While our classrooms sat empty, many administrators took the opportunity to give their schools a fresh look. Similar to re-branding in the business world, the “brand” of a school suddenly took on a heightened importance.

More than just repainting the hallways, re-imagining our learning environments became an avenue to build a sense of community, and improve engagement and interactivity. This focus on environmental immersion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Signarama owners worldwide to make a dramatic impact on the lives of students in their learning community. Our signage experts worked closely with their education partners to help with their signage renovation needs.

As more and more students return to the classroom, the use of environmental branding is crucial in welcoming them back. Environmental branding takes the visual and emotional aspects of branding and translates them to the physical space. Effectively designed graphics on walls, windows, floors and doors can transform a dull, sterile school hallway into a place of inspiration and safety. What better way to put our students in a better frame of mind than by having them enter a lobby filled with bright and inviting words and graphics. This is what we do every day at Signarama.

Effective environmental branding in schools delivers a positive return-on-investment in the following ways:

• Signs create IMPACT. Bold colors can create a mood. The right type of font triggers emotion. Logos and graphics create awareness.
• Signs support IMMEDIACY. Banners, retractables and cut vinyl can be designed, manufactured and delivered quickly against tight deadlines.
• Signs foster COMMUNICATION. Floor, door and walkway signage have become a staple during COVID-19, sharing the latest open or closed status of locations and sharing information with the public.
• Signs foster SAFETY. Drop-off and pick-up times have often been contentious touchpoints, so ensuring the safe and less stressful transfer of students in and out of school can be aided with signage to clarify changes in directions and procedures.
• Signs reinforce BRANDING. Effectively designed signage can create a positive identity, show value and trust, and of course promote school spirit.
• Signs are AFFORDABLE. Signage provides a variety of options for your budget, and can be easily changed to fit your messaging and needs.

In the "new normal," educational signage and environmental branding goes well beyond just showing school spirit. Signage options like large EMCs (electronic message centers) were installed to keep students and parents informed of upcoming re-openings and ongoing events and announcements. Large murals were added in hallways, doors and windows, walkways, stair faces and open areas, with bright colors and inspiring messages for learners.

An imaginative use of substrates, applications and the latest technology can create hands-on, interactive designs that engage students, teachers and the community at large. Environmental branding can make a positive impact on the lives of students and school culture, leading to better educational outcomes.

Last year, Signarama celebrated 35 years in business as a globally known, locally owned brand. Even throughout the pandemic, our brand has seen tremendous growth with many of our owners achieving personal successes through expanding their team, achieving sales milestones, and even moving to larger facilities to increase their signage footprint in a community they already know so well.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the print industry, Chuck Gerardi, vice president of operations for Signarama, adds invaluable wide-format printing experience, and insights from his years of sales management to the Signarama team. He evaluates and implements initiatives that reinforce the operational processes to support further growth of the Signarama brand, as well as continued franchisee success in all stages of the entrepreneurial journey.