Best Signshop-Designed and Fabricated Sign, Internally Illuminated

2024 Sign Contest: CATEGORY 1

FIRST PLACE / BEST OF SHOW

Project Name
Canes x Dallas Cowboys x Post Malone

Fabricators and Installers
Visual Graphic Systems Inc.
Carlstadt, NJ
vgsonline.com

AGI
Virginia Beach, VA
agi.net

Designers
Raising Cane’s and Post Malone (concept)
VGS and AGI (technical)

Client
Raising Cane’s
Dallas

Fabrication Equipment
Metal fab, aluminum extrusion, laser-cutting, LED flat panels, stainless steel, custom-welded components, silkscreening, digital flatbed printing.

Installation Equipment
Welders, mechanical fasteners, wall and ceiling wall drop in grids, LEDs, custom memorabilia cases, faux locker systems.

Materials
Aluminum, plexiglass, stainless steel, polycarbonate, LED panels and LED strip lighting, 3M materials, backlit transparencies.

Software
Adobe Illustrator, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit.

Project Description
Our client Raising Canes came to us with a three-brand restaurant takeover involving them, the Dallas Cowboys and Post Malone. The vision was to wrap the entire outside building, parapet and windows in metallic 3M automotive wrap digitally printed with Post Malone’s tattoo artwork. With the windows being blocked out, VGS was challenged with creating a brand expression of a completely enclosed and internally illuminated backlit wall and ceiling “perforated” blue and white lighting system, covering every inch of the inside of the space. As a whole, the project blurs the line of signage fabrication, complete brand and retail immersion, and customer experience. AGI was responsible for the large fabricated star and the exterior illuminated building signage.

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SECOND PLACE

Project Name
Borderline Billiards Internally Illuminated Projecting Sign

Fabricators
Jerry’s Signs & Awnings
Abingdon, VA
jerryssignsinc.com
Donnie Kelly, Bill Mays, Jeramy Trent, Ryan Cooke

Installers
Shaun Bush, Bailey Stewart

Designers
Ryan Cooke, Greg Keith, Dennis Whitman

Client
Borderline Billiards
Bristol, TN
Janet Atwell

Fabrication Equipment
MultiCam 5000 CNC Router, Summa 160 computerized cutter, Miller tig welder, Matthews Automotive Paint system.

Installation Equipment
Elliott Freightliner L65, F550 Bucket Truck, Milwaukee tools, Hilti epoxy mortar.

Materials
Aluminum, Samsung LED lighting, Matthews paint, paint mask, custom plates and steel bracing for sign structure to project from building.

Software
SAi FlexiSign, Adobe Illustrator, SAi EnRoute.

Other Components and Tools
Hand tools, woodworking planers and sculpting tools that were from collections the Jerrys have had for generations.

Project Description
This project holds a place in my heart as a third-generation business owner that I can only describe as watching a customer’s lifelong dream come true and being included like family throughout all of the journey. Janet Atwell, a nationally ranked pool professional, walked into our small family owned business and trusted us with her vision. My designers saw this far before I did and when this sign came together using every person and tool in our arsenal, the pride was indescribable.

I had the chance that day (it is rare I leave the shop), but my crew said, “Janet wants you there when this sign comes down State Street.” The look on her face, tears in her eyes and just that feeling that your customer knows that made it and that your sign had something to do with that. That is everything and I am so proud.

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THIRD PLACE

Project Name
24 Hour Pickleball

Fabricators
Flagship Signs
Columbia, SC
flagshipsigns.com
Abner G., Earl H., Dawn H., Walt W., Aiden M.

Installers
Cory B-P., Damien E., James C.

Designers
Joel M., Earl H., Crystal G.

Client
24 Hour Pickleball
Lexington, SC

Fabrication Equipment
CNC router, projector, 10-ft. shearer, welder, drills, torch, band saw, chop saw, crane-in-shop, custom fixtures.

Installation Equipment
Welder, auger truck, crane truck, bucket truck, drills, wiring tools.

Materials
Aluminum sheet, aluminum angle, steel angle, steel pole, white LEDs, 5-ft. polycarbonate sphere, Akzonobel Paint System, 3M vinyl.

Software
SAi FlexiSign, VCarve Pro, Adobe Photoshop.

Other Components and Tools
Variable Underdrive, 1 HP Electric Motor.

Project Description
5-ft. rotating lit pickleball on stand for new 24 Hour Pickleball courts. Masking for the paint was hand placed and cut by projecting an image onto the inside of the balls and hand tracing the image. The pole that spins and attaches to the motor had to be balanced and properly welded to ensure the ball spins true and straight.

PHOTO GALLERY (18 IMAGES)

📷 VISUAL GRAPHIC SYSTEMS/ RAISING CANES | JERRY’S SIGNS & AWNINGS/ BORDERLINE BILLIARDS | FLAGSHIP SIGNS/ 24 HOUR PICKLEBALL

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