Visual Magnetics Provides NYC Art School with Defining Environmental Graphics

Administrators at the School of Visual Arts, a Manhattan (NYC) institution that offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in such fields as fine arts, computer art and photography, wanted to design the space within its MFA Design for Social Innovation department. Department chair Cheryl Heller tapped interior-design-department chairwoman Jane Smith, who also operates architectural- and interior-design firm Spacesmith.
“The department wanted the graphics to challenge the traditional notion of what a teaching space should be,” Smith said. “The interchangeable, magnetic wall influenced the concept, and the department developed an evolving array of graphic content that reflects current events and studies.”

Visual Magnetics’ (Mendon, MA) creative director, Tori Deetz, reached out to Smith and promoted the concept for the approximately 50-ft.-wide, 8-ft.-tall, graphic span. Dan Halkyard, Visual Magnetics’ director of marketing, said, “The walls were newly constructed with standard sheetrock and coated with primer. Then, we sprayed our ActiveWall® micro-iron primer before coating the walls with an interior wall paint specified by the designers. Then, we rolled on the double-sided Invisilock® magnet before applying MagnaMedia® magnet-receptive graphics. The company also installed blank, VM-DRYerase™ material, which allows students and faculty to write temporary messages.

“Because of the material’s thin, flexible characteristics, the convex wall wasn’t a challenge,” he said. “The project’s only obstacle was configuring our schedule with other contractors to ensure timely completion.”