The busiest area in a Leeds high school that more than 1,000 pupils and staff members pass through every day is now protected from a constant barrage of scuffs and scrapes thanks to Digital Plus’s innovative Wall Shield product.

The eight-metre-long corridor at Ralph Thoresby School in Holt Park is directly off the school’s main reception area and was constantly being redecorated and repaired due to the vast amount of passing footfall, as well as regular knocks from wayward school bags.

We immediately knew Wall Shield was the answer! We’ve designed the product to offer long-term surface protection and (as you might have guessed!) we can print bespoke graphics and branding on it to transform even the most mundane areas of buildings into visually striking and interesting throughfares.

As well as saving money on maintenance costs, Wall Shield is also seriously tough, fire rated, easy to clean and quick to install, which makes it a popular and obvious solution for high-traffic areas in all types of buildings.

We liaised closely with the school’s facilities management company, Mitie FM, before measuring up, carrying out a detailed risk assessment, agreeing access and installation timings and surveying pipe locations. We also had to create cut-outs on the Wall shield panels to accommodate wall sockets that could not be relocated.

Next, we agreed the visuals with the school’s headteacher, which our in-house design team created, fully utilising our 25 years’ worth of experience working with schools and colleges.

We completed the installation once school had finished for the day at 3.30pm. Because the product had already been accurately prepared and cut to size before it left our production facility, and due to it being very easy to work with, our team completed the transformation in less than two hours.

The result is a stunning corridor that’s now fun and colourful, as well as displaying the school’s house insignia to pupils, staff and visitors.

Headteacher, Will Carr, said: “Almost everyone who comes in or out of the school uses this corridor and often you can walk up and down it several times a day. As a result, the walls were always getting knocked and scraped which meant redecorating them on a regular basis.

“Wall Shield is a great solution to the problem. It’s clearly very robust and durable and with the graphics printed on it, it looks superb. Digital Plus handled the whole process brilliantly, from the initial survey through to the installation and everything in between and we’re very happy with the finished result.”

If you’d like to find out more about the benefits of Wall Shield  and how we can assist click here.  for further information contact us now at sales@digitalplus.co.uk or call on 0113 2783133.

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The post Wall protection for Schools, the benefits of Wall Shield appeared first on Digital Plus.

For any school or educational facility, budget is hugely important. And if you’re managing a visual project with limited funds, it can even be a worry. But with so many digitally printed products available, you might be surprised what can be achieved.

What type of printed graphics are available to schools?

Almost anything! But, we commonly supply internal wall coverings and vinyl graphics to decorate space and label different areas. We also help schools make their building safe and easy to navigate with wayfinding signs and support them on announcing news and events.

Printed graphics for schools:

1. Wall coverings and wall vinyl
2. Interactive display boards
3. Floor and ceiling graphics
4. Entrance and outdoor signs
5. Signposting and wayfinding

Making your school a vibrant place to learn

Whenever we’re approached by a school, be it through the school business manager, a senior leader or a teacher, they always want their graphics to achieve a few common goals…

• Impress and excite the students
• Improve the school and its appearance
• Make students, staff and parents feel proud

To help them tick these boxes, we’ll start by asking them if they have a design in mind or if they require our in-house designers to produce the artwork. In both these cases, we find that some discussion with our team usually helps develop the initial ideas and formulate a solid plan.

Here’s how the process typically works:

1. Site visit – the project team will visit your school or college, identifying the areas suitable for graphic placement.
2. Recommendations and surface testing – we’ll confirm the best installation methods and, if necessary, we’ll perform adhesion tests (these are important when working with vinyl graphics).
3. You’ll receive a project document – the full installation is scoped out within the project document and you’ll see visual mock-ups of how your proposed graphics will look.
4. Quote provided – this is the point where any of your questions can be answered, options are chosen and tweaks made to the designs.
5. Print and production – Your new graphics will be printed and prepared at our facility, before being sent for delivery and installation.
6. Graphics are installed – we complete the installation at a time convenient for you, most likely when the building is quiet or empty.

Printing for schools – made affordable

To be certain we can deliver exactly what you need within the allocated budget, we offer various options at different price points. But, that’s not to say we would ever propose a ‘cheap’ product.

We only ever install graphics we know are safe, hardwearing and fit for purpose. We’re also pleased to offer registered schools practical repayment terms, following the necessary checks, making things easier from a financial perspective.

Are you a school, college or learning centre looking for affordable printing? If you’d like our help, simply get in touch on 0113 278 3133 or via sales@digitalplus.co.uk and we’ll help you find the right products.

The post Easy printing for schools and education facilities appeared first on Digital Plus.

The endless possibilities of custom school signs…

When we think about school signs, the entrance sign usually springs to mind – a smart, formal design in school branding. But, in reality, custom school signs come in every shape and size and go way beyond branding purposes.

Effective school signs can:

• Keep sites safe, practical and easy to navigate
• Provide an engaging, vibrant place to work and learn
• Create a sense of belonging and pride

With budgets tight for schools and other educational facilities, maintaining a smart and well-presented learning environment can be tricky. Finding the budget for refurbishment work isn’t always achievable. But that’s where custom signs come in…

Brightening up tired, dull spaces

Signs and graphics are one cost-effective way schools, academies and colleges can keep up appearances. They also provide complete flexibility of design, meaning it’s easy to create something bright and eye-catching that’s unique to your organisation.

Because large format printed graphics come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and materials, it can be difficult to know where to start. Take a look at these three affordable ideas:

IDEA #1: Decorate

School signs aren’t just practical. They can display patterns, designs and even custom artwork. Decorating communal areas with bright, engaging print such as wall graphics, is one way to help people take note of, and even feel proud, of where they work and learn. Wall and window vinyl designs are affordable and easy to install, making them the ideal choice for injecting a dash of character into corridors and classrooms.

IDEA #2: Brand

Although there’s room for fun and inspiring printed graphics in schools, there’s also a need for professional branding. Having branded directional signage sets the right tone for visitors and pupils. Much like a uniform, a smartly-branded school or college site communicates a shared identity. Materials like acrylic and PVC are ideal for doorway and directional signage, as they’re affordable and long-lasting.

Have you heard about Bubbleboard? It’s the eco-friendly, recyclable print material that’s just as durable as its non-recyclable alternatives.

IDEA #3: Educate

School signs can also be useful teaching tools. This large wall display within a maths department at an academy communicates the uses of mathematics throughout history. It’s a simple way of decorating a blank wall, which also shares an educational message. But your educational graphics don’t need to be curriculum-based like this example. You could decide to tell visitors about your school or college’s values or achievements, or commemorate the individuals who work and learn there. It’s really up to you!

Whether you want to personalise your building or simply make sure people can find their way around, custom school signs are the way to do it. And the beauty of working with a digital printing specialist is that they will be able to recommend the simplest and most affordable ways to deliver your vision.

We hope this article has given you some good ideas to get started with. Do you have any specific questions about school signs? You can get in touch on 0113 278 3133 or via sales@digitalplus.co.uk.

The post How custom school signs create engaging places to learn appeared first on Digital Plus.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t always need flashy technology to hold engaging interactive lessons. Printed graphics are an affordable way to fit-out your classrooms with functional displays that can be used and reused the whole year round.

We work closely with schools to create printed signs and graphics that help enrich their children’s days. Why not take a look at these ideas for a bit of inspiration?

Get every child involved with an interactive educational display

Many children enjoy getting up and sharing their ideas and interactive display boards give them the chance to put their textbooks aside. They can also make topics that bit more memorable too.

Educational wall displays are a fantastic feature and can be used effectively for lessons with all age groups. Printing displays on to dry wipe, magnetic boards allow teachers to plan a huge range of interactive learning activities and the same board can easily be used again-and-again.

Reward good behaviour with an incentive display

It’s no secret that rewarding good behaviour is one of the best ways to encourage achievement – as well as discouraging disruptive behaviour! However, to get everyone on board, your reward programme needs to be communicated effectively. A printed incentive board provides a constant visual reminder to the whole classroom.

Investing in a printed vinyl reward chart or leaderboard enables you to create something that’s completely reusable.

Make break times more exciting with outdoor play equipment

With a reported fifth of children in the UK not getting outdoors enough, it’s important schools encourage outdoor play wherever possible. Children of all ages enjoy spending quality time outside and investing in hardwearing outdoor play equipment helps to create a safe, engaging outdoor space that can withstand everyday use.

Something as simple as custom printed signs can create small focal points for playground games, as well as brighten up the surrounding space. And choosing outdoor games that are fixed to a wall or floor avoids the hassle of having to store them securely when they aren’t being used.

These ideas are by no means exhaustive and every school will have their own unique way of engaging their pupils. We work alongside you to help create signs and graphics that represent your school’s values and fit within your budget.

Got an idea for an interactive display for your school? Get in touch with our team today and we’ll help you make it a reality!

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Back in 2013, the University of Salford completed a study that found classroom environment can affect children’s academic progress by up to 25%.

Since then, architects and designers have cited this in relation to the development of new and innovative school buildings across the country.

But when there’s no new school building in the pipeline, is it still possible for you to improve your school environment to better engage your pupils?

Yes, it is, and it’s possible to do it cost-effectively too.

Graphic print is a fast and affordable way of transforming classroom and shared spaces, helping to freshen up your existing building and create a more fulfilling learning environment for the whole school to enjoy, in the process.

There are no limits on the way signs and graphics can be used creatively within your school, but as a starting point, here are the three main types and how best to use them.

2. Window and wall graphics

Transforming dull and empty walls with bright, visual graphics not only makes an environment more appealing, but the right messages can also help to keep your pupils motivated.

Why not get your pupils and staff involved in designing the scheme? This is a great way of creating shared sense of pride in the school as a whole and helping pupils and staff feel invested.

3. Educational displays

Interactive wall displays are a fantastic way of encouraging engagement within classrooms and can be used by teachers and pupils alike as the centrepiece of activities and lessons.

Surface materials, like dry wipe and magnetic boards enable you to use them as learning tools again and again, for a huge range of different activities.

3. Banners and flags

The fantastic thing about banners and flags for schools is that they are simple and cost-effective to change, meaning you can keep your messages fresh and up-to-date the whole year round.

Whether you want to celebrate school achievements or display motivational messages, flags and banners are quick to produce and can be stored away and used whenever they are needed.

Got some ideas for enhancing your school environment? Get in touch with our team today and we’ll help you transform and get the most from your space.

The post How to cost-effectively transform your school environment using graphic print appeared first on Digital Plus.