Journey Land: Wayfinding & wraps for Journey Community Church

The team at Keen Signs & Graphics in Augusta, Georgia, recently completed an extensive wall wrap mural and signage project for Journey Community Church’s Journey Land. The project, which was printed on their Roland DG TrueVis XP-640 64-inch eco-solvent printer, showcases rich, vibrant colors along each wall as well as bold wayfinding signage. We chatted with Lane Keen, president and owner, and Elizabeth Agostino, senior account manager, to find out what went into this project.

How did this project come about?

Keen: We were referred for this project by another company that wasn’t able to take it on. The project comprised producing and installing interior graphics as part of a complete renovation of the children’s area at Journey Community Church.

Can you walk us through the design process?

Agostino: The client worked with a marketing company, and I met with both the owner and the marketing company to discuss the project. I provided the marketing company with exact measurements so that they could design the graphics for each area of the building.

What about the fabrication process?

Keen: This was the job that forced us to buy a new Roland DG printer. We have had Roland DG equipment since we started the business 16 years ago.

We looked at the whole market, including different ink types, and decided that eco-solvent printing was still the best option for our product mix. We purchased the Roland DG TrueVis XP-640 high-speed eco-solvent printer because we were familiar with Roland DG’s reliability and quality. In addition to printing at incredibly fast speeds with outstanding image quality, the new XP-640 also has a wider color gamut, which helped us hit the vibrant shades in this project. In total, we printed a little under 2,200 square feet of graphics.

What can you tell us about the installation process?

Agostino: The installation process went pretty smoothly. Our new printer printed accurately, so the panels lined up well, and the inks were smooth and dried well for lamination.

In total, we applied graphics to aluminum composite material, wayfinding signs attached to a central beam, and then installed wall murals downstairs throughout the classrooms and hallways. We also applied graphics to the stairwell, elevator doors, the upstairs lobby, and the upstairs hallways. We were able to do the work with a two-person installation crew.

What was the timetable, and what did it take to complete the signage/mural?

Agostino: Once we got the proof approved, it took us about four weeks to produce and install the graphics. The construction crews were working on the renovation in three phases, and as each phase was completed and its walls were prepped, we’d come in for two days to install the graphics.

What were some of the major challenges?

Agostino: The stairwell was definitely the most challenging area because the graphics had to line up perfectly. Our new XP-640 printer helped ensure that the prints lined up well, and once we got those prints installed, the rest of the installation went pretty smoothly.

Were there any aspects of the project you found particularly unique?

Keen: The sheer size of this project was probably the most unique aspect of it. We touched almost every wall with graphics and even wrapped the elevator doors and the stairs.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about the project?

Agostino: The clients absolutely loved the way the project came out. The students came in when it was finished and couldn’t believe it — they had no idea what to expect, and they were so excited to see all the colorful graphics.