SpeedPro Dallas Declared Winner of 2020 Project of the Year Award

SpeedPro Dallas recently won the 2020 SpeedPro Project of the Year award for its work on behalf of John Wayne: An American Experience, located at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. The SpeedPro studio jumped at the opportunity to honor the American icon through creative printing and graphics for the museum.

The general contractor of John Wayne: An American Experience approached SpeedPro looking for a quick turnaround ahead of the opening of the National Finals Rodeo.

Every visible element in the 11-room museum (other than memorabilia, costumes, display cases, the barn wood entrance, and station wagon) was produced and installed by the four-person team at SpeedPro Dallas in 16 days. With more than 8,000 square feet of rolled and rigid media printed and installed, the team illustrated the history and persona of Wayne.

SpeedPro Dallas worked directly with Wayne’s son, Ethan Wayne, and several designers to create a full display in homage to the Western actor. The museum was still being built while SpeedPro Dallas designed and installed the graphics and lighting, collaborating with contractors, electricians, and sound engineers throughout the venture.

In addition to the general wall, window, and floor vinyl and graphics, SpeedPro Dallas constructed a walkway of 5′ X 10′ backlit boxes, each with an image of John Wayne throughout his career. SpeedPro Dallas ensured the floodlighting was correct so that the graphics printed on acrylic panels weren’t washed out. LED lights were strategically placed to create a shadow effect across the image.

Another challenge for the print studio was maintaining the consistency of the print so that the color saturation was correct across walls as big as 35′ wide. By stitching together 16′ X 54″ sections of vinyl with 10-12 sections in a row, the print provider maintained the clarity of the image from panel to panel.

SpeedPro Dallas studio owner Mike Taylor says, “As a 67-year-old and a John Wayne fan since the ’60s, working with Ethan Wayne to make John Wayne’s life alive again was a thrill. It was a great experience, and I am very proud of it.”