Variety is the spice of retail, especially when it comes to developing displays.
The truth is that no two displays are alike, and that necessitates not only a deep well of proven engineering techniques to draw from, but also an open-mindedness to explore new approaches.
Here are some ways the Spectas engineering team embraces the challenge of so much variation in their day-to-day:
- Have a go-to source of solutions, but don’t be constrained by them. While it’s critical to have a “tool belt” of techniques for executing certain design elements—tube bending radii, fasteners appropriate for certain locations, material thicknesses, etc.—limiting oneself to a particular set of solutions tends to result in a series of displays too similar-looking to be truly dialed in to the array of clients we partner with. Furthermore, it’s important to develop a “can do” mindset when it comes to executing design elements critical to the brand. It can be tempting to default to the same group of techniques when engineering, but oftentimes representing key design elements can require a willingness to think outside the box.
- Let material properties be your guide. Need material thickness, but a solid color? Consider powder-coated wood. A wood-look finish on a thin substrate? Print a grain color on styrene. Does a header element require a floating look? Use clear acrylic to bridge the gap. These are just a few of the ways in which our engineering team utilizes the intrinsic qualities of each material to achieve the desired look.
- Lean on your teammates for solutions to sticky problems. A member of another team can encourage our engineers to consider a challenge from another perspective, or shed light on which elements to prioritize when bringing a display to life. For example, a model maker can volunteer a fabrication technique to achieve a bend angle, or a radius, previously thought unrealistic. And our designers are all too willing to speak to which branding elements on a concept are non-negotiable, and which have some “wiggle room.”
The Spectas engineering and product development team has an enviable track record of bringing an incredible variety of brand stories to life. We look forward to solving your unique retail challenge!