Bringing the Outdoors In

The Client Base Camp Cullowhee

The Player Western Carolina University Print Shop

Tools & Supplies Mimaki JV3-160, General Formulations Concept 234 Graphi-Tex Wall
Film, Mimaki inks

The Job When the office of Western Carolina University’s Base Camp Cullowhee, an outdoor hiking and rafting program, moved from the Student University Center to a less traveled area of campus, it needed a way to somehow remain on students’ radar screens.

Student Affairs looked to create an eye-catching display to rally fellow students to explore the outdoors. The most traveled location on campus – University Center – was chosen for the display site, and the college’s own University Print Shop set out to bring the outdoors inside. To offer students a glimpse into the life of a print provider, shop manager Tom Frazier involved 10 student workers in every step of the production process, from the photography to the installation.

Production Student-based Western Carolina Creative Services served as photographers for the project, providing high-resolution images to the WCU Print Shop, which readied the files using Adobe Creative Suite. The shop furnished the client with a 12 x 18-inch proof, actually superimposed over a photograph taken of the project’s future destination.

Once approved, the images were output using the shop’s Mimaki JV3-160 printer onto 54-inch-wide General Formulations Concept 234 Graphi-Tex Fabric Wall Film. Two 14 x 14- foot panels were produced. Although the output proved to be smooth sailing, the installation was more like trying to paddle against the current: “We struggled to fi t a train-tunnel graphic perfectly onto elevator doors, and had an even harder time making the waterfall fit around the lip of the wall,” says Frazier. In addition, the WCU Print Shop added a three-dimensional element to the display – it affixed an actual kayak, which was cut in half and hung using an L bracket, complete with a lifelike mannequin equipped with an oar and helmet. And for an interactive element, the shop included an “Upcoming Events” solid color panel where students could post fliers.

“Working with the Print Shop not only makes students feel connected to the campus, it gives them a connection to the print industry and allows them to see the opportunities this marketing tool can offer them in the future.”
 

Western Carolina University Print Shop
printmail.wcu.edu