That’s a Lot of Love

The Job As a 24/7 “caring” social network, CaringBridge serves as an online community that allows people to stay connected during illness or traumatic life circumstances. With more than 323,000 personal sites created on CaringBridge, it has helped 43 million visitors share and receive support. To honor its 15th anniversary, CaringBridge wanted to celebrate in a big way while doing what it does best – spreading the love. The idea: create the world’s largest greeting card while also setting the record for the most signatures on a card. For output and logistics, CaringBridge chose Big Ink in Eagan, Minnesota. With the project idea in hand, the “That’s a Lot of Love” project was born.

Production The graphics were designed by CaringBridge using InDesign and assets created by the agency Ideas That Kick, then approved via a soft proof. “We received the final art only two days before the project was due,” explains Trutna.

Using its EFI Vutek 3360 printer, the graphic was output onto Nazdar SourceOne Imagestar 13-ounce block-out smooth vinyl banner. “We spent a fair amount of time talking about the substrate,” says Trutna. “We knew the signatures would be done with Sharpies, so we eliminated fabric because it was too stretchy and expensive, and mesh because it was too transparent. We ended up with banner material because it was smooth, opaque, and worked with the budget.”

The banner panels were then seamed with a Sinclair Triad Wedge welder. At Minnesota’s Mall of America, the celebratory location, a team of installers hired by CaringBridge constructed a commercial steel truss frame with the help of mechanical lifts to support the 30 x 40-foot graphic. The frame was anchored by a cable that came off of the balcony of the atrium floor. Then, the graphic was stretched across the frame and held in place with clamps. The massive greeting card met both of its goals during its one-day installation: breaking the record for the largest greeting card, and with 2200 signatures, and setting the record for the card with the most signatures.
 

The Client CaringBridge

The Players Big Ink (www.inkbig.com)

Tools & Supplies EFI Vutek 3360, Nazdar SourceOne ImageStar blockout smooth vinyl banner, Sinclair Triad Wedge welder