Printed Windscreen Brightens Elementary School Campuses

Windscreen, school logos, and outdoor graphics typically make you think of high school sports and athletic fields. As a result, high schools and colleges have been the primary market for windscreen and outdoor graphics. But, forward thinking elementary schools are beginning to recognize printed windscreen as a viable means to accomplish many of their branding objectives.

Due to heightened security, elementary schools are looking more and more institutional and less and less approachable. Structures are focused inward rather than outward. There is a greater use of chain link fencing to define and protect areas where children congregate. Sometimes, these measures cause the campus to look cold and unapproachable, especially to young students.

The branding challenges that schools face are numerous: how to make the school grounds look less intimidating to the students they serve, how to communicate messages of school spirit and fun; and how to create a welcoming environment for students to learn and grow despite the necessary security measures. One answer is finding ways to enhance the school exterior and grounds with welcoming messages and uplifting color.

A recent job by Ball Fabrics at Pinecrest Elementary in central Florida perfectly demonstrates how the combination of windscreen and playful graphics can soften the look of important security measures while welcoming visitors with messages unique to that particular student body.

The school’s bike rack, located near the entrance alongside the parking lot, is immediately visible to every visitor. Enclosing the space with chain link was an important security measure for children and bikes, but the bike rack looked stark and forbidding. The fence became a focal point for temporary banners that ended up looking messy and disorganized.

“School administrators wanted something more friendly and approachable,” explains Jon Ball, vice president of operations/president of Ball Fabrics. “They worked with our in-house graphics department to design windscreen sporting colorful, kidfriendly graphics. On one side is the school name, and the other side highlights the school’s mascot.”

Wrapping the printed windscreen around the enclosure did away with the messiness and accomplished several functions:

• The fence became an attractive outdoor board, branding the property and giving a shout-out to the school mascot with fun cartoon characters and attractive colors.
• It is playful and bright, greeting children as they are dropped off from cars and buses, visually softening the front of the school and immediately engaging onlookers. The bright graphics communicate that this is a place where fun things happen.
• It offers additional security where students linger to park bikes and gather their belongings.
• Printed windscreen is an easy, affordable way to soften and personalize a school campus, to communicate school attitude and philosophy, to visually engage visitors, to promote school messages and to heighten security.

“Since there are approximately three elementary schools to every high school, this represents a virtually untapped market for windscreen and outdoor graphics,” Ball says.

Windscreens can increase security yet soften and enhance the look of enclosed play areas, outdoor courtyards, and perimeter fencing.

For more information, visit www.ballfabrics.com.