This feature was originally published in Sign Builder Illustrated‘s August 2024 edition.
Every effective sign starts with good design. The 2023 honorees of Alliance Franchise Brands’ Project of the Year competition show just that. Despite being crafted with different fabrication techniques, all of the projects had one thing in common: a solid design concept.
The annual awards program was open to all Alliance franchise members. Image360 Traverse City in Michigan won first place, while Image360 South Orlando in Florida, Signs by Tomorrow Arlington Heights in Illinois, and Signs by Tomorrow Rockville in Maryland were runners-up. Keep reading to view the projects that earned top honors.
WINNER
Image360 Traverse City, Michigan
Owners: Andrew and Amy Kohlmann
Client: Lake City Donor
Andrew and Amy Kohlmann started working with Lake City Schools in 2018 on the heels of their new campus expansion, providing an interior and exterior ADA-compliant room ID, wayfinding and building ID package. “It was this project that really solidified our relationship, leading to many future projects, including the Legacy Wall,” Andrew Kohlmann, Co-Owner, Image360 Traverse City in Michigan.
Kohlmann met with Superintendent Dr. Hejnal to discuss his vision for the Legacy Wall, including how it would pay homage to the donors who have supported the school over the years. The design needed to reflect how their contributions have helped build a strong foundation, create growth and leave a legacy for future generations. “This led us to the visual analogy of a tree as its features directly align with these aspects; roots, new growth, strength through changing seasons, long-living, enduring,” Kohlmann explains.
The layered tree design was a collaboration between four designers at Image360. “The end goal was to create a visually dynamic piece that conveyed movement while also being solidly planted,” Kohlmann recalls. The designers made thoughtful material considerations, namely the horizontal wood paneling behind the tree supplied by local craftsmen who support the school. This wood backdrop provides a surface for adding donor names to the display over time.
To create the stand-out effect, fabricators adhered brushed aluminum composite to black acrylic of varied thicknesses. In total, the tree involved seven layers of material, plus the wood backer. The team mounted the floating leaves to clear acrylic, enhancing the three-dimensional look. “We switched grain directions for each layer of brushed acrylic to make the display change appearance depending on the way the light hits it and your angle of view,” Kohlmann says. “For the gold-tone leaves and red and black plaques, we direct-printed transparent ink to allow the brushed metal finish to shine through.”
The many layers of heavy material for both the fabricators and installers. “We had to make some midstream changes—from different adhesives, hogging-out extra hidden material, changing bonding and installation methods,” Kohlmann recalls. “We also went through various iterations to find the best method to hide material seams as this display is quite large—over 10 feet tall.”
Installers transported the display’s carefully organized, prepared and packaged pieces on a flatbed trailer. “Each layer was installed separately utilizing countersunk mechanical fasteners hidden under the layer above,” Kohlmann says. “The wood backer made for a great attachment surface, as the tile wall under the wood was not as easy to attach to. It was a bit like a puzzle going together—a very large, heavy puzzle,” Kohlmann adds. “Thanks to careful preparation, pre-assembly and planning, it went together smoothly, but took multiple trips and many hours to finish due to its complexity.”
A public-school project of this magnitude didn’t happen overnight. Image360 first met with the client to begin ideation just before COVID-19 hit in 2020. After several rounds of feedback from stakeholders and adjustments, the design was approved and production began in fall of 2022. The installation was completed in spring of 2024, making the project a four-year endeavor in all.
The Image360 Traverse City location opened in 1990 under a different name, with a focus on quick-turn, simple signs and graphics. “While graphics and signs of all types are still our mainstay, we’ve expanded into experiential graphic design, 3D sculpture, acoustic paneling and other new markets,” Kohlmann explains.
Over the past several years, the shop has been named one of the Alliance Franchise Brands Project of the Year honorees on several occasions, winning the award in 2017 for client 4Front Credit Union and being named a runner up in 2018 for Hotel Indigo and again in 2022 for Miner’s North Jewelers.
“I’ve learned so much and gained tons of inspiration from fellow franchisees over the years, which fed into this project,” Kohlmann says. “It’s such a unique and beautiful piece, photos don’t do it justice. We’ve never made another display like it and so many talented team members put major effort in and overcame major obstacles to make it happen,” he adds. “We submitted this project to help highlight the efforts and people involved and are truly honored and grateful to have been selected.”
FINALIST
Image360 South Orlando, Florida
Owners: Marco and Ana Milliotti
Client: Sand Lake Elementary
For this project, Image360 South Orlando collaborated with local artist and graphic designer Kharolys Naranjo, who specializes in graphics tailored for children, to transform the walls of the Sand Lake Elementary School library into a vibrant, stimulating backdrop.
The team covered over 2,800 square feet of surface with custom-designed graphics, including cinderblock walls, windows, doors and columns. The graphics were printed on Arlon 6700 cast vinyl, which shop Owner Marco Milliotti and COO Ana Milliotti say they selected for its conformability, versatility and satin laminate.
FINALIST
Signs by Tomorrow Rockville, Maryland
Owner: The Goehrung Family
Client: QTS Data Systems
Signs by Tomorrow Rockville in Maryland installed three 17-by-10-foot channel-lit logos and letters for client QTS Data Systems.
Taking one and a half years in total, the project required a series of cranes, lifts and seven professional installers to fix the sign to the side of the building, including glass. Inside, the shop produced and installed cut metal letters for the Freedom Cafe and the Freedom Wall.
FINALIST
Signs by Tomorrow Arlington Heights, Illinois
Owner: The Looff Family
Client: Intertek
This exterior and interior signage package was custom designed and produced, shipped and installed for Intertek. Signs by Tomorrow Arlington Heights in Illinois printed the wall murals and vinyl graphics for the lobby entrance. The shop also fabricated dimensional logos and s directional sign overlay for the building’s exterior.
