The best digital signage projects, as chosen by Canadian experts
by The CommerceLab — Dec 3 '13
Welcome
Welcome
In a world full of screens, making digital signs stand out—and have impact—is increasingly difficult. But some innovators are taking advantage of recent technological advancements to create inspired, informative and downright intriguing experiences in a variety of spaces. We asked six digital signage experts in Canada to choose the installation they feel best represents the direction the industry is going.
Uniqlo’s flagship retail store, NYC
Uniqlo’s flagship retail store, NYC
“It works because it was ‘designed in’ from the start. Digital screens were clearly factored in very early in the retail design process, because they are built into the walls all around the sales floor. They are not afterthoughts, which is so often the case with digital in retail. The store gets designed, the layout completed, and only then comes the question of, ‘OK, where can we put some screens?’ It also works because the creative is not over-the-top and therefore very expensive and usually unsustainable in terms of budget. It should inspire the retail sector to see what's possible when displays are part of the initial architectural and retail design process. It's really important for people in retail to understand that just throwing technology into their environments doesn't mean it will be effective. It has to be positioned properly, look like it belongs, and have a content strategy that's realistic and effective.” --DAVID HAYNES, FOUNDING MEMBER, THE PRESET GROUP AND CREATOR, SIXTEEN-NINE.NET (Burlington, Ont.)
Heineken video wall at Union Station
Heineken video wall at Union Station
“The image would change when someone approached the video wall (the bubbles would move around in response to the audience’s movement). I thought this interactive ad worked particularly well because the concept was simple. It grabbed people’s attention, got them engaged and helped reinforce the brand. I think this illustrates how a good interactive installation works.” --MAURICE DORAN, DIGITAL SIGNAGE CONSULTANT, MAURICEDORAN.COM (Ajax, Ont.)
The San Francisco Giants Social Café
The San Francisco Giants Social Café
Array Interactive architected and designed custom social visualizations at AT&T Park to display real-time Twitter and Instagram posts from players, reporters, industry pundits and other fans. And while a dashboard kept record of followers across social media platforms, presented trending topics, and fan photos, a series of other features encouraged and rewarded participation. “(I choose it) for the great concept, context and delivery. It’s a combination of touch and social interactivity.” -- DENYS LAVIGNE, PRESIDENT, ARSENAL MEDIA (MONTREAL)
The Lobby of the London Stock Exchange
The Lobby of the London Stock Exchange
“One of the very best in the world. It's mostly, but not entirely, MicroTiles. What I like about it is they made the message part of the actual building itself --pixels as an actual building material.” -- BOB RUSHBY, INNOVATION FELLOW WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO'S REAP ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM
The cockpit of an F-16
The cockpit of an F-16
“One installation that really inspires me is the use of digital signage by the Norwegian military to display real-time cockpit video from F16s to over half a million air show spectators on the ground. It demonstrates that there really is no industry or organization that cannot benefit from tailoring their message and delivering a targeted visual experience to engage their audience. There were many technical challenges that had to be overcome to make this project a reality and we were very proud to be a part of it.” -- DOUG BANNISTER, CEO AND DIRECTOR OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, OMNIVEX CORP. (Concord, Ont.)
Looking at Leap
Looking at Leap
“I chose a technology instead of an installation. It’s called Leap Motion. It's better than Kinect and other similar controllers. It detects your hand and or objects, and lets you draw, interact with web pages, digital signage content etc. Developers are working hard on creating apps for this. My imagination goes wild with the possibilities that this can bring us, and helps me be more creative and think about interactivity in a 3D space rather than only touch.” -- KEVIN POTT, VICE-PRESIDENT, iMEDIABUS (Trois-Rivieres, Que.)
Now it’s your turn: Offer your take on the examples above or share your own ideas of digital signage installations that define the best in the industry using the comment fields below!
