Jockey Club: Celebrations, Transformations and Accessibility.

The Client

With the launch of a dynamic new brand, the 2023 Grand National presented an incredible platform on which to showcase this by means of a full suite of signage solutions ranging from stencil cut vinyl to projecting signs, acrylic displays, branded fascias and bespoke lightboxes.

DELIVERABLES

Graphic Design
Signage & Graphics
Lightbox Hire
Installation
D-Rig

Exceeding Expectations

In 2022, Heckford were selected to be involved with a core suite of signage requirements for the Grand National and the team at Aintree were so delighted with what was achieved that Heckford were asked to play a much larger role in the signage for the 2023 Grand National. 

In many ways, the suite of signage would be more important for 2023 as it was the first showcase of the new branding for The Jockey Club.

Celebrating the Legacy of Red Rum

The Irish Bar Transformation

The Irish Bar at Aintree racecourse has been a popular venue for many years, being a multi-function area of the site which welcome guests year round not to mention being a particular hive of energy at the Grand National. In 2023, we helped to deliver an incredible transformation into the RUM & GINGER BAR.

Impactful High Elevation Walls

The vast walls which sat 8m from the floor, framed by statuesque pillars presented an opportunity to present a timeline of Red Rum’s legacy. First our certified team undertook a detailed survey to map out the dimensions along with locations of specific fixtures to ensure critical assets were clear of those. We then produced full colour vinyl graphics, reinforced with matt laminate for longevity and protection and wrapped 35m length of the elevated walls along with the pillars to create an impactful finish which would be a talking point for all visitors.

Revamped tables and dynamic walls

The suite of tables in the Irish Bar provided a unique canvas for full colour graphic wraps, heat applied to echo the textures of the original wooden finish and then finished with formica colour coordinated trims.

Accessible Signage

The conversation around accessibility has gained momentum in recent years, and rightly so. Venues across the UK are increasingly recognising the necessity of creating accessible environments for both staff and visitors. One often overlooked yet essential aspect of this discussion is inclusive signage and this is another area in which we can help.

Signage plays a vital role in making venues more accessible. From signs indicating accessible routes, facilities, and emergency exits, to braille and tactile signs for visually impaired visitors, inclusive signage can drastically improve the experience for visitors with disabilities.

As part of it’s goal to lead the field in accessibility, the team at Haydock Park Racecourse tasked Heckford with updating their core remit of accessible signage.

Our team at Heckford visited site, surveyed the areas and proposed both changes to existing signage and interchangeable signage for their entrances, which allows the signs to serve different purposes based on the event taking place. Our in-house production team used state-of-the-art, multi-layered tactile printing to bring the accessible signs to life. You can discover more about our tactile printing below.

Interchangeable Gate Signage

Our in-house creative team set up the new designs to ensure brand compliance. 

The client needed the panels to be interchangeable, thus our production team created a solution by way of a black acrylic trim fitted to the panels, presenting a sleek and efficient way for replacement panels to be slid into place, communicating different messaging depending on the event. 

Braille

As part of our commitment to delivering the highest level of print solutions to our clients, Heckford recently invested in the VUTEK h3 – a fantastic technology which has re-imagined, reinvented, re-engineered and refined high-volume, superwide-format hybrid inkjet printing. 

Just one of the exciting applications of this technology is ‘Tactile Print’ which works by way multi-layer printing allowing us to print messaging as Braille.

Typesetting was not an issue as our Creative Studio are well versed in the specialised area of setting up of Braille characters. We then reverse printed the main graphic to the reverse of 5mm clear acrylic and then applied the Braille to the front. This resulted in an aesthetically sleek finish while being accessible.