Since the turn of the century, what creators and technologists alike have been able to achieve with digital signage has been nothing short of astounding. From the ever-changing spectacles in New York’s Times Square and London’s Piccadilly Circus to the ambitious and inventive retail displays seen across the globe, everywhere you go today you’ll find examples of genuine digital dynamism at work.
But here, we’ll be focusing on 5 of the most creative and unique creations that utilise the medium in ways never before thought possible.
1. The “Theatre of Experience” at Changi Airport in Singapore
Singapore’s Changi Airport has long been hailed as the “best airport in the world” and it’s easy to see why. It’s essentially a theme park that just so happens to also house an international airport. From massive gardens and shopping malls to playgrounds, butterfly gardens and so much more, it’s a true tourist destination. Even the security screening is exciting thanks to the gorgeous immersive “living” LED wall in terminal 4 that truly needs to be seen to be believed.
2. A 7 million pixel screen
Obscura Digital was commissioned by the San Francisco company Salesforce to completely reimagine their lobby. What was once a dull 108-foot long wall was transformed into the longest LED screen in the US. The best part, however, is the resolution which was a shocking 8,000 x 800 pixels. That’s over 7 million pixels. The content is pretty spectacular too, with a day/night cycle that subtly shifts throughout each day, skirting a fine line between realism and hyper-realism.
3. The evolving canvas in Washington DC
Located in the US capital, this 1,700ft, motion-activated display from ESI Design transforms what would otherwise be a quite bland wall space into a moving experience. From one moment to the next you’ll never be sure what’s coming up but you can be assured that every movement will take your breath away.
4. A Wifi-enabled public art project in Newport
This art project was dubbed the “Six Pillars of Wisdom” and was dreamt up initially by sculptor Andrew Small as a combination of digital and industrial art. Spectra was commissioned by Small to create six flexible LED panels that would be attached to the tips of the six pillars. The content on the pillars would then be controlled remotely over Wifi, with the loops of content developed by the local community. A truly unique installation that we were truly honoured to be a part of.
5. Stepping into an enhanced reality in Las Vegas
There are few places on earth as genuinely intimidating as Las Vegas. Sin City might as well be Disney World for adults given the sheer breadth and variety of entertainment, sights and sounds. But in the lobby of the Cosmopolitan hotel, you’ll find something altogether more serene; an immersive experience built entirely out of LED displays and mirrors based around 8 giant columns. The result is a dazzling dreamscape the likes of which exists nowhere else on earth.
6. A theatre in the sky in London
The top twenty storeys of the iconic Shard building in London have been used as a dazzling LED lighting display for years now. The last time it was used in a significant way was New Year 2021. The hundreds of LED displays adorning the top of the building were lit up to create a morse code message wishing Londoners a happy new year in a display that was deemed the “highest light show in Western Europe.”
Image: Grzegorz Czapski / Shutterstock.com
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