Bespoke Bronze & Brass Signage for The Glenlivet Distillery
The Glenlivet Distillery is the home of Glenlivet: the internationally renowned heritage Scottish whiskey.
Located in the heart of Scotland’s whisky-making country, Ballindalloch, as well as being Glenlivet’s global production centre, the distillery is shrine to all things Glenlivet, with a bar and showroom, tasting sessions and walking tours.
Case Study Details
Creative Partner: JFK Architects
Client: The Glenlivet Distillery
Design AgencyDisplayways and Blacksheep
Fit-out: JFK Signs Interiors
Location: London
Sector: Office and Workspace
In 2020, after 18 months of extensive renovations, distillery was completely redesigned to provide visitors a fully immersive experience to celebrate Glenlivet’s rich history and distillation techniques.
Having a strong reputation as brass and bronze specialist, we were delighted to be contacted by London-based signage company, Displayways, contracting on behalf of Pernod Ricard, to create the brass and bronze signage for the project.
The brief was to work with both Displayways and design agency, Blacksheep, in order to bring the brass and bronze signage for their interior design to life. The barrier they faced was that although they had visualised the signage, they didn’t know how to create the look, nor how to build it.
Therefore, we worked with them to understand the requirements of each design and recommend them the best sign format, material, and finish. For more details about the specific requirements of this brief, read the section below: Glenlivet: Spec Challenges
As Blacksheep’s interior design concept for the Glenlivet Distillery was, like the Glenlivet brand, luxury heritage, the signage requirement very much reflected this, asking for quality luxurious brass and bronze in a range of different formats and finishes.
Therefore, to create the signage suite, we used a host of specialist brass and bronze techniques. This included chemical etching, laser cut lettering, custom patination and lacquering. Led by Blacksheep’s highly creative designs, these techniques were applied across a range of signage formats, both high impact, such as back lit wall verticals, and nuanced, such as detail plaques.
The results:
We’re very proud to report that both contractor, Signways, and client, Pernod Richard, were very happy with the signage. Upon reviewing the final signage, Signway’s didn’t reject one sign. We also happy to continue working with Signways on other projects.
Glenlivet: Spec Challenges
Consultation
Process, material and budget advice
As Blacksheep only had a mock up of how the brass and bronze signage would look in their interior design plans, they sort our advice for its practical considerations.
As their signage spec required a large amount of brass and bronze, which is costly, we advised them on the best thickness to use to balance cost and quality.
In turn, as many of their signs were very large, we advised on safety matters. For example, cutting certain thicknesses of brass produced rough edges, that can cut skin, and therefore dangerous to the public.
Custom patinas
Glenlivet wanted a range of specific patinas (weathered finishes) on the bronze and brass signage. Specifically, they wanted the patinas to achieve an aged look that was still premium.
In light of this, in collaboration Glenlivet, with we experimented in our workshop to create a host of sample brass and bronze patinas to help them find the exact finish they were looking for.
This process enabled them to review and agree four custom patinas for their signage.
Creating custom patinas is challenging, requiring a detailed technical understanding of patination process, as well as an experience eye, so it was a challenging, but fulfilling task.
Quality Assurance
As the Glenlivet Distillery is Glenlivet’s flagship store, and therefore showcase centre for the internationally recognised brand, Glenlivet very understandably emphasised the need for the signage to be delivered at the highest standard.
We both ensure and reassure both Pernod Ricard and Signways, we set and operated by a strict review process through the whole project. This included providing technical drawings of each sign, providing samples and prototypes, frequent status updates, site visits, and production reviews.
Deadline
Due to the larger circumstances of the Distillery project, the deadline for the delivery of the signage was very narrow and therefore challenging.
