Core77

My first-ever ID job was in environments design (stores and exhibits), and while it was a long time ago, one thing I well remember is the smell of Spray-Mount and the high churn rate of foamcore. Exhibits and in-store displays that were not permanent required using spray adhesive to mount large prints to foamcore boards. If the product got updated or the copy changed, well, get more foamcore and spray mount. If a convention attendee dinged a display with his briefcase, well, get more foamcore and spray mount. If the corners of the foamcore boards got damaged in transit, well—ah, you get the idea.

A Massachusetts-based company called Visual Magnetics has developed a technology that ought to have Spray-Mount and foamcore producers quaking. The Visual Magnetics Graphics System combines high-quality prints with magnetic-receptive media, vastly simplifying the installation and removal process. Best of all, the media is recycleable, backwards-compatible with existing printing technology, and has a few other tricks up its sleeve:

We first heard about the company because the School of Visual Arts has announced they'll be decking out their Innovation Lab with Visual Magnetics' stuff. Says Cheryl Heller, founding Chairperson of SVA's Design for Social Innovation program, "Visual Magnetics provided exactly what we were looking for—versatile, high-quality media that can be layered and replaced almost effortlessly to create a dynamic workspace that's as exciting as the program itself." And hopefully they'll be huffing less Spray-Mount.

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