First National Sign Making Day a Great Success

The very first National Sign Making Day was a great success. Schools across the country were hosted by leading sign companies who provided students with hands-on experiences and opened their eyes to potential career pathways in the industry. Some of the participating schools and sign businesses have shared their thoughts on the initiative.

Students from James Hargest College in Invercargill visited Creation Signs where they were welcomed with interactive activities that allowed everyone to try their hand at different aspects of sign making. “The students thoroughly enjoyed their morning. It was very interactive and hands on, so everyone got the opportunity to have a go at the various activities and came away with a clear understanding of what signwriting involves,” said a school representative. Creation Signs shared, “National Sign Making Day was a fantastic chance for us to share what sign making is all about and showcase our diverse industry to students.”

In Christchurch, five students from Haeata Community Campus were hosted by award-winning company Signtech. Design and Technology teacher Dallas Matoe led the visit and described it as an extremely valuable experience for his students. “Signtech pulled out all the stops for us. The students were buzzing when we returned to school and haven’t stopped talking about it since. Each of them created their own sign to take home, and it’s clear that the experience left a lasting impression,” said Matoe.

He added that the visit gave students a clear understanding of the real-world relevance of their classroom learning and even sparked genuine interest in signage as a career path. “To say that it has left a lasting impression on these students would be understating its impact,” he said. “This was an exceptionally inspiring trip. Thank you very much to the team at Signtech. We were really impressed by your team, the company, and the warmth, time (and materials) that you made available for us.”

At Big Brown Industries in Auckland, students from Takapuna Grammar School were treated to an inspiring session hosted by Jeremy, who opened up his creative workspace to showcase the tools and techniques of the trade. “Thank you to NZSDA and Big Brown Industries for an inspiring morning with our students! Jeremy generously offered his time, skills, and provided some amazing hands-on experiences. It was a fantastic opportunity and a great day all around,” the school shared.

Seven students from Tauranga Boys’ College visited Alternative Graphics Design, where they got up close with professional sign making tools and processes. “Hands-on, practical experience of any trade is essential for decision making about next steps for school students,” a school spokesperson said. “Our boys had the chance to see the printers in action, try weeding and apply graphics to different substrates. It gave them a real taste of what a future in this industry could look like.”

National Sign Making Day has proven to be a meaningful opportunity for students to explore career possibilities in a creative and growing industry. Many students have expressed interest in pursuing sign writing as a career – which is what the day was all about. 

The New Zealand Sign and Display Association (NZSDA) thanks all participating schools and sign businesses for helping make this initiative such a success. Several businesses keen to participate were unable to make it work on the day, so are hosting their visits later in the month. There is also loads of interest already expressed in making the event even bigger next year. 

Following the visits, four students have expressed interest in exploring sign making through the Signee Pre-trade programme through their school. Jeremy and Aaron have both offered to take on a student each, but we are still needing work placements for the other two. Could this be you?

To further our efforts, Melissa will be flying the Signee flag along with some active members that have put their hands up to support and donate their time and expertise to showcase our industry in Auckland in May and June at three 2-day Career Expos.