Creating a Signature Statement Piece
Integrating a large-scale Oat Foundry kinetic wall installation into a high-traffic space transforms it instantly. Our Split Flap, Picture Flap, and Chroma Flap displays are built to order, possessing the scale and commanding sensory qualities necessary to set the tone for your lobby, office or public space. Whether deployed as a statement wall, moving mural, cultural landmark, office centerpiece, or legacy or donor wall, these custom installations bridge nostalgia and contemporary design needs while offering sustainability and longevity.
So, how do you go about integrating one into your space?
STEP #1
Identify where a custom installation enhances your space
A large-scale custom display will enhance your space, but to maximize its effect there are a few key considerations to make first. Think about what “job” the installation needs to “do” in the space. This is the quintessential “why?” behind the project – what effect are you hoping to achieve with the installation?
For Picture Flap displays, the content is inherently custom, which allows for remarkable creativity. Beyond communication and design applications, we’ve had clients use displays for everything from Live Split Flap Tater Tot Counters to Selectable Picture Flap Photo-Op Backgrounds. In every use-case, kinetic displays create a one-of-a-kind tactile experience that can only be experienced live. It’s that physicality that makes the displays so incredibly engaging and memorable.
With large-scale displays, textual messaging can work, but their advantage lies in visual communication. This quality lends itself well to massive, spirit-filled venues like sports stadiums or school campuses where universally understood iconography quickly reinforces a sense of identity. But they can be extremely effective at showing brand values, projects, or products instead of telling customers about them in smaller branded spaces as well.
Lobbies for office spaces and condos or apartments often use their analog displays to communicate identity to guests and residents. The Walker Center in Salt Lake City features a mix of text and vibrant colors to welcome guests and display classic Utah imagery like the silhouette of a mountain. Similarly the Heritage Towers, an apartment community outside of Dallas, proudly displays their lone-star love with iconic photographs from around Texas on their Picture Flap display. The kinetic installation at Best Friends Pet Resource Center works as a portfolio wall, showing visitors dozens of the adorable animals they’ve provided aid for over the years.
The custom Split Flap installation for the Walker Center in Utah was 20 rows x 24 columns (10.4 ft x 5.9 ft) with 6 custom screen-printed colors.
Custom installations do a great job fostering conversation not just from brand to guest, but between guests as well. In the Nespresso flagship store in New York City, a large analog statement wall uses a mix of text and colorful flaps to create images and logos as well as written messages. The board cultivates a social atmosphere, providing a sonic backdrop for chatter and an engaging point of conversation for cafe guests.
Knowing where to place a kinetic installation is key to ensuring the installation pulls off its “why?” Moving murals make great office centerpieces or brand walls, so many clients opt to place them front-and-center to maximize visibility. Strategic placement, though, can enhance their effect. The University of Arizona Picture Flap display is mounted directly outside of a large conference room where guests will inevitably mingle and network before and after events. That strategic placement greases the wheels for collaboration and interaction in a space designed to foster exactly that.
Thinking about the context of the space itself is important, too. Is it a transitive space visitors are passing through on their way to somewhere else? The first space customers see and associate with your brand? Does the space honor a specific group of people or institution?
Considering all of these questions will shape the initial vision for your kinetic wall installation. Every Oat Foundry project begins with a conversation to discuss all of those points and more to ensure your vision comes to life.
The Nespresso statement wall in New York City covers over 100 square-feet at the entrance and has 42,000 custom-printed flaps.
Photo credit: RISE DBI
Every installation is modular & built-to-order
STEP #2
Consult with the Oat Foundry team
In the initial conversation, the “why?” and the “where?” are key driving factors, but that’s also when we’ll start thinking about the little details that make big differences. In the consultation, you’ll be able to see a demonstration of our boards and gain an understanding of how they might look and feel in your space, and how you’ll go about operating it. We’ll talk through the details: custom colors, fonts, symbols, images, and dimensions. We’ll discuss budget, installation styles, and answer any questions you may have about the scope and needs of your specific project.
For Picture Flap projects, we’ll work with you to showcase your custom artwork, portfolio pieces, or any image that best represents your brand in a dazzling and engaging way. Our most captivating displays capitalize on the modularity of Picture Flap, using a variety of artboard layouts to keep guests guessing what might come next. By alternating between high-quality hero images, collaged spreads, and one-image-per-module tiles, designers create displays of any shape or size, keeping some areas static while others rotate to display new work.
For Chroma Flap projects, the bounds are limited only to your imagination. We’ll help you find the perfect 50 hues for your space and future art needs – whether that means bright, pop-art colors or a limited brand-forward palette to seamlessly dovetail with your interior scheme. Whatever your pallet, Chroma Flap can display any image once it’s mapped through our free proprietary content management system Portal.
After the call, either myself (Colleen) or my colleague Kristy Brunhofer will be available to answer any further questions that didn’t come up in the consultation. After discussing with our product team, we’ll communicate an estimate for your project.
Sales Director Kristy Brunhofer (left) & Senior Sales Rep Colleen Wilson (right)
STEP #3
Project finalized, display ordered
After the initial conversation, we’ll work together to finalize those key details. Once size, color, artwork, customizations, and budget are all decided, we move on to our favorite part of the process: production. Every Oat Foundry analog display is built to order in our Philadelphia shop. Each board contains tens of thousands of individual parts, many of which our technicians have to assemble by-hand one at a time – here’s how.
Once the board is complete, the process of shipping is just as bespoke as its production. We’ve sent boards via truck, plane, and ship to countries around the world. We coordinate closely with our shipping partners throughout the journey to ensure safe delivery.
Nolita Hall’s beautiful centerpiece Split Flap has been running since 2018.
155-square-foot custom Split Flap lobby installation
STEP #4
Installation and Daily use
Displays are simple to install, and all the details about mounting or hanging will have been solidified before production, but we do offer installation services for an additional fee.
Once installed, we recommend choosing authorized users who will “own” the board. These users will take responsibility for deciding what content gets displayed and when. There is also the option for “set it and forget it” daily use. Using our packed content library, owners can schedule the displays on an ongoing basis, deciding how often the board changes in Portal. Intuitive and easy to use, the software is similar to Google Calendar where specific increments of time can be assigned to display different images.
Portal also includes a suite of animations so your board can put on a show as it flaps between your images and designs. We’re also happy to work with you to develop custom animation patterns to fit the specific needs of your brand and artwork.
Once you’re up and running, maintenance is remarkably simple. Our analog displays only require dusting twice a year, and are built to last for decades.
Why Oat Foundry?
To make an impact in large, busy spaces with a custom installation, you need an equally large and captivating solution. Oat Foundry Split Flap analog display boards cut through distractions with lively kinetic motion and sound that grabs attention and leaves a lasting impression.
Oat Foundry is the only US-based producer of fully customizable Split Flap displays. Our boards can be scaled to fit any unique space, with the number of rows and columns fully customizable. We’ve created everything from long single lines of text to entire kinetic wallscapes. Oat Foundry Split Flap displays can be customized from frame to flap with enterprise color-matching, unique fonts, custom symbols, logos, images, and colored flaps.
Oat Foundry is sometimes compared to other consumer signage brands that create smaller versions of Split Flaps, typically in the early stages of a design. The largest of these off-the-shelf displays are around 41” wide x 22” tall, similar in size to a computer monitor. Available in either Black or White, these displays are only legible from 4-5 ft away and are a good fit for individuals with a $5,000 budget or under – typically in residential spaces.
