CREATE Illuminated Studio Sign

Freestanding Excalis CREATE sign with multicolor illuminated letters and a black sculptural frame.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT · AWARDS & DISPLAYS

A freestanding illuminated CREATE sign, developed as a finished studio object with a matte black structure, white diffuser and adjustable RGBW light.

Project at a glance

Project: Studio CREATE RGBW sign
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Completed: May 2025
Dimensions: Approximately 3 feet × 9 inches × 3 inches
Materials: Matte black PLA+, structural white PLA+ and a diffuser
Capabilities: CAD, structural design, multicomponent fabrication, lighting integration and finishing

The brief

The project combined a word, a sculptural form and a source of light. Excalis developed CREATE as a physical sign that could stand on its own, bringing decorative lettering and illumination into a single finished object.

The challenge

Turning lettering into a freestanding product introduces questions that do not appear in a flat graphic. The letterforms need depth and stability, and the lighting has to fit within the structure. In this design, the balance of the R and A required attention so the sign could stand as intended.

The solution

The finished design uses Cinzel Decorative letterforms as the basis of the object. A matte black exterior creates the structure, while white components and a diffuser support the illuminated face. RGBW lighting at 60 LEDs per meter supplies color and white-light options, operated through a touchscreen controller and wall-plug power.

From lettering to an illuminated object

CAD development took approximately four days. Printing the components took about 36 hours, followed by the work of bringing the parts together and finishing the sign. The multicomponent construction connects the outward appearance to the practical needs of structure, light and assembly.

Across the project, Excalis treated the visible letterforms and the less visible construction details as parts of the same design problem. The result is a fabricated object with a defined footprint, depth and lighting system.

The result

The completed sign demonstrates the path from a graphic idea to a freestanding, illuminated product. The design is also represented in the Excalis shop.

Make your message physical.

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