Project highlight: UConn Football Dawg Pound

For over a decade, AMI Graphics has partnered with University of Connecticut’s athletic department on a number of branded signage projects across its athletic programs (including wall murals). In spring 2022, they engaged us to develop branded signage for the “Dawg Pound,” a new recruiting center for Husky Football to host and meet with student-athlete recruits.  As the vision for the project came together, we landed on these products for the redesign:

The AMI process

  • Collaboration and Consultation:  Through one-on-one meetings onsite, our sales team worked hand-in-hand with UConn to understand the vision and overall scope of the project.
  • Site Survey:  As part of our collaborative process, our site survey involved walking the facility with our UConn Athletics partners, talking through the vision, understanding the recruit journey, and taking precise measurements for concept design. 
  • Design Concept and Development:  Utilizing information from our consultation and site survey visits, our AMI Graphics team worked closely with UConn Athletics to develop a project proposal with product recommendations and concept renderings that realized the vision for the “Dawg Pound.”
  • Production and Installation: After finalizing the design, our AMI Graphics team produced and installed to the exact scope of the approved design. 

From the outset, the goal of the project was always the same: to create a functional space that would create excitement by immersing visitors and recruits in the Husky brand allowing them to envision themselves as student-athletes at the University of Connecticut. 

dimensional signage

Designing a Branded Vision

Show us walls, windows, doors or any empty space, and we’ll show you signage solutions and designs that will transform your space into a highly engaging branded experience! 

Having completed our initial consultation and site survey with our UConn partners, we transitioned to the design stage.  Utilizing wall murals and window graphics, our AMI Graphics team went to work on transforming these empty spaces into a branded experience that embodied the Husky football program’s vision for the “Dawg Pound.” 

Wall Murals & Window Graphics

Wall murals are a cost effective way to leverage wall space to enhance your brand visibility and engagement with intended audiences.  From locker rooms, offices, hallways and staircases, to outdoor rough surface wall areas, there are a number of adhesive solutions to transform any space. 

For the ”Dawg Pound” we landed on a wall mural design with a graffiti effect for each wall and structural post.  Outside the entrance, we used the wall mural to also serve as directional signage by including an arrow pointing directly to the “Dawg Pound” entrance door. 

Door and window graphics using a frosted glass effect also employed the graffiti style, helping to create a more immersive branded experience for recruits and personnel inside the “Dawg Pound.” The adhesive graphics with the frosted look included the classic Husky logo, sponsor Nike logo, and the “Dawg Pound” in graffiti-style text. 

Much like wall murals, window graphics are a glass-friendly way to extend branding with unused real estate.  With both see-through and opaque options, window graphics have the flexibility to help create privacy for spaces that require it. 

Frosted window graphics are a very popular option for branding blank windows and doors.  Made from our custom vinyl decals and lettering, they create the appearance of a premium high-end etched glass while also providing a layer of privacy. 

Dimensional Signage

Dimensional signage captures the attention of visitors and adds visual appeal. Each design we create is custom to meet the unique objectives of each project. There are a number of different material options to choose from when designing dimensional signage including the additional element of LED backlighting signage. As seen above, the lit 3D Connecticut Football sign really pops off the wall while also serving as directional signage. 

Adapting with Challenges

Every project we undertake is unique and comes with its own unique challenges. That’s why we set expectations up front and manage them along the way. We also adapt well when changes arise. Ongoing communication is important, as well, especially on a project like this one that had multiple stages of installation. It was a three-month process, starting with wall graphics and moving on to dimensional signage installation.

In the end, we delivered a branded signage solution that embodied the vision for the “Dawg Pound” and achieved the objectives for the Husky football program.  AMI handled everything from design through installation on this project, and we’d be pleased to partner with you on every aspect of your next redesign project. Contact our team today.