I ❤️ FOL – A Vibrant Centrepiece for the Festival of Lights

About This Project

Our client asked us to design eye-catching Festival of Lights illuminated signage to support their citywide #iloveFOL campaign. They had already launched posters and t-shirts, and now wanted a bold visual piece to light up the space and bring the message of life. The result was the I ❤️ FOL sign – protable, RGB-lit, and a huge crowd favourite. 

We created the I ❤️ FOL sign as a vibrant centerpiece. It featured first at a city pop-up alongside our Hop Scotch interactive feature. It gained so much attention that the client later moved it to Pukekura Park, where it welcomed visitors at the main entrance and again at the Teahouse, overlooking the lake.

Smart Construction, Eye-Catching Design

Each letter was built from Foam PVC, with LED modules on the front and RGB LED ribbon on the back. The heart glow from both sides, using RGB modules and ribbon wired through an amplifier and controller. The colour cycles through a full RGB sequence, creating a constantly shifting light show.

To keep the structure clean and durable, we used 120mm folded aluminium for the sides and fitted opal acrylic faces. The letters sit on stainless steel spacers above a matte white ACM panel, which reflects the halo light beautifully.

Built to Move, Built to Last

We knew this sign would need to travel. So, we designed the aluminium frame with hidden lifting points for safe transport by hiab truck. It also includes:

• Sockets to fit signfix poles
• Strap points to secure it to fences or balustrades

This flexibility allowed the team to install the sign in multiple locations with ease and minimal setup.

Huge Impact, Bigger Plans

The sign was a hit in every space it appeared. Its colourful light show and playful message made it a magnet for photos and social media posts. The client couldn’t be happier and have already asked us to start planning next year’s version – with one exciting new idea: ‘Can we float it on the lake?”  Challenge accepted.

We were super proud to be awarded with a GOLD Medal at the 2021 New Zealand Sign & Display Awards in the Illuminated Signs Category for our work on this project.