A young patient, along with many other children, has benefitted from calming graphics created to ease their nerves when faced with particularly scary appointments.

Along with Artfelt, the arts programme run by The Children’s Hospital Charity, Signs Express Sheffield installed a series of wall graphics in the new Fluoroscopy Suite. The charity’s Herd of Sheffield trail successfully helped to fundraise for the suite to be built, and it will now be able to detect potentially life-threatening diseases and conditions. A new scanner provides moving X-Ray images to help with the diagnoses of patients.

Owner of Signs Express Sheffield, Steve Morris, explains: “Signs Express have worked with Artfelt on a number of projects for Sheffield Children’s Hospital. The relationship first came about when we were working alongside one of our long-standing clients, design agency The Cafeteria, on a project at the Hospital.

“The Hospital and Artfelt were impressed with our team’s level of service and expertise and so, wanted to work with us on future projects. Our team’s ability and willingness to be flexible and work around the challenges sets us apart from other companies.”

The Sheffield branch has worked with the Sheffield Children’s Hospital for several years, including a project surrounding the hydrotherapy pool, and providing graphics for various departments. Morris continues: “Signs Express (Sheffield) have installed wall art for several projects working alongside Artfelt including: wall graphics for a hydrotherapy pool at Ryegate Children’s Centre, wall graphics for the Eye Department, wall graphics and Perspex mobiles for treatment rooms and theatre corridors.

“There are also some other exciting projects coming soon. As well as working with Artfelt, Signs Express works directly with the Hospital and The Cafeteria to provide directional signage and other internal signage specially designed to uplift the Hospital’s atmosphere and create a calming environment.”

It can be a frightening experience for a child undergoing tests and scans. The graphics, designed by illustrator Tatiana Boyko, features a cityscape full of houses, trees, and ponds, with the aim to ease the patient’s nerves. Ella Sparham, who is 12-years-old, was recently at the hospital to use the new Fluoroscopy Suite. Her mother Claire, who accompanied her, says: “The experience using the new equipment was fantastic. Ella was immediately put at ease by the artwork in the room, and the radiographer explained very carefully what was going to happen and what the machine did. She was so scared to come for the appointment, because it is quite invasive, but everything went so well, she said she won’t be scared again.”

The project took one month to complete whilst working around the hospital’s schedule, and the soft signage was printed on signage grade vinyl using a Roland solvent printer.

Signs Express Sheffield often supports charities, and the firm’s owners like to give back to the community that they serve. Morris finishes: “Signs Express are always delighted to be involved in projects with Artfelt, especially when they make such a difference to the young patients and families at the Children’s Hospital. Every team member loves being part of the projects, as the outcome is always rewarding.”