Registration is now open for the virtual ISA Sign Expo April 7-9, 2021. All the sessions will be conducted online and at no charge.
The educational sessions at the live Sign Expo are always first-rate. So, if you have never attended a Sign Expo in person, here’s a great opportunity to see how ISA Sign Expo differs from conferences produced by printing organizations. Yes, some content does focus on digital printing. But sessions also cover topics related to digital signage, sign fabrication, experiential graphics, and vehicle wrapping.
Hosted by the International Sign Association, Sign Expo typically attracts professionals from sign companies and visual communications firms. Many of these professionals work with architectural designers to create and install both on-premise signage and branded environmental graphics in new and renovated facilities.
The 2021 virtual event features a mix of Titan Talks, Learner’s Hub sessions, Peer Networking opportunities, Speakeasies, and Sponsored Sessions. The opening Game Changer session on April 7 looks at the big picture for businesses and offers advice on how to anticipate and plan for change.
Game Changer Session: Confessions of a Corporate Futurist: Coming Trends That Will Revolutionize Your Business
As a corporate futurist, Sheryl Connelly spends her days thinking about global trends that will affect Ford Motor Company. As the Game Changer speaker at ISA Sign Expo 2021, Connelly will share secrets on how to think like a futurist, providing expertise and strategy for anticipating changes that will affect your business.
Connelly also will share the 10 megatrends that she’s currently watching, developments she believes will change the world as we know it over the next 30 years. Attendees will leave with a changed mindset of how to approach long-term planning and strategy.
“The Game Changer session has always been one of the most inspiring and popular sessions at ISA International Sign Expo, and this year’s topic is more timely than ever,” said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. “Attendees will come away with ideas that help them thrive, innovate and remain relevant in the midst of these massive shifts.”
This Game-Changer session is scheduled from 11:10 to 11:40 am, on Wednesday, April 7, immediately after the Sign Expo’s opening ceremonies at 11:00 am.
Titan Talks
In these sessions, ISA President/CEO Lori Anderson will conduct provocative interviews with leading innovators and thinkers from organizations that influence the sign and visual communications industries.
Guayente Sanmartin, General Manager of HP Large Format Business
Harry Patz, Senior VP and General Manager, Samsung
Matt Shay, President and CEO, National Retail Federation
Denise Rutherford, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs, 3M
Learners’ Hub
These sessions feature panels of professionals that work alongside sign and visual communications professionals. Here are just a few of the topics that will be covered:
SEGD Presents: Color Management Complexities from the Johnson & Johnson Museum
Presented by members of the Society of Experiential Graphic Design.
IFAI Presents: The Biggest Pictures in the World — Art Meets Large Format
Heidi Katherine, SVP, global design and development, for the brand experience design firm Moss, will presented this session on behalf of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.
Take the Pain out of Permitting
Presenters: Kenny Peskin. ISA VP of Industry Programs, James Carpenter, ISA Director of State and Local Government Affairs, and Megan Pyrtle of Allen Industries, a signage and architectural elements firm.
Marketing Your Business
Presenters: Experts from Signarama, a leading innovator in the signs and graphics industry.
SEGD Presents: Stadium Signage Innovations from the Super Bowl
Presented by members of the Society of Experiential Graphic Design.
Speakeasies
Choose the chat rooms that best match your interests. Experts and influencers will facilitate discussions that are designed to be both useful and fun. Here is a sampling of the planned sessions.
Most Pressing Industry Challenges: Project Management in the COVID Age
Discussion leaders: Experts from Sign Builder Illustrated (SBI).
Most Pressing Industry Challenges: Recruiting Qualified Works
Discussion leaders: Experts from SmartWork Media (published of Signs of the Times, and Big Picture)
Digital Printing & Interior Decor
Discussion leaders: Decor Columnist Rachel Nunziata and Big Picture Editor Adrienne Palmer
Sales Strategies
Discussion leader: Sales Coach and Author Bill Farquharson
Sponsored Sessions
Earn More Local Customer Projects with Wrapmate and 3M
Sponsored by 3M
Finding the Truth about Antimicrobial Additives in Films
Sponsored by 3M
Printing with White Ink Made Easy
Sponsored by HP
Digital Workflow: Enabling More Productivity
Sponsored by HP
Accessibility & the ADA Crash Course
Sponsored by Nova Polymers
Peer Networking
Visit breakout lounges in which you can network with your peers. Lounges will be dedicated to both professional and personal interests. For example, you can visit the Project Manager Lounge, Designer Lounge, Young Professionals Lounge, Sports Lounge, Pandemic Parenting Lounge, and many more. Each room will have facilitators and fun icebreakers to ease the awkwardness of talking to strangers.
Register
Learn more about the schedule and register for free at www.signexpo.org.
About the ISA
The International Sign Association (ISA) is devoted to supporting, promoting and improving the sign, graphics and visual communications industry through government advocacy, education and training programs, technical resources, stakeholder outreach and industry networking events. Members include manufacturers, users and suppliers of on-premise signs and other visual communications systems.