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Introducing Aspire – A New Sign System by APCO

July 15, 2021

Sometimes, less is more, and simple is better. And sometimes, it’s the subtle design details that matter. These thoughts were central to our design approach with Aspire, APCO’s newest interior sign system.

Aspire is a capture rail system that offers a nice alternative to the round stand-off hardware used so commonly to retain sign plaques and other displays off of a wall surface. The system is comprised of a 2-part extruded aluminum assembly with clean lines and soft radius edges and features a low-profile, 5/8” depth.
Clean Lines with No Exposed Hardware
A benefit of any type of stand-off system is the ability to capture translucent displays, so that was a primary focus for us when developing Aspire. Especially for translucent plaques, we felt it was essential to design Aspire so no hardware or mounting screws would be visible. We wanted the system to be as clean and simple as possible, putting the spotlight on the sign panel itself, not the capture rails. While on the surface this seemed easy enough, concealing all hardware proved to be a challenge. We like to say Aspire is deceptively innovative.
In the end, we were able to achieve all of our design objectives with this new product:
  • a clean, simple design with no visible hardware
  • a modular, updatable solution
  • an environmentally friendly product, using minimal components and incorporating recyclable materials
  • the ability to capture panels from 1/8” to 1/4” in thickness (including 1/8” satin anodized aluminum and 1/4” acrylics)
  • the ability to capture paper displays
  • a tamper resistant solution (with no visible hardware and a special tool required for display removal)
A Perfect Fit For A Variety of Environments
While Aspire was not intended to replace a comprehensive, multi-component product like APCO’s Elevate or FullView systems, we feel it is the perfect fit, both aesthetically and functionally, for numerous environments and signage needs:
  • Multi-family
  • Hospitality
  • Corporate
  • Museums
  • Libraries
  • Donor Recognition
We’ve been designing interior and exterior sign systems at APCO since the late 1970’s, and we have plenty of design awards under our belt. Needless to say, there’s a lot of pressure and expectations whenever we introduce something new. We’re excited about Aspire though and excited to introduce a system that offers a fresh look and solutions for needs beyond our existing range of products.