5-Foot Interactive “YOU”
Letters with Writable Surface

Delivered a massive 5 ft tall × 12 ft wide interactive “YOU” lettering installation with an ultra-smooth writable surface that allowed event guests to draw and sign with Sharpies — all in one easy-to-handle piece that installed quickly and created a memorable branded photo-op and guest engagement zone.

Project overview

An experiential event agency required a large-scale interactive installation featuring 5-foot-tall “YOU” letters on a wide base. The letters needed an ultra-smooth painted surface so guests could freely draw and write messages with Sharpies, turning the piece into a fun, shareable branded experience while remaining lightweight and easy to transport and install.

Context

• High-engagement branded activation where guests become part of the installation
• Letters had to function as both a visual centerpiece and an interactive guest activity

Constraints

• Extremely smooth surface required for clean Sharpie writing
• One-piece construction for the entire 12 ft wide unit
• Large size with easy on-site handling

Risks

• Rough or uneven surfaces would ruin the guest experience
• Heavy traditional materials would complicate delivery and setup
• Logistics and installation challenges for a wide, one-piece element

The Solution (Engineering Approach)

Material System

• EPS foam core – 1 lb/ft³ density
• Polyurea hard coating – 80 mil thickness
• Ultra-smooth finish primer + premium paint system

Structural System

• Internal reinforcement for stability
• Wide integrated black base for freestanding support

Fabrication

• Precision CNC hot-wire cutting
• One-piece construction

Customization

• Exact 5 ft tall × 12 ft wide dimensions
• Ultra-smooth white surface optimized for Sharpie writing
• Deep 3D letter profiles with crisp edges

System Architecture

Layer Structure

1. EPS structural core (1 lb/ft³) – lightweight core volume
2. 80 mil polyurea hard coating – impact resistance and durability
3. Ultra-smooth finish primer layer
4. Premium white paint system – perfect writable surface with UV protection

Before / After Comparison

BEFORE: Raw EPS foam after CNC cutting

AFTER: Fully finished 5 ft “YOU” letters with ultra-smooth white surface on wide black base, ready for guest interaction

Implementation Process

Step 1 — Design (3 days)

• Concept refinement and surface smoothness specification

Step 2 — Engineering (3 days)

• Structural stability and one-piece base design

Step 3 — Fabrication (8 days)

• CNC hot-wire cutting, polyurea coating, and ultra-smooth paint application

Step 4 — Delivery (1 day)

• Delivered on our own truck

Step 5 — Installation (same day)

• 2-person crew, no heavy equipment required

• 85% lighter than traditional wood or metal alternatives
• Ultra-smooth writable surface achieved for perfect Sharpie interaction
• One-piece 12 ft wide unit installed in under 2 hours
• Total project completed in 18 days
• 40% cost savings versus conventional fabrication methods
• High guest engagement with hundreds of drawings and photos created

Value Analysis (TCO)

Compliance & Engineering

•  Engineered for temporary high-traffic event use
• Durable 80 mil polyurea coating with smooth top layer resistant to repeated Sharpie writing and cleaning
• Lightweight design reduces setup time and venue requirements

Client feedback

“The letters looked amazing and the smooth surface worked perfectly — guests loved drawing on them and it created tons of great photos and engagement. Everything arrived and installed without any issues.”

— Project Manager, Experiential Event Production Agency