MOBILE, Ala. — FASTSIGNS® Mobile Bay has received national recognition for its work on the varsity football locker room at UMS-Wright Preparatory School, earning First Runner-Up in FASTSIGNS® International’s recent Project of the Year competition. The project was recognized in coverage by WhatTheyThink, a leading publication serving the printing and sign industry. The honor was announced during the 2026 FASTSIGNS® International Convention, where outstanding work from across the FASTSIGNS® network was celebrated, representing 790 locations in eight countries.
This recognition places FASTSIGNS® Mobile Bay among the top projects recognized across the FASTSIGNS® network. Within that national and international system, FASTSIGNS® of Mobile, Alabama, was honored for its work with UMS-Wright Preparatory School, a local institution with more than 130 years of history in Mobile.
Inside the Project:
The UMS-Wright project transformed the school’s varsity football locker room through custom floor-to-ceiling graphics that connected the program’s long history with a bold, modern visual experience. The design incorporated historic black-and-white imagery, updated branding elements, and a meaningful quote from longtime football coach Terry Curtis positioned at the locker room exit, making it the last thing players see before taking the field.
The project also required a uniquely creative approach to bring the school’s football legacy to life at a large scale. When original yearbook photos could not be enlarged successfully for mural use, the FASTSIGNS® Mobile Bay team worked with UMS-Wright leadership to develop a custom photo shoot concept, sourcing era-specific helmets and staging reenactments with current students to recreate the historic imagery with greater quality and impact. The result is a space that honors tradition while energizing today’s athletes.
“This project meant a great deal to our team because of the history behind it and the people it represents,” said Pauline McKean, owner of FASTSIGNS® of Mobile. “UMS-Wright is a special place to so many families in our community, and it was an honor to help create a space that celebrates the school’s football legacy in such a meaningful way.”
McKean also noted that one of the biggest challenges was ensuring that important donors, past leaders, and historic figures connected to the program were represented thoughtfully in the final collages, requiring multiple rounds of review and coordination. That attention to detail helped make the finished installation not only visually striking, but also deeply personal to the school community.
FASTSIGNS® Mobile Bay serves businesses, schools, and organizations across the Gulf Coast with custom signage, graphics, and visual communications solutions. This national recognition reflects the team’s continued commitment to creativity, craftsmanship, and meaningful local partnerships.
For more information about FASTSIGNS® Mobile Bay, visit fastsigns.com/mobile-al.