6 Interesting Possibilities for Future Vehicle Graphics

What will future vehicle graphics be like? For the following predictions, I sought the advice of our knowledgeable TKO Graphix Staff. Most of these predictions are beginning to appear, but we’ll see more of them in the future. If you want to stay on the cutting edge with your fleet graphics here are a few of our future vehicle graphics predictions. 

Future Vehicle Graphics

1. More Small Businesses and Organizations Will Use Vehicle Graphics

Digital printing is so cost effective that many smaller businesses and organizations with fewer vehicles, will utilize vehicle graphics. One trend we see is more small businesses wrapping their company vehicles just like the big players in their industry. Here’s an example from TKO Graphix and TKO Marketing Solutions Sales Executive, Jack Woodlock.

“I had a Bryant dealer in Southeast Florida that had an HVAC company. He only had one service van, but I finally convinced him to have us decal his van. About two weeks later, he called me and apologized that he had not decaled it before then. He said, several times after his van was decaled, people in his community said, “Your business must really be growing, I see your vans everywhere!”

2. Wrap More Than Vehicles with Graphics

The trend to wrap all sorts of vehicles, not just large trailers, will continue, and wraps will include more than just vehicles. Buildings of all types, public and private, will be partially or completely wrapped.

How big can a building wrap be? How about a 12-story office building? Check out this article (and photos) from leading sign industry magazine, Sign Builder Illustrated – Discovering the Wonder of 3M’s Building Wrap. “The building wrap covers nearly the entire East and West sides of twelve-story Building 220. The project included 487 sections per side that fit together like a mosaic to reveal a final image that encouraged people to be actively curious.”

3. The Industry Will Continue to Become Greener

Future vehicle graphics will be completed using milder solvents and greener inks. Steam will be used to remove decals, and more recyclable materials are in the future. One example is Eco-solvent inks. Eco-solvent inks are more environmentally friendly. These inks use less volatile organic compounds (VOC) than standard solvent inks. The EPA explains VOC’S in this article, What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? “VOCs typically are industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene; fuel oxygenates, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.”

4. Artwork Technologies Will Keep Improving

We already have the WOW factor with digital printing, and we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. This is going to be amazing. Holographic, illuminated, and dimensional imaging will be common. And BTW, holographic vehicle graphics came to life in 2020. Wow. What will future vehicle graphics be? Some will be like this… 

The online magazine, Marketing Dive, shared this story in 2020, Puma brings targeted hologram ads to car roofs for NBA All-Star game.“Puma used a  holographic activation to promote its new Sky Dreamer sneaker around this year’s NBA All-Star weekend. Smart media displays projected 3D visuals of the shoe and Puma-branded basketballs on the roofs of parked cars near Chicago landmarks.”

5. You’ll See More Window Graphics

Removable window films on both vehicles and structures will replace traditional graphics, such as banners, posters, and painted windows. Modern window graphics add to the designer’s ability to share a message. Since the advent of adhesive vinyl graphics, made exclusively for glass, the game has changed. Would you like to see some examples? 10 Examples of How to Use Window Graphics to Make Your Vehicle Wrap More Effective

6. Better Materials Will Be Available

Improved materials such as more elastic, breathable vinyl will make for longer lasting, better fitting graphics. And there are many exciting experiments taking place with vinyl. Signresearch.org shared the following about future vinyl materials. “Internal illumination is now becoming a key driver of sign graphics, lighted walls and façades. This has encouraged the development of vinyl that can support graphics and images. These come in a variety of opacity levels as films or meshes. The ability to change color and appearance between day and night also has been a key area of focus with new vinyl materials.”

Future Vehicle Graphics Will Rock!

There you have it. A partial answer to what future vehicle graphics be like. Future vehicle graphics will be all of the above and more. If you’d like to stay ahead of the competition TKO Graphix can lead you into the future of fleet graphics. Let us help you create professional vehicle graphics that will promote your business and drive your brand for years to come.