BELSAY HALL, CASTLE & GARDENS
Site-wide interpretation

As part of the Belsay Awakes project, we were commissioned to do the site wide interpretation. The key was to keep a light touch throughout to resonate with the spectacular architecture and magical landscape. We used charcoal grey panels to sit within the site with elegant white line illustrations by Claire Scully.

Sir Charles Monck was inspired by Greek and Italian architecture and designed Belsay Hall using stone quarried from the gardens. The interpretation is displayed on wooden tables – sympathetic to the remaining decoration.

We worked with the garden team to interpret the vast 30 acre gardens ranging from formal to wild in the ravines cut out of rock in the Quarry Garden. Filled with an unusual collection of plants and home to many species of wildlife we designed 4 seasonal trails in jewel colours to work within the landscape.

The Wildman is a feature of the Middleton family that goes back centuries. We knew Belle Mellor was the illustrator who would capture his mischievous slightly irreverent personality when we first came across her work and she has done a spectacular job of capturing his spirit for our trail markers and activity posts that lead the visitors to the castle.

Within the castle her animation tells the story of the Middleton family with help from the metal work interpretation panels.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Typography

3D: AFSB Associates
Illustration: Claire Scully
Illustration Wildman: Belle Mellor
Production: Wood & Wood

THE OLD LABORATORY
The early days of RHS at Wisley

The Laboratory was purpose built as a training hub for horticultural students, starting in 1907. With the arrival of Hilltop Science Centre it has been reconfigured to tell the story of RHS Wisley.

Each room has been reconstructed to the period, using objects props and graphics to bring alive RHS Wisley from the early days until its recent relocation to Hilltop.

The graphics were developed using a strict hierarchal system – using brand fots and colours for the RHS tone of voice and a limited palette of fonts and colours for the scene setting to keep a visual cohesion to the multiple layers of ephemera.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typography
Wayfinding

Architect: Phillip Hughes Associates
Museum Design: AFSB Associates
Case Dressing: Colin Lindley, Object & Artefact Display
Illustration: Claire Scully
Handwriting: Ruth Rowland
Lighting: DHA
Media Developer: Airavata
Setworks: Setworks
Graphics Production: Omni Colour

Photography: RHS / Lee Charlton © RHS

PADDINGTON
The story of a Bear

Paddington means something to every generation and we wanted to create a magical space where visitors could immerse themselves in his world. The exhibition begins with Michael Bond’s discovery of a solitary bear in Selfridges toy department. It includes early manuscripts, letters, illustrations and film and tv clips.

Interpretive design
Graphic design
Illustration
Typography

3D Design: AFSB
Illustration: Claire Scully
Lighting: DHA

THE COMPOSER'S PLACE
The Redhouse

An exhibition exploring Britten and Pears’ lives in Aldeburgh and how this coastal town inspired them to establish the Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts.

In 2024 the Britten Pears Foundation celebrates the 75th Festival. This exhibition explores the importance of this corner of south-east Suffolk to the Aldeburgh Festival’s founders, and shows how the Festival became nationally and internationally significant.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typography

Production: EPS

WITLEY COURT & GARDENS
Site-wide interpretation

Interpretation for the spectacular ruins of Witley Court. Imagining a bygone era of decadent house parties, balls and concerts. The impressive architecture is all that remains from a disastrous fire which ripped through the court in 1937, destroying one of England's greatest country houses.

The magnificently landscaped gardens include intricately designed parterres, vibrant flower beds, ornate terraces, fountains and pavilions which required a light touch.

Four family trails were designed to encourage thorough participation and exploration illustrated by Charlotte Farmer – light hearted and ever so slightly cheeky.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typography

3D: AFSB Associates
Illustration: Charlotte Farmer
Production: Wood & Wood

GAINSBOROUGH OLD HALL
Site-wide reinterpretation

“It was a mistake to think of houses, old houses, as being empty. They were filled with memories, with the faded echoes of voices. Drops of tears, drops of blood, the ring of laughter, the edge of tempers that had ebbed and flowed between the walls, into the walls, over the years.” Nora Roberts, Key of Knowledge

This poem gave the inspiration for the concept of peeling back the layers to give glimpses of Gainsborough Old Hall’s rich and varied history. Each era was defined by a wallpaper pattern to turned back at the corner to reveal the date. We researched imagery and added elements to give clues to the buildings use at the time.

Elegant, tall powder coated graphic panels echo the building’s Tudor beams, while fabrics on the high table and within the bed chamber tell the stories. Labelling is playful using thick wooden powder coated slabs hung from rope and incorporated into objects.

English Heritage had recently acquired Gainsborough Old Hall and the project needed to be turned around to a very tight timescale to accommodate the reopening for the summer holidays.

Interpretive design
Graphic design
Illustration

3D design: AFSB

Photos by English Heritage

RHS HILLTOP
The Home of Gardening Science

RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science is the new centre of horticultural excellence. Opened on 24 June 2021, we designed the interpretation for the permanent exhibition within the building’s vast atrium.

The exhibition demonstrates the benefits of gardens for wellbeing and gives tips for creating garden spaces that improve the natural environment in a changing climate.

Dramatic showcase displays and interactive exhibits, both digital and analogue, were designed to feature the best of the RHS research and world-class collections.

Within the glass wall of the Global Knowledge Bank visitors can see RHS herbarium specialists at work preparing specimens.

Interpretive design
Graphic design
Illustration

3D Design: AFSB
Ilustrators: Lucille Clerc (Mother Nature & Wellbeing section)
Claire Scully

WROXETER
The Heart of a Roman City

Wroxeter – Viriconium Cornoviorum – was once one of the largest cities in Roman Britain. To set the scene as precursor to the external site we wanted to create a layered visual narrative that would conjure urban-living 2,000 years ago. A cityscape wraps the space punctuated by photorealistic reproductions of the inside of the buildings – forming a backdrop to beautifully displayed objects found within the city.

The external panels appear to be floating among the remains of the bath-house – communicating Wroxeter’s rich history against a backdrop of the reconstructed town house.

Three interventions provide space for stories and family interactives that provide a fun way to engage with the remains of the buildings giving a deeper narrative to all ages.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typography

3D Design: AFSB
Illustration: Claire Scully
Case Dressing: Colin and Kate Lindley
Contractors: The Hub, Wood & Wood
Interactive design: Fifex
AV consultants: Clay
CGI within museum: Studio Peel
Lighting Design: DHA

BIRDOSWALD ROMAN FORT
Site-wide interpretation

Birdoswald is hailed as the flagship experience focusing on families on Hadrian’s Wall. March like a Roman soldier through a four meter high gatehouse to find the exhibition. Get your head around the history of Hadrian’s Wall with lots of hands-on fun and games. Discover how the Wall was built and summon your troops with a signalling game as they discover what the Wall was for.

An illustrative narrative explains how life was lived not only for the romans, but in the context of the wider population examining concepts of immigration and integration in ways that are easily digestible by a younger audience.

You can even take a peek through a periscope to see the same view as the Roman look-outs, at the original height of the Wall.

The Fort is only partially excavated and a paperless trail that engages families in multi sensory play allows for engagement and a thorough understanding of the daily life and architecture.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design

3D Design: AFSB
Illustrator: Adam Larkum
Model makers: Sirius
Film and interactive: Atacama

HAILES ABBEY
Site-wide Interpretation

Founded in 1246 by the Earl of Cornwall, Hailes Abbey is set amid delightful Cotswold countryside. Once the centre of monastic life, and the resting place of the Holy Blood of Hailes. We were asked to refurbish the rather dated museum. Our design echoes the symmetry of the layout of the old Abbey, using the sumptuous colours and refinement of the original in a contemporary way.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design

3D Design: AFSB
Lighting: DHA
Illustrator: Claire Scully

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
with social distancing

As part of the RSC’s series of events bringing Shakespeare out of the theatre during Covid 19 lockdown we designed this immersive and socially distanced trail. It took its inspiration from A Comedy of Errors that had been due to open.

Graphic Design
Illustration

In collaboration with: Lyn Atellier

Sitewide interpretation

The National Memorial Arboretum is a 150-acre living and growing tribute to those who have served and continue to serve our country. We were commissioned for the graphic interpretation fthroughout the visitor centre and external shelters opened in September 2017.

The interpretation is a celebration of the lives of ordinary remarkable people. A series of totems illustrated to reflect the external monuments are personalised with the stories of individuals.

Within the arboretum are a series of shelters interpreting nearby monuments overlaid with personal narratives.

Graphic Design
Illustration

Exhibition 3D design: Real Studios
Lighting: DHA design
Illustration: Claire Scully

RICHMOND CASTLE
Site wide interpretation

Richmond before the revamp was a barren landscape, the inner bailey had interpretation panels but there was no colour or life. Now medieval flags and uprights populate the landscape drawing attention to parts of the castle where those represented once worked. Visitors are given a tally stick which they can use use to engage in quizzes, enter mazes and discover challenges.

The museum features interactive displays telling the story from the 11th century to the First World War. Each period is represented by different castle characters spanning across gender and status from Wiliam the conqueror to servant Ymayma who looked after the Earl of Richmond’s hounds and hawks.

In the keep is an interactive throne that allows visitors to reenact the politics of the day.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typography

3D Design: AFSB
Illustrators: Yuschav Arly | Claire Scully

PEVENSEY CASTLE
Sitewide Interpretation

With a history stretching back over 16 centuries, Pevensey Castle chronicles more graphically than any other fortress the story of Britain's south coast defences. We arranged the narrative chronologically using a strong red band to cut a swathe around the interior of the museum space. An interactive explores the changing landscape and how that affected Pevensey’s role as a defensive structure.

The East tower expires Pevensey’s role during WW2. As the visitor enters a period phone rings and on answering instructions are issued that encourage the visitor’s to partake in the narrative. A family trail that encourages exploration of the whole site culminates here with a code cracking interactive.

Interpretive design
Graphic Design

3D Design: AFSB
Interactive production: Sirius

SUCH AN ARTIST TO WRITE FOR
Inspiration & Collaboration

The 2020 exhibition at The Red House explores the rich and fascinating theme of ‘inspiration’. In 1974, Britten wrote a letter to Pears expressing his gratitude for what Pears had given him over the decades: “What have I done to deserve such an artist and man to write for?”. Pears was not, however, only a ‘muse’, but a true collaborator. exhibition examines in detail the powerful effect Pears’ artistry had on Britten’s entire career: from the sheer amount of music he inspired in him, to their professional recital partnership, to even the notes on the page.

Alongside the exhibition we developed an interactive to look in detail at how the music Britten wrote for Pears adapted to his changing vocal range.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interactive Design

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

A real gift of a project we designed Alice in Wonderland with 3d designers Lyn Atelier. We wanted to capture the surreal, dreamlike sense of the story and Alice's childlike logic in the face of irrational events.

The structure of the exhibition takes the visitor on a journey following didactic instructions on the order. The journey is punctuated by typographic renditions of quotes lifted from the text. The colour scheme is kept to a minimal palette of black white and red, allowing the op art spirals to lead you in and the wealth of illustrations on show to sing out.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Typography
Illustration

3D Design: Lyn Atellier

STOKESAY CASTLE
Sitewide interpretation

Stokesay Castle in Shropshire, is one of the finest fortified manor houses in the country, Built in the 13th century by Lawrence of Ludlow. The interpretation project aimed to improve the visitor experience without dominating the spaces. Using specially sourced objects to give a sense of how the room would have been used, the information is incorporated into the objects, making the text seem less panel like and drawing the visitor in.

Embedded into the interpretation is a family quest that has its origins in a myth of two giants that live either side of the castle. They have supposedly lost the key to their treasure chest somewhere in the grounds of Stokesay. Visitors can follow a riddle map – set by a wily raven who holds the answer – solving clues as they roam around the grounds and collecting letters that reveal the whereabouts of the key.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design

Illustrator: Simon Vaeth

MISREPRESENTED
Four women. Four truths. Four reputations.

A series of interventions celebrating four powerful and influential women who lived at the National Trust estate of Cliveden.

History has both celebrated and derided them, but the interventions question – is their reputation fair? Have we learned their stories through the pens of men, and do we need to look beyond their labels to find the truth?

How did people of their time view them? What legacy have they left behind and how do we see them now with the benefit of hindsight? Have they been portrayed fairly or have they – like so many others – been misrepresented?

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration

3D Design: Skellon Studio

BEAUTIFUL SCIENCE

Beautiful Science explores how our understanding of ourselves and our planet has evolved alongside our ability to represent, graph and map the mass data of the time. 

We worked with the 3D designers Plaid, to create a contemporary space to exhibit these extraordinary pieces. The exhibition title is a mass of glowing coloured letters until viewed head on when the word ‘beautiful’ appears.

 Exhibits from John Snow’s plotting of the 1854 London cholera infections on a map to colourful depictions of the tree of life, are shown against a carefully orchestrated backdrop of spirographic swirls and graph paper textures.

Graphic Design
Illustration

In collaboration with: Plaid

PICTURE THIS
Children’s illustrated classics

How to tell the story of ten of the most iconic illustrated children’s books of the 20th century? We wanted to create a magical environment to evoke the wonder of childhood reading so we used figures made from reboard to set the scene in the entrance bringing much loved characters to life. Each iconic work is introduced on the roof of a house and the graphics are printed onto felt to give a warm nostalgic feel. Using a mixture of found and bespoke imagery we kept a fine balance – creating a playful space without dominating the objects on display. The cut out shapes encourage visitors to engage with the illustrations from different perspectives, in some cases necessitating kneeling down to see hidden images, bringing the element of childlike discovery.

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration

In collaboration with: Lyn Atelier

LAPD
Let there be light

A rebrand for an award winning lighting company. Our brief was to develop an identity that would convey trust and credibility in their competitive environment. 

Brand strategy
Graphic Design

Photography: Gautier DeBlonde

TAMARA KVESITADZE
Brand identity

The Georgian national artist, sculptor Tamriko Kvesitadze was exhibiting at the Venice Biennale for the first time and Christies commisioned us to develope her brand identity marketing collateral. Her audience is international and we allow her work to tell its own story keeping written descriptions to a minimum.The design reflects the complex emotions that are central to her work, using shadows and details as teases before the reveal of the sculptures.

Brand strategy
Graphic Design

TIPPET & BRITTEN

Michael Tippett and Benjamin Britten were the two giants of British music in the twentieth century. Highly contrasting personalities and strikingly different composers, they were nevertheless united by their pacifist politics and musical passions.

This exhibition tells the story of their relationship at its most intense, during the latter years of World War II. Their lives became politically and creatively intertwined through a series of remarkable events that were dictated by the brutality and hardship of the times

Interpretive Design
Graphic Design
Illustration

COMICS UNMASKED

Comics Unmasked, the UK’s largest ever exhibition of mainstream and underground comics. The graphics and colour scheme together with the offbeat structures by 3D designers AFSB are designed to create an environment that excites and challenges, providing a backdrop to works that uncompromisingly address politics, gender, violence, sexuality and altered states. We worked with comic artist Dave McKean to realise a vision that is in itself a piece of comic art.

Interpretive design
Graphic design
Illustration

In collaboration with: Dave McKean & AFSB
Lighting: DHA