BBSRC is the lead funding agency for pioneering academic research and training in the biosciences at universities and institutes throughout the UK. They fund world-class bioscience, people and research infrastructure that helps to tackle major world challenges such as the impact of climate change, a healthier old age, sustainable food production, land use and energy production.
This year the team approached us to create the graphics and user journey for the 2017 Innovator of the Year Awards, held at the prestigious East Wintergarden venue in Canary Wharf. As this would be the last year that the Awards would take place there needed to be a celebratory feel to the event, in recognition of the award winners both past and present and what BBSRC funding had achieved.
We made a conscious decision to incorporate a few key elements that drew the eye with visual impact and drama, creating the gravitas that the event required. The Innovator of the Year Awards brand uses a distinctive blue colour palette. We followed this through the venue with lighting, draped coloured materials and entrance lobby carpets which, when combined together, reinforced the importance of this prestigious event in the Science Calendar.
We created a ‘red carpet’ effect at the entrance to the lobby to enhance the presence of the event at the venue. The carpet was accompanied by a large 6m x 4m glass fascia graphic applied to the outside of the building that could be seen from afar, which is important when considering the size and scale of the buildings around Canary Wharf.
Once you entered the building you were instantly drawn to the reception desk, which incorporated the large, distinctive Innovation star-burst graphic.
From here, people flow dictated that you then naturally entered the impressive glass covered, triple height atrium, where the main event took place. We compensated for the striking and unusually tall height of the building by creating large format 6m x 2m banners that utilised the star-burst graphic to convey both the 2017 Innovator of the Year Awards and the BBSRC brand to maximum effect.
We originally created the Innovator of the Year Awards identity back in 2013 and it has stood the test of time. We have designed engaging pieces of branding for environment and wayfinding, as well as the communication materials below and more of the work can be seen here.
See more examples of how we create interesting and innovative user journeys for both interior and exterior environments that engage with their audience here.