Part of National Grid’s commitment to ensuring a greener future is upgrading the electricity pylon network around the UK. This work is being rolled out via a series of large scale regional projects. Central to each project is a visitor’s centre to keep local communities and stakeholders up to date with developments.

Having worked with National Grid on numerous stakeholder engagement projects, they asked us to design and deliver the visitor centre for their Hinkley Connection Project.

As well as transforming the region’s electricity network, this major development will improve the impact on the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by taking cables underground and introducing a newly designed pylon.

The scale of this project meant it would take place over many years and go through multiple stages of development, meaning our solution needed to be both robust and flexible.

Hand drawn scamps and 3D renders helped convey our plans for transforming the existing space into a state-of-the-art environment that would also provide a base for meetings and tours for all those involved in the project.

Once underway, we were responsible for everything from lighting and flooring, to fitting out the kitchen and installing wall and window graphics – a great example of how we are comfortable thinking and working outside of traditional solutions to meet our client’s needs.

Wall vinyls were used to create impact in areas that didn’t need to be regularly updated. We commissioned a drone pilot to capture a panoramic shot of Weston at night for the centre piece of the reception area. A bespoke backlit sign welcomes visitors to the centre and a series of Infographics help to tell the story behind the development and provide further details for each particular aspect of the project.

A flexible wall mounted system allowed us to create an impactful and informative display that is easily updated as the project progresses. LED backlights help bring the display to life and colours can be changed depending on what the main room is being used for. As well as somewhere to meet, the vinyl wrapped table provides visitors with more context on the scale of the project, with the plans overlaid onto an OS map.

We’ve subsequently helped deliver visitor centres in Dorset and the Peak District for other similar projects, with more on the way.

Services:

• Brand development
• Internal comms
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Infographics
• Exhibition materials
• Display solutions
• Photography
• 3D design
• Copywriting