Custom Shaped Panel
Clear Acrylic
In August 2019, we were contacted by the Merseyside Maritime Museum with an opportunity to tender for a brand-new gallery called Life on Board.
The gallery was located on the second floor of the museum at Royal Albert Dock and was originally scheduled to open to the public in March 2020. The process ran for three weeks, and after submitting our costs, we were pleased to be awarded the project in October 2019.
A Longstanding Partnership with National Museums Liverpool
We have a working relationship with National Museums Liverpool (NML) that spans over 30 years. During this time, we have provided signage, banners, exhibition displays, screen printing, UV printing, and large-format graphics to all seven museums across Merseyside.
This project was especially rewarding, not only because of its scale and visibility, but also because of the collaborative approach we shared with the museum’s team.
Design Collaboration and Material Sampling
There was regular contact with the lead designer at the start of the project. The design team were looking for a very specific, authentic aesthetic for the gallery. To support this, we produced a variety of material samples for review and approval.
Colour consistency was a key focus throughout. All signage and media had to match a predefined palette across multiple materials, including wallpaper, 3D graphic panels, polycarbonate, and birch plywood.
Signage Supplied
In total, we manufactured over 300 individual items, including:
- A metal, routered and hand-painted plimsoll line
- Large-format, digitally printed wallpapers
- An LED illuminated lightbox
- Framed pictures and printed graphic panels
- Digitally printed vinyl, applied to CNC-routered foamex
- Direct UV prints onto birch plywood panels for a section focused on environmental themes
Production and Installation
We worked closely with the on-site shopfitting team throughout the production phase. The entire second floor was reconfigured to accommodate the new gallery, and our installation began in February 2020.
All works were completed in the first week of March. We met the deadline ahead of the planned public opening on 20th March. Unfortunately, the launch was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opening and Outcome
After a five-month delay, Life on Board officially opened to the public on 19th August 2020. The final result looks fantastic, and we are proud to have contributed to such a prestigious and meaningful exhibition.
