Leach was responsible for creating and installing graphics at the Lee Valley White Water Centre last summer.

This involved manufacturing and installing over 1200sq m of external graphics which featured on the main entrance and buildings, wayfinding, branding on the course and a ‘kiss and cry’ area at the finish line.

Leach created around 400 graphics and lit up the podium with a 6m x 2.5m lightbox for when each competitor received their prize.

Speaking to British Canoeing, Tom Foster, head of projects at Leach describes what was involved in the mammoth project: “The installation of venue graphics requires meticulous planning, particularly if working around other stakeholders.

“For this project, for example, we had to be careful not to disturb athletes’ training time, and site-specific considerations also had to be incorporated. Some graphics needed to sit on the course’s block toppers, for instance, so the water flow had to be turned off to ensure everything was in place.”

Describing some unavoidable challenges, Foster adds: “Naturally, it isn’t possible to plan for everything. With this project, rainfall meant it was difficult to affix vinyl directly to the slalom ramp’s surface, but installation teams almost come to expect the unexpected, which emphasises the importance of working with experienced professionals who are able to adapt, react and problem solve in real-time.”

Due to the nature of the event, all graphics needed to be weatherproof and will be reused for the upcoming ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships event this May.

Foster adds: “Those of us in the creative industries always have an eye on ‘what’s next’, and ideas have already surfaced regarding how to deliver an even bigger wow factor for the May competition.”

If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail news@signlink.co.uk

Follow Carys on: