Bolton Library & Museum Services

The brief

Part of Bolton Council, Bolton Library and Museum Services operates a number of cultural, arts and heritage sites around the Borough at locations including Bolton Art Gallery, Library and Museum, Smithills Hall and Hall i’ th’ Wood Museum. Bolton LMS is continually evolving its offer, creating new and exciting attractions to educate, inform, engage and inspire local people of all ages.

Impression works alongside the Bolton LMS curators, access managers and facilities teams to create visually striking exhibitions, displays and events. Carefully tailored to suit exhibition themes and goals, and using innovative sustainable materials under our ImpressionECO brand, we generate interest through creative ideas, unique props and large format print that attracts new visitors.

View All Project Images

Client	Bolton Library & Museum Services
Sector	Local Authority
Location	Bolton, UK

What we did

External Signage

Internal Signage

Exhibition display stands

Bespoke visual props

Wayfinding

Visual branding services

Consult

Enjoying excellent relationships with the Bolton LMS teams, Impression works closely with our client to understand its themes, goals and vision for each exhibition, display or event. By identifying how the exhibition should flow and who it should appeal to, we create unique spaces which encourage exploration and deliver memorable learning points for visitors.

Impression has been involved in Bolton LMS and its sites for many years, and we benefit from a deep understanding of our client’s brand expectations. During 2021 Bolton LMS has placed greater importance on sustainability, and Impression is proud to have delivered the “World of Colours” exhibition from 100% sustainable products, paving the way for future carbon-reduced displays which meet Bolton LMS’ ecological objectives.

Design

Creativity was key to the Spring/Summer 2021 Bolton LMS exhibitions. Our design team produced the eye-catching “World of Colours” exhibition at Bolton Museum, a half term Bear Hunt sensory trail and the Smithills Hall Magical Stories trail which draws children into a fun world of outdoor fairy tales.

3D images, colourful visual illusions and bold, bright props guide a visitor around “World of Colours”, whilst the Bear Hunt sensory trail incorporated unique displays including foot pump ‘Smell Stations’ where guests discovered unexpected scents! Magical Stories required robust props capable of withstanding the outdoors, protecting colourful themed images inside each story house. Collectively, this bespoke range of products created instantly-appealing attractions that brought new visitors into each Bolton LMS site.

Create

From Smell Stations to story houses, all products were manufactured in-house by Impression’s Bolton team. With three exhibitions in close succession, our production schedule was carefully managed to be sure that quality print and finish would reach our client’s sites on time.

Sustainability is now a central consideration to Bolton LMS, and Impression was proud to produce “World of Colours” entirely from sustainable, PVC-free materials. Our Impression eco range of sustainable plywood, recyclable card and paper met Bolton LMS’ environmental objectives whilst showcasing the quality of work which can be achieved with this alternative approach.

Deliver

Following periods of closure due to the pandemic, our client was keen to bring visitors back through new displays and attractions, and the installation of each Spring/Summer 2021 exhibition created a fantastic buzz at each site.

Our Installation Manager worked with our client to complete essential risk assessments before installing work on site, supported by our design team to maintain consistency in each exhibition’s look and feel. Impression will also support the take-down of “World of Colours”, relocating materials to a nearby primary school where they will be reused as part of the exhibition’s commitment to sustainability.