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Technical 3D design for a high impact display

G Shock display

When a new product is ready for the big reveal, a large scale in-store display often works to grab attention and get people talking, which we talked about for premium brands. To create a high impact display, it’s often the technical detail which matters most – looking at how the display is made, and what structural support or suspension points it needs – to be congruent with the design.

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Concept design and prototyping for Valentine’s Day integrated / POS campaign

Design-article-header

To develop a successful in-store campaign, a marketing team has to coordinate many elements to ensure shoppers experience the same message everywhere.

A physical anchor or theme helps to make the words more memorable and connect with the audience. For their Valentine’s Day gift range, diamond jewellery brand, Forevermark, chose the iconic hot air balloon to symbolise their “True love is unstoppable” message.

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Festive Fizz – resin casting techniques to create realistic visual effects

Visual effects header

Realistic visual effects are in demand at this festive time of year for window displays, point-of-sale and attention-grabbing in-store concessions.  Using artificial food and drink obviously avoids the issues of short-shelf life and spillage hazards.  Our wide-range of in-house creative skills enable us to test, develop and replicate everyday products for visual displays or to use in photography and filming for advertising.

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Creating premium brand displays: here to make you look good

premium brand displays

Premium brand displays in store have a mysterious appeal. Done well, the mix of quality and exclusivity inspires us to spend more because it feels good. Behind the scenes, we know a lot of work goes into product innovation, developing the brand, premium props, designing spaces and creating visual merchandising. Wow-factor premium brand displays are a blend of creative concepts and excellent delivery, just like any project. To deliver it successfully, you have to stretch the budget and time across both design and build quality, although it can become skewed by one premium prop or bespoke design. At Amalgam, we're here to make you look good, with our tips for creating your premium point-of-sale display: Share your plans early When exploring concepts, your team will have plenty of ideas - whether working with a creative director or agency, retail designer, shop fitter or specialist prop makers. The earlier you can share…

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Creating Aardman sculptures for The Grand Appeal 2018 Sculpture Trail

Aardman sculptures - Gromit

We were honoured to be asked by The Grand Appeal to sculpt the characters for next year’s 2018, Bristol sculpture trail, Gromit Unleashed 2. The three characters, Wallace, Gromit and Feathers, were unveiled yesterday at an event in Aardman HQ in Bristol and we were lucky enough to be there to witness the great reveal. Please keep an eye on this space where we will be talking more about the processes involved with making these iconic sculptures!

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Scale model of super yacht Ngoni

While this high-performance sloop, Ngoni, was being built at Royal Huisman’s main site in Vollenhove, the owner commissioned Amalgam to make a high detail scale model of the design at the scale 1:50. Background When this innovative project was first announced, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, the yachting world pricked up its ears. The owner had requested a progressive new yacht, with an ‘edgy’ design to marry comfort, style and high performance, and appointed the teams at Dubois Naval Architects and Royal Huisman to bring it to life. To launch the design during 2014 Monaco Yacht Show, Dubois hired Bristol model makers, Amalgam, to make the limited detail, stub mast model at 1:60 scale seen in all the press photography. That model was designed to accurately mirror the dramatic sheer line of the hull design, with the wide teak planking of the main deck. Once extensive tank tests were completed to finalise the…

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Stand-out marine models help BMT launch latest concept designs

marine models

BMT are launching two concept designs at DSEI 2017 in London. To form an eye-catching centrepiece for their stand, they commissioned us to create a pair of marine models of their concept designs for mine mine warfare and hydrographic vessel, VENARI®-85 and Type 31e frigate contender, VENATOR®-110. BMT Defence Services aims to demonstrate flexibility in these designs to serve the needs of the Royal Navy and requirements in the export market. Their marketing team planned this year's display for the BMT brand to stand out at the busy exhibition. Although they have tested 3D renders and virtual reality for demonstrating their concept designs, BMT confirms people still love a physical model - to gather round and explore the detail. Both scale models are designed to demonstrate BMT's multi-purpose capability and sheer amount of on-board and off-board kit they can carry, with VENARI-85 built at 1:125 and VENATOR-110 produced at 1:150.…

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Prototyping your idea? How to protect your intellectual property

Prototype graphic

When you’ve got a new idea that needs prototyping, or want to adapt a product design, you’ll need to consider the potential intellectual property issues during the development and prototyping process. Thinking creatively about how to solve an immediate problem is often how the best ideas start out, and we’ve made many physical prototypes to help product designers, inventors, and technology experts bring their idea to life. Here’s our summary of steps for developing your design through to prototyping and guidance on how to protect your idea: Working with suppliers - arrange an NDA When you start looking for help and support, make sure you have an NDA in place. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA), whether written by a legal team or derived from a template, gives both parties an understanding of the confidential nature of the work. If you are discussing your design or new idea, keep the number of people…

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The New Crystal Maze props and replicas

Crystal Maze Logo

Amalgam was extremely pleased to be asked to work on key props for the new TV version of the Crystal Maze which starts this Friday at 9pm on Channel 4. We were asked by James Dillon, who was the designer on the original early nineties TV show, to produce the Crystal Dome Timer Table as well as a large prop for an extra special one off episode to be shown later this year! We designed the table in 3D CAD software, CNC cut the panels then finished it using a variety of textures and paints to match photos of the original, supplied by James. The program was filmed here in Bristol at the Bottleyard studios not far from Amalgam's workshop. Amalgam offers a one stop shop for prop buyers, film makers & other media in the local area and rest of the UK, offering our services and resources to those in need of…

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Treehouse model for Canopy & Stars at Crane 29

Canopy and Stars at Crane 29 Treehouse

Amalgam director, Chris, recently visited the unique treehouse designed and built by Canopy & Stars at Crane 29. Back in February, we were delighted to create a scale model of the Canopy & Stars' plan for the treehouse. Measuring about 20cm by 20cm, the model is lightweight, designed to be portable for visits to site. The team wanted a high-quality finish to accurately reflect the life-size construction in press photographs achieved with touches like the styling of the windows, logo and colour. The greenery flock roof indicates how guests will experience a bubble of nature in the city, with pollinating plants on the roof to attract bees, birds and wildlife. PR Manager, Emily Enright, told us: The model has been a star of the press launch and in making the ballot for treehouse stays so successful. The model has allowed us to show exactly what the treehouse will look like…

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