"VANTABLACK" | IMAGINATION PROJECT

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CREATIVE DIRECTION & SET DESIGN

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Client: UK Foreign Office | Great for Imagination Campaign
Photography: Ted Humble Smith

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Commissioned by the UK Foreign Office’s Great for Imagination campaign to artistically interpret key British patents throughout history, celebrating the UK’s legacy of innovation. This project spanned 2017, involving close collaboration with photographer Ted Humble Smith to reimagine each patent through compelling visual narratives.

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In 2014, Surrey Nanosystems introduced Vantablack—the darkest material ever created, absorbing 99.96% of light. This breakthrough revolutionized scientific applications, from space telescopes to Lidar sensors in autonomous vehicles. Its ability to make objects appear 2D has also sparked new creative possibilities in art and design,

such as luxury Vantablack rings by UK jeweller Ore.

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For this interpretation, we focused on representing the unique light-absorbing properties of Vantablack.

Using innovative techniques, we created an image that visually conveyed the material's transformative effect on light, creating a captivating representation of its almost otherworldly qualities.

This piece was featured on the BBC One Show and became part of a global exhibition, showcasing the UK’s contributions to scientific and creative innovation.

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