The challenge
We were commissioned to create a powerful, deeply personal visual tribute for service personnel, to be displayed at a prestigious event held in Windsor Castle. The aim was twofold: to honour individual stories, and to reflect collective strength, while engaging a high-profile audience with a striking, emotionally resonant installation.
Our approach
To achieve this, we developed multi-layered boards featuring black-and-white portraits of each serviceperson.
From afar, the viewer sees a clear, dignified face. But as you move closer, the image dissolves into a mosaic made of thousands of names, each representing someone from the same country as the service person depicted who served.
Each board includes a concise summary of the person’s service and achievements and a QR code linking to their full story, allowing viewers to dive deeper into individual narratives.
The black-and-white treatment ensures a timeless, respectful aesthetic. The use of names as texture gives the work both literal and metaphorical weight: these are not abstract figures, but real people, acknowledged by name.
The results
The installation debuted at a high-profile event in St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle, attended by Their Majesties The King and Queen, where it was met with praise.
What the client said:
“I just wanted to say how well the faces artwork went down at the Windsor Castle event on Tuesday evening. They are so beautifully done and all the guests complimented them. We are looking to continue to use them … they are currently on display in reception at our office in Maidenhead … but they will soon go to Ieper and then who knows. Amazing work, thank you.”
– Max, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Conculsion
The design succeeded by combining emotional depth, interactivity, and longevity.
QR codes invited ongoing engagement, the black-and-white portraits balanced formality and intimacy. The boards now continue to live in the client’s Maidenhead reception and will travel to other locations. Encouraged by the positive reception, the client plans to expand the collection, demonstrating the concept’s versatility and lasting potential.
