Projects & Design News

Chinese Photographic Exhibition New York City

The exhibition "Dragon Women: Early Chinese Photography" commemorates the Year of the Dragon as well as the representation of women in early Chinese photography. An exceptional chance to view more than 50 carefully chosen rare images, most of which are from the 1860s and 1870s and include some of the earliest images of Chinese women. It was wonderful to collaborate with Stacey Lambrow, the curator of the Loewentheil collection and an authority on early Chinese photography.

Blenheim Palace Exhibition Design Workshops

Blenheim Palace is a remarkable landmark in Britain that attracts over 950,000 visitors every year, making it one of the most popular locations in the country. Our exhibition designers have been given the task of using a suite of four rooms to showcase the palace's history and provide visitors with an immersive and engaging experience. To ensure that everyone is involved in the process, the exhibition concept design workshop will be conducted on-site. This will enable our designers to work closely with the Blenheim Palace operational team to create a comprehensive and captivating exhibition.

“Collected Things” Contemporary Art Exhibition

The centrepiece of this New York show of modern art is a group of 26 sculptures made of found objects and temporary materials that artist Jim Condron gathered from other artists, writers, and philosophers.

Although this was our first time working with this artist, the exhibition garnered such positive coverage that we are looking forward to collaborating with Jim on his next installation.

Bacchanalia - Ancient Roman & Greek Display

In order to display more than 60 impressive Roman and Greek ancient sculptures, Caprice Holdings, the owners of a number of London's favourite luxury restaurants, hired SMA design. These historic artefacts, some of which are nearly 2400 years old, give the restaurant its distinctive ambiance and vibrant life. Additionally, there are dramatic mythological sculptures by Damien Hirst that were specially commissioned and are ominously observing diners. A winged lion, unicorns, winged lovers, Medusa, and Bacchus, the Roman god of harvest, who welcomes you upon entry, are some of these. Celebrities were everywhere at the restaurant's grand opening, making it the place to eat and be seen in 2023.

Kempton Steam Museum Lighting and Exhibition Design

The largest working triple-expansion steam engine is on display at the Kempton Steam Museum in London. Alongside its identical twin, which is taller than four stacked double-decker buses, it pumped substantial amounts of London's drinking water from 1929 to 1980. We will collaborate with the Trust to enhance the lighting, visitor experience, and general aesthetics of the museum.

Exhibition Design & Lighting Assistance
SMA design is available for projects of all sizes, including those for organisations in need of just a little assistance in creating exhibitions that connect with their audiences. The Bradford Beckfoot Thornton School was one of these organisations. Their goal included improving students' exposure to numerous literary genres. With our team's assistance, the three connecting bridge walkways of the buildings were converted into engaging literary exhibitions with improved lighting to excite a new generation of readers.

Museum Designers - Museum Re-Display
We are thrilled to have been chosen as museum designers to work on the re-display of two museum galleries, one of which will be used for a temporary exhibition. We'll be learning about the museum's great and diverse collections throughout the following months. We are excited to collaborate with the museum's in-house staff to develop something unique for visitors to interact with and enjoy.

Mead Gallery at Warwick Art Centre - Art Exhibition
After a three-year break, the Mead Gallery at Warwick Arts Centre reopens with an exhibition by Rana Begum, a well-known Bangladeshi/British artist. "Dappled Light" is an exhibition including many of her works, including one commissioned just for the new gallery as well as some of her larger paintings and sculptures. Warwick Art Centre enlisted SMA's help with exhibition lighting and DALI controls - 2022.

50,000 Heart Installation Event @ St Christopher’s Hospice
We have been asked by St Christopher’s Hospice to assist them with the display and lighting of 50,000 joined hearts for this fundraising event. Each heart has its own personalised message and is washed with distinctive LED lighting. Once completed this wonderful art installation will produce something truly meaningful and special. This will be on display for one week at the beginning of December.

Travelling Contemporary Art Exhibition of Modern Masters
We've been hired to design the display for this collection of contemporary art that took its German owner 45 years to put together. The show will feature some of the best works from a collection of more than 500 paintings. Picasso, Rothko, and Warhol, to mention a few, have works in the collection. In October 2021, work will begin on determining a flexible design layout that will accommodate all four show locations.

Lux Level Light Testing for Offices and Museums
As offices, museums, organisations and new builds get ready to open or hand over projects; this has produced a surge in lux level testing as our lighting designers providing these necessary tests for conservation and Health & Safety reasons. It is a legal requirement to provide the correct level of lighting in the work environment, make sure to get yours checked - May 2021.

Staging & Dressing of Luxury Show Apartment
SMA design studio has just finished staging and dressing a show apartment on the 32nd floor of the new 50 storey's DAMAC Tower situated in Nine Elms on the bend of the River Thames in London.
With wonderful views in both directions this apartment is showcasing the Versace Homes brand. The partnership of DAMAC properties & Versace Homes brand provide elegance and luxury to this new luxury development - January 2021.

Exhibition Lighting - Love Your Depot
Exhibition lighting played a huge part in the transformation of the various galleries along with the unusual use of stackable steel structures. These modular units are normally used in storage facilities to maximise space. These two elements combined to transform the Korean Cultural Centre galleries into what replicated a typical storage depot as the artist wished - November 2020.

Exhibition Design - Coventry City of Culture 2021
We are delighted to be assisting in the design of an exciting exhibition exploring Coventry from medieval times through to its role in modern architecture since the Second World War. The exhibition will contain items which have not been on public display since the heavy bombing of Coventry by the German Luftwaffe - Sept 2020.  

Battlefield Museum Design
Since January we have been working with Barnet 1471 Battlefield Society to develop a new museum about the decisive engagement of the War of the Roses. The latest stage of this development has been to design the layouts for each of its three floors. These designs include a mix of traditional museum delivery along with more high tech virtual reality and immersive games play - Aug 2020.

Lighting for Architecture Exhibition
This was our first time back at the Korean Cultural Centre in London following lockdown. This time around the exhibition curator enlisted the help of our lighting designers to create a very different feel to this architecture exhibition – Aug 2020.

Exhibition Booth Photographic Fair New York City
After designing an exhibition for this year’s AIPad Photographic Fair in New York it was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19. This was the 3rd exhibition we had designed for this New York collector of early rare books and photographs. On display and for sale would have been some of the finest early photography of President Abraham Lincoln and other famous historical figures. It is envisaged that the design of the exhibition booth will be repurposed for next year’s collection - April 2020.

Museum Exhibition Designers - Plymouth City Museum & Art Galleries

Our museum exhibition designers worked on the re-design of the ground floor galleries and introduced a new cafe and shop on this City Museum project. Which was successfully awarded £1.1 million National Lottery Heritage Funding (NLHF) in this jointly funded project.

* Update* Projects page >>

National Lottery Heritage Funding (NLHF) Initial Consultation
With the start of New Year come exciting new projects! One such project is seeking funding from National Lottery Heritage Funding formerly known as (HLF) and other organisations. Our museum designers began work with an initial Consultation on this historic battlefield museum and will continue to provide our expertise throughout the various stages - January 2020.

Art Lighting Specialists - The Negotiating Borders Art Exhibition
This was the tenth exhibition SMA design has assisted the Korean Cultural Centre in London with exhibition layout, light installation, focusing of light fittings & light levels - October 2019.

* Update* - Art Exhibition >>

Luxury Property Road show in Knightsbridge, London
The event was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, London. This was a two day luxury property show for DAMAC. Working with their events team we assisted with the design layout, logistics, architectural model installation and its implementation.

When Middle East clients market their luxury property developments in the London, it’s not surprising that SMA design are their first choice activation road show specialists, for luxury property events and exhibitions. With our heritage and pedigree steeped in prestigious exhibition design projects across the globe, they know there in safe and capable hands - July & September 2019.

See Property Road show >>

New Visitor Centre Design for EDF Hinkley Point
Design for a new interactive Visitor Centre for EDF Nuclear Power Station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, starts in June. Our design team look forward to working on this exciting project, unfolding the stories of nuclear fission for future generations - June 2019.

Harrods Luxury Property Exhibition
Harrods Luxury Property exhibition within Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, London. We continue our working relationship with both DAMAC & Omniyat both luxury property developers from Dubai at this years property exhibition in Harrods - Feb 2019.

See property exhibition >

DAMAC TOWER - Interiors by Versace
SMA design were delighted to assist DAMAC at this year’s Investor Property Show, the exhibition stand winning best at show - October 2018.

See property exhibition > >

Marketing Suite Design for DAMAC Properties
Marketing Suite Design for DAMAC Property Developer located opposite Harrods in London’s Knightsbridge. The marketing suite showcases the developers’ luxury projects in Dubai - August 2018.

Harrods Luxury Property Exhibition.
DAMAC one of the largest Dubai based property developers in the UAE working with SMA design to provide exhibition layout, design, lighting, project management and installation into one of the world’s most famous department stores - June 2018.

One of London's Busiest Tourist Areas to get new Visitor Centre.
SMA design exhibition designers are creating a new visitor centre to unfold the story of the area’s untold history. The concept designs will be used to raise additional funds to make it a reality (images to follow once in public domain) - May 2018.

Lighting Art for London Michelin Restaurant.
Our designers have been working with Babur an established Michelin contemporary Indian restaurant in South East London; works include; environmental safeguarding of art displays, reducing solar gain and new mood interior lighting - March 2018.

Lighting Art Restaurant Project>>

Dubai Based Luxury Property Developer Omniyat choose SMA Design
Our team will assist with Omniyats international property portfolio, exhibitions & events - The first exhibition will be within Harrods department store in London, Knightsbridge - January 2018. 

The CAMA (Contemporary And Modern Art) Gallery
Uniquely representing Iranian / Persian artists CAMA gallery decide to announce their arrival on the London art scene with an opening ceremony at the Café Royal Hotels Pompadour ball room in Piccadilly – November 2017.

* Update* - Exhibition Designers - Painting Exhibition

No Place Like Home – Photographic Exhibition
Not just here for the large projects. SMA design assisted Jonny Donovan a talent professional photographer with this small but socially important exhibition @ Platform Southwark exhibition gallery, part of the Young Vic – September 2017 

Rehearsals Exhibition from the Korean Avant-Garde Performance Archive
Lighting design & exhibition assistance for the latest exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre in London - This is the 6th Exhibition that SMA design has assisted with over the last 12 months. Update & images to follow – July 2017

* Update* - Exhibition Designers - Cultural projects

Harrods Property Exhibition for Aykon London One Development

New luxury apartments by Versace interiors. Due to its location under one of the main escalators with in the Harrods store, this two month long exhibition has very rigorous fire restrictions placed on its design and construction. Update & images to follow – July 2017

Dubai Based Luxury Property Developer Choose SMA Design

Dubai based luxury property developer DAMAC properties now based in Knightsbridge choose SMA design to assist with their international property portfolio, exhibitions & events - The first exhibition will be at the London Real Estate Forum in Berkeley Square, followed by a display at Harrods department store- June 2017.

National Trust: Belton House Illuminating Stories Exhibition

Lighting design consultancy for stately home objects, including fine art paintings. Lighting without being connected to the mains power supply was one of the many problems that had to be overcome. House & Exhibition opens - March 2017.

Additional info & images to follow shortly.

Mies van der Rohe: Mansion House Square Architectural Models - Conservation & Restoration for New RIBA Exhibition Conservation & Restoration works for the new RIBA Exhibition "Mies van der Rohe & James Stirling: Circling the Square" - February 2017.

Learn more >> architectural model conservation & restoration

- Flat Flat Shiney Cat Exhibition London

Our lighting designers worked on this dramatic exhibition which was a series of site-specific works exploring the various concepts of rhythm and slowness. - December 2016.

- Exhibition Design & Lighting Design "William Saunders Photographic Exhibition" for New York Collector

Never before seen photographic exhibition of 1870's Shanghai portraits by William Saunders including recreated period photographic studio display - November 2016.

See more about exhibition >>

- Artist of the Year 2016 Exhibition @ Korean Cultural Centre London

Our designers worked with Koo Jeong A and seven international supporting artists to display their various art installations - October 2016.

- Object Mounting & Lighting Consultancy for two Museum HLF Projects

Our team has been providing object mounting and showcase lighting consultancy to another museum design company for two HLF museum projects on the edge of London - September 2016

- Abu Dhabi Palace Converted into Private Collector Museum

Our exhibition design team and lighting specialists have been selected to work with a specialist team of architects and interior designers over the next 24 months to convert an existing palace into a private collectors museum in Abu Dhabi. September 2016.

- Exhibition Design Consultancy & Lighting Design for Korean Cultural Centre London

Our designers worked with Korean Ministry of Culture & Tourism & Korean Cultural Centre on "Make Your Movements" Korean Contemporary Objects Exhibition - August 2016.

Learn more >> exhibition design & lighting designers

- Exhibition Design Assistance for Charities

Exhibition design assistance for UK Charity from concept design to finished exhibition 14 days - April 2016.

Learn more >> exhibition designers for charities

- Light Focusing @ William Morris Gallery

Light Focusing @ William Morris Gallery for Touring British Museum Exhibition - February 2016 - updated

Learn more >> conservation lighting designers

- Conserving Architectural Models

Our conservation team provided consultancy services to a large County Council model collection which is currently in storage - December 2015.

Learn more >> conserving architectural models

- Exhibition & Lighting Design for New York Collection

London’s China Exchange in Chinatown was the venue for an exhibition of images from Qing Dynasty showing life in Peking approximately 120 years ago - November 2015.

Learn more >> exhibition & lighting design

- British Corporate design for German Engineering Group

German exhibition showcase company increase their range into the glass market and appoint our corporate designers and marketing team to deliver a new brand utilising leverage of the existing Frank brand - November 2015.

- Design of World's leading gallery of Ancient Art, London

Since August 2015 design works have been forging ahead for the redesign of two floors of the London based ancient art gallery. This gallery boasts some of the finest ancient art in private hands - October 2015.

Learn more >>gallery designers

- Exhibition Designers New Marketing Suite Concept for City of London Project
Our exhibition design team work to tight deadline to produce property exhibition design / marketing suite concept for new office development - July 2015.

- Museum & Heritage Exhibition London 2015
SMA design @ M&H Show Olympia - May 2015

Learn more about exhibition >>

- Single Donor Museum for Private Art Collection

Museum Exhibition Designers to assist in the creation of “Single Donor Museum” in Singapore, China - April 2015

Learn more Single Donor Museum Design Page >>

- Museum Heritage Consultancy Workshops
SMA design now provide museum heritage consultancy workshops covering master-planning, visitor management, design, interpretive planning and development for heritage & cultural projects - Jan 2015

Learn more Museum Heritage Workshop Page >>

- SMA Design Assists Bristol Museums & Galleries
With only a few days to go till the opening of this important social history exhibition covering the great wars and conflict, SMA design were asked if they could assist the in-house exhibition design team to display exhibition objects that required individual object mounts - October 14.

Learn more about the exhibition >>

- New Museum Design Entrance
SMA design are pleased to be assisting project architects with both interior and exterior design of the museums main entrance. The new museum will house one of the largest art collections currently in private ownership - July 2014.

Museum design entrance >>

- Interior Design for London Property Development
As the property market gathers pace and property developers look to make their scheme pop, SMA design team are very excited to be developing mood boards and lighting design for 44 high-end apartments on one of London’s new riverside developments - June 2014.

Interior design news more >>

- Travelling Exhibition Design for Private Art Collection
Travelling exhibition designs to unfold the storylines have been agreed, including optimum amount of space required for each exhibition, with flexibility in the design to work for all of the 8 venues which are different in size and layout. First showing of exhibition now early 2015 - April 2014.

Read more Travelling exhibition design >>

- Religious Museum Concept Design 2014
Work starts on a new museum design proposal for West London Church which will showcase amongst other more historical elements, the works done by volunteers who give their valuable time freely to help others - Feb 2014.    

What's different about SMA museum design company

- HLF Application Workshops increased for 2014
For the third year running we have increased the overall capacity for museum and organisations to book one of our HLF (Heritage Lottery Funding) application design workshops - December 2013.

HLF Application Workshop Link

- Museum Design for Heritage Lottery
After assisting a small rural museum to obtain a HLF stage one pass, our design team have been asked to prepare a museum design proposal ready for stage 2 submission. The process will begin by using our museum design workshops approach to full immerse museum staff to produce the best possible design solution - August 2013.

HLF museum workshops

- Travelling Exhibition Design gets Underway
After 18 months of discussions & planning with a private collector its full steam ahead for SMA to design a travelling exhibition around this previously unseen eclectic collection. Travelling to 8 locations the first opening will be late 2014, exact venues and dates still to be confirmed - April 2013.

Read more about travelling exhibition design >>

- A New Year Brings Exciting Residential Interior Design Project
With so much residential apartments coming to the market, London based property developers look to SMA design team to bring green, contemporary and stylish interior designs to Central London development - January 2013.

interior designers

- Fast Track Brochure Design produced at Clients Premises in Frankfurt
When a client needed something special but produced in days rather than weeks, we provided one of our designers to work on site allowing instant decision making for design direction cutting down on design production times - Dec 2012

Read more about onsite corporate brochure design >>

- Return to Kenya - Lighting Design
SMA design were delighted to be invited back to Nairobi to advise on lighting of a new build office project, following the recommendation by Kenya's largest architectural practice - October 2012.

Read more about this lighting design project >>

- New Branding for International Investment Bank
After a three month wait our designers were delighted to hear this week that we have been awarded the branding for an international investment bank based in New York, Singapore, Frankfurt & London – Work will include evolution of logo design, website and all corporate stationery, guidelines & marketing material - June 2012.

View our corporate design page.

- Short Listed for Hong Kong Visitor Centre
SMA designers have been short listed to the final three design companies for a prestigious hi tech visitor centre in Hong Kong, China (finger crossed) - April 2012

View our exhibition design page.

- Museum design for Doha, Qatar
SMA design start work on designing our vision for a contemporary museum of sport in Doha, Qatar. The museum will be eco friendly and use state of the art technologies to bring to life stories & provide interactive experiences never utilised before. Exciting times ahead! - Feb 2012

View our museum design & eco design pages.

- Lighting design consultancy for Jewellery Exhibition
Our lighting designers where asked to provide lighting consultancy services to one of London’s Top PR & Event Organisers for a truly unique jewellery exhibition - Jan 2012

lighting design

- Belgian display case company get SMA Branding
Wanting to promote their new product line of diamond quality acrylic display cases, Distriplex chose our creative studios due to our understanding of the market and exciting approach - Dec 2011.

Qube branding

- Lighting design for Iconic Tower in the City of London
Having completed numerous prestigious city lighting design developments we are pleased to guide another property developer on the next iconic city tower project – watch this space for updates - Nov 2011.

lighting design

- WWF 50th Anniversary Exhibition & Event
We were delighted when we were approached by World Wildlife Fund to provide exhibition & lighting design consultancy on this prestigious event. It was particularly important for WWF they worked with a design company with environmental & eco friendly principles & ethos - Oct 2011.

exhibition & lighting design company services >>

- Interior Designs for the City of London
We are very pleased to announce that our Interior designers have been commissioned to add that something special or wow factor to a new build apartment project in the City of London - Sept 2011.

interior design services

- New Corporate Branding for Frankfurt
Frankfurt based Museum Showcase Company chooses our corporate design team to role out a new corporate branding package. Our creativity, knowledge of the museum and design sector and SEO techniques where instrumental in our appointment over other London creative design agencies - August 2011.

corporate designers

- Corporate Design Team Win Pitch
Expert provider of consultancy, assurance and advisory services to utilities and environmental sectors chooses our Corporate Design team to brand their new product prior to offering it to the market place in June.

corporate design

- HLF Workshops Provide Stage One Pass
Simon Morris Associates have now been appointed museum exhibition designers to work up successful stage one workshop designs (to RIBA Stage D) for Heritage Lottery Stage 2 application later this year.

HLF stage application workshops

- Heritage Lottery Application Design Workshops
This week we began the first of 2011 heritage lottery application design workshops. SMA design this year will be assisting many local & authority run museums to achieve a successful stage 1 & stage 2 applications for Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF).

Funding will be used to upgrade their museums and tired exhibitions, providing better access in line with international museum design and exhibition design standards.

HLF stage application workshops

- Finest Silver Collection in Private Hands
Our design team were very pleased to be invited to be both exhibition design consultants & lighting design consultants on one of finest silver collections in private hands.

View our exhibition design & lighting design pages.

- Eco Friendly Lighting Design Awarded
SMA design are pleased to announce that we have been appointed as lighting designers on a prestigious international museum design project in Germany. The museum lighting design will start early in 2011 for completion in 2012.

View our lighting design & eco design page.

- Revolutionary Eco Museum Design Showcase
Our revolutionary museum & exhibition showcases that use no mains power from the buildings supply to light the internal art objects.They can also be positioned anywhere without the need for clumsy or inconvenient electrical connection points. Their development & testing nears completion.

View our museum design & eco design pages.

- Eco Friendly Project Awarded
SMA design are pleased to announce that we have been awarded another Eco corporate design re-branding project for one of the UK's best known household names.

View our corporate design & graphic design pages.