Success Stories

Concept and challenges

The Great Creator UK Graduate Show 2015 showcased much more than the latest products of British creative industry leadership; it also revealed the cultural and educational keys to inspire a whole new generation of creators.

Conceived by The British Council, the show was envisioned as an exhibition of 350 works by UK graduates in a wide range of creative and design fields, including fashion, film, jewellery, product design and visual arts. Complementing the product showcase would be a programme of exciting exhibits and informative lectures and workshops providing an in-depth understanding of how the UK’s unique culture and educational approach contribute to its knack for trend-setting innovation.

The show was held at The British Council’s own Beijing headquarters at Taikoo Li Sanlitun. All event’s venue décor and even its food and beverages would be in British style, giving visitors a truly immersive journey into the theme.

For the Pico team providing full event management, the show entailed coordination with a large number of participating institutions from the UK – a task that involved both working across time-zones and directly with graduates and PR representatives.

Execution

The event’s strong interactive element proved successful in both attracting visitors and maximising the impact of its message. Among the venue’s interactive highlights were a painting wall, DIY postcards and video clips, and graduate-created VR games and movies.

The biggest draw, however, was the event’s series of ‘Master Class’ sharing sessions hosted by a roster of UK graduates who have emerged as creative giants in their fields. Among those sharing their insights and experiences in the industry and in UK education were famous artist and researcher, David Hilton; Ogilvy & Mather China’s Chief Creative Officer Graham Fink; ASOS Head of Design Leandra O’Sullivan; award-winning jewellery designer Liu Fei; Mark Phillips, Design Director and Principal Consultant at Design Futures, a multidisciplinary design group; footwear design innovator Jimmy Choo; and product and furniture designer Roger Bateman.