POP MART – Immersive Retail Installation at Selfridges

Creators & Makers partnered with POP MART to bring an imaginative tropical island retail experience to life at Selfridges, Oxford Street, London.

Working from an initial 2D creative concept, our challenge was to translate the playful island environment into a fully realised, three-dimensional installation that would capture the personality of POP MART’s collectible characters while creating an engaging destination within one of London’s most iconic department stores.

Our team developed the supplied concept through detailed CAD drawings, carefully considering the construction, materials and finishes required to transform the original artwork into a practical, visually striking retail environment.

At the heart of the installation was a bespoke tropical island, complete with oversized character sculptures, surfboards, palm trees and a vibrant water-effect floor graphic. The island was fabricated and finished using a specially mixed paint incorporating real sand, creating an authentic beach texture that added another layer of realism to the scene.

Specialist model making and sculpting played a significant role in bringing the installation to life. Oversized POP MART characters and scenic props were individually sculpted and manufactured, while large-format palm tree cut-outs and bespoke surfboards helped establish the playful tropical setting.

We also introduced 30mm-thick clear acrylic character cut-outs, reverse printed with vibrant graphics to achieve a premium, dimensional finish that complemented the sculpted elements.

Alongside the island installation, we transformed POP MART’s existing yellow ROBO SHOP vending machines into an eye-catching pink retail feature. Bespoke furry surrounds, carefully applied vinyl wraps and character graphic cut-outs completely reimagined the machines, creating a distinctive branded experience that sat comfortably alongside the wider tropical environment.

The finished installation brought together a unique combination of sculpting, model making, bespoke fabrication and specialist finishes, creating a retail environment unlike anything else in the store at the time.

The launch attracted significant attention, with celebrities and influencers, including Gemma Collins, attending the opening to create content around the ROBO SHOP experience.

Originally commissioned for a six-week activation, the installation proved so successful and well received that it remained in Selfridges for more than six months.

A brilliant example of how imaginative creative concepts, specialist production techniques and meticulous attention to detail can transform a retail space into a memorable brand experience.

“Designed for six weeks. Loved for six months. A playful reminder that great retail experiences deserve to stick around.”