Since 2018 we have had the pleasure of working with our Kings Cross neighbours The Institute of Physics on some inspiring projects. Our latest collaboration with them was for their family-friendly and hands-on exhibition ‘Superheroes Unlimited’ that took place in the summer of 2022.
As part of the Institute’s Limit Less campaign which aims to engage young people with physics, this was an exhibition and events programme that allowed them to try it out for themselves. Families and schools alike were invited to participate in scientific activities, experiments and workshops at 37 Caledonian Road in London.
The idea of the exhibition was to portray the Institute’s team of physicists as superheroes with their own personas and powers. The superheroes included: Global Guardian, protector of climate change; Molecule Manipulator, creator of new super-materials; UltraSonic, healer and maker of ultrasound; Mister Tech, inventor of machines and Laser Lady, healer and emitter of light.
In order to fully bring this idea to fruition, the Institute required the help of our illustrators who drew each superhero in action for display on the walls of the exhibition.
“We worked with Scriberia to bring these ideas to life and create a vibrant, welcoming visual impact for our exhibition” explains Toby Shannon-Smith, Public Engagement Manager at the Institute.
“The work was universally well-received by our audiences of young people, their families and their teachers. Young people loved the character designs and the superheroes in action really captured the imagination - they bring science ideas to life and create that friendly, approachable feel that welcomes in audiences.”
"Scriberia are always a delight to work with. They love a challenge and have the flexibility and expertise that we need to translate physics concepts into friendly visuals to engage our target audiences."
Scriberia’s work was present all around the exhibition—in the colouring sheets scattered for children to use, prop boxes for spectators to take superhero selfies, brochures for them to read and on all the interactive screens. The bright and colourful images gave the educational space the creative boost it needed to get children involved.
“Over the course of the exhibition's run, we reached thousands of young people and their families from Islington, London and beyond. Dozens of classes of children from local primary schools visited the exhibition on school trips and were inspired by the illustrations to create their own science superheroes” explains Shannon-Smith.
In addition to inspiring the local population, the Institute also set up an online hub with downloadable resources, so families and teachers can get involved at home or in the classroom. “Creating resources such as these is hugely impactful in terms of giving the exhibition a long-lasting legacy beyond its run as well as reaching audiences all around the world!”
“Scriberia are always a delight to work with. They love a challenge and have the flexibility and expertise that we need to translate physics concepts into friendly visuals to engage our target audiences.
"The collaborative process that we use always fits well with our own work-flow and allows for plenty of opportunities to tweak the designs based on the feedback from our science superheroes to accurately reflect their work.”
Take a look at our reel:
