Look Book 2

2. Since we produced our first Look Book back in 2017, we’ve been busier than
ever. Busy expanding into different markets, creating new products and building
meaningful relationships with our clients. Now, two years older and wiser, I’m thrilled
to be able to share a selection of our recent projects with you in this: Look Book
Volume 2.
This collection of projects shows the incredible range of manufacturing skills, design
expertise and industry knowledge shared by the team here at Unibox. Seeing the
results of our collective efforts fills me with pride and definitely makes all the hard
work worthwhile.
We strive to push established limits by pioneering new technologies, methods and
ideas whilst seeing problems as opportunities for growth. In doing this, we hope that
our business will continue on a path of progress and improvement which will add
value to the lives of our clients, suppliers and wider community.
This new Look Book is reflective of our love for intelligently thought-out designs that
continue to deliver on all fronts: functionally, commercially and aesthetically. To this
end, we firmly believe that the best results can be achieved through collaboration,
which is why we work closely with our clients and partners.
To my team: The projects that are presented here are a true testament to your
extraordinary capabilities, talents and work ethics.
To our customers: It has been a pleasure working with you all throughout the design,
development, production and installation processes – thank you & here’s to another
year of learning, evolving and boundary-breaking!
Foreword
Nick Wraith, Founder

3. A UK based manufacturer since 1990, Unibox has a
wealth of experience working in partnership with both
design agencies and end-clients on projects across
multiple sectors including; retail, exhibition & event,
hospitality, leisure and commercial interiors.
Our collaborative approach and expertise in design
ensures we deliver intelligent solutions that preserve
the original design intention, injecting care, attention,
and ingenuity into everything we create.
A refreshing approach to
manufacturing
RIVER ISLAND
GATESHEAD
“We make beautifully engineered
products designed to get results”
Nick Wraith, Managing Director

4. Unibox helped international shoe manufacturer and retailer
Clarks, embark upon a full brand update, with the launch of a
new base and showroom in London’s Russell Square.
Spearheaded by Clarks' in-house design team at Street,
Unibox collaborated with architects Stiff & Trevillion and
global contractors IDX on this project. We were appointed
to share our retail display insight, and technical and product
development expertise.
Clarks

5. Clarks were looking to transform their London base into an
adaptable marketing and event space to showcase and launch
new products in the capital. The building also had to work as a
functioning office with defined zones, including formal reception
areas and flexible showroom space.
The initial brief was to create a shelving system that allowed the
retailer to display shoes on single shelves, but also use the same
fixing points to incorporate campaign graphics and other apparel.
In addition, because of the nature of the space, the solution needed
to be mobile offering flexibility to adapt to new events, products,
promotions, and room layouts.

6. After a successful prototype review on site in the
mock-up retail space consisting of lightboxes, non-
illuminated shelving, and integrated edge-lit panel
lighting to create ‘floating tables’, Unibox developed
theshelvingsolutionfurtherbyintroducingourKontakt
system into the mix; a cable-free illuminated shelving
system made up of powered tracks embedded into
slotted uprights, which power luminaires via shelf
brackets specifically designed to safely conduct
electricity. The luminaire itself was also developed to
emit light which accurately and repeatedly matched
the surrounding ambient LED lighting.
The result was a custom-made and entirely modular,
mobile shelving system which perfectly illuminates
each individual shoe shelf. Furthermore, we developed
new power connector brackets so that a lightbox could
be mounted to the wall amongst the merchandise
and draw power from the embedded slotted upright,
negating the need to hide cables and cumbersome
drivers.

7. Unibox has a long standing relationship with Next having
manufactured and supplied them with LED lighting solutions
previoulsy. However in 2016, Dalziel & Power further endorsed
our reputation and expertise by specifying us on a new
design concept for adjustable illuminated shelving in the shoe
department.
Next | Dalziel & Pow

8. After the new scheme was given the go ahead, Unibox began to work
directly with Next to develop the new system that had to be compatible
with the existing bracketry already utilised in stores. Aesthetically, the
metal uprights also had to be 30 x 30 box section with the slots in
the rear side, so that they were not visible to keep the front clean
from visual noise. Due to the slots being in the rear of the upright, the
existing preliminary bracket; a bracket that fitted into the rear slots
that then supported the shelves; was quite cumbersome and therefore
taking up vital merchandising space.
Having received the brief in a workshop meeting with Next’s Head
of Shopfitting Procurement in our Manchester HQ, our Product
Development Team worked on a series of engineered solutions that
would streamline the preliminary bracket, to allow for wider shelves but
also put forward ideas on how to integrate powered tracks within the
metal framework in order to power shelf luminaires. In order to allow
custom designed track adaptors to plug into the upright to carry the
power from the track to the luminaire, our team redesigned the laser
cut slot detail, whilst retaining the ability to use the existing bracketry.
Next required a luminaire that would illuminate
product above and below the glazed shelf, so our
Design and Opto Electronic Engineering Team
designed a bespoke extruded aluminium profile
that housed custom LED light engines, fitted to
two angled planes to shine light up and down and
achieve a specific spread of light.
As a well-established manufacturer, we have built a
huge network of external suppliers, to help us deliver
a whole solution when required. Next expressed
a need for us to supply the full system kit, rather
than just parts to be combined with parts from other
suppliers, so our network allowed us to source the
fabricated steel framework and assemble within our
factory before sending out to their central distribution
warehouse.
Having produced the first batch, our Project
Management Team supported the first two store
installations by training the contracted shop fitting
teams on the job to prepare them for future installs.
The supply and roll out of this modular system is
ongoing and is testament to how working with a
manufacturer at concept level can aid delivery by
value engineering, identifying potential snags before
installation via prototyping and future-proofing
the system by establishing intelligent and proven
manufacturing methods.

9. Unibox has worked collaboratively with the Architect's,
Main Contractor, Sub Contractor and M&E team, over
two and a half years to design, develop and manufacture
five key features for the interior of London’s newest
landmark building: 70 St Mary Axe.
70 St Mary Axe

10. In 2016 Foggo Associates approached Unibox to
submit a feasible proposal for 154 ceiling lightboxes,
inspired by a scene in the Batman film The Dark
Knight Rises, to be integrated into the lift lobbies
on 18 floors. Foggo Associates design intent was
to achieve a homogenous illumination across the
Lift Lobby ceilings, with clean and sharp break lines,
creating a stark contrast between concrete and stone
finishes to the walls and floors, with minimal visible
fixing details.
Unibox proposed a 100mm deep Aluminium framed
Lightbox, with tension fabric diffuser face. The light
engine within this product was a bespoke PCB,
designed by our Opto Electronics Team to consume
less power and satisfy the brief to achieve 200 Lux
at 2.7m height from floor level, using 4000k 90 CRI
LEDs, with efficiency in line with BREEAM standards.
Unibox proposed the use of a 2mm Aluminium
Sheet as backing panel, as well as a B-S1-D0
compliant Diffuser, in order to stay within strict fire
material usage regulations, whilst still maintaining
the illumination criteria. Accompanying this proposal,
was a further detailed proposal whereby access was
needed through the Lightbox, to the mechanical
elements situated behind.
Unibox first created a prototype of one Lightbox for
initial client approval and then went onto create a
mock up Lift Lobby within our 36,000 sq ft. factory
and installed 6 Lightboxes, to gain final approval
of product, fixing and M&E access from the entire
project team.

11. Foggo Associates wanted to continue the design scheme from the lift
lobbies, into the lift cars, with the use of a ceiling lightbox once again.
As there were depth restrictions in the lift car, Unibox sought to make
a slimmer variation of the lift lobby lightboxes and used our Ledge46
lightbox profile (46mm deep) with 4000k 90CRI LED illumination.
Before production could commence, a full mock-up of the proposed
Lightbox was manufactured and installed in a mock up lift car, for approval
by the project team. The lightboxes continued into the 10no. lift cars, filling
the ceiling with a 40mm shadow gap around the edge.

12. Foggo Associates were tasked
with designing a CAT A Fit
Out in order to demonstrate to
prospective tenants the desirability
of the 70StMA building in terms of
design and space. The brief was
to manufacture a luminaire that
met the exact dimensions of the
mullions that wrapped up and over
the building, creating the illusion
of a continuous line meeting the
mullions from Project East to
Project West.
As well as the dimensions of the
luminaire being specific to the
project, Foggo Associates also
required a minimal interface detail
between luminaire profile and
diffuser and it needed to achieve
between 8 and 10 Watts per
Square metre, 400 Lux at floor
level, 4000k 90CRI.
Existing luminaires in the market
did not meet the design aesthetic
or lighting criteria so Foggo
Associates once again sought
Unibox’s help.
Unibox proposed a bespoke design
aluminium profile together with
a new LED, designed specifically
for the accompanying profile
and included 150mm ‘pull away’
sections, at particular points so that
a tenant could erect partition walls
across the floor space, without
causing potential disruption and
lengthy reworks to the luminaire.
In all, 1800 linear meters of luminaire
was manufactured, assembled and
installed. The luminaires were installed in
‘rafts’ comprising of 4no. 11m luminaires,
suspended 500mm apart, with each
luminaire fixed to busbars, which allowed
for one mains connection per raft.
In addition emergency lighting was
integrated into the luminaire which had a
separate driver and back-up battery with 3
hours illumination.
Thepolycarbonate diffuserforthisluminaire
had to allow for a high light transmission,
to meet the efficiency specification, but
also the strict fire regulations of B-S1-D0.
This aspect of the project was challenging
and rewarding for everyone involved. By
working in close collaboration with one
another from the start, Foggo Associates,
Mace MEP and Unibox were able to turn a
technically complicated brief into stunning
reality with installation completed by
Lindner Interiors Limited.

13. Lindner Interior Limited challenged Unibox to replicate
the look and feel of the ceiling lightboxes in the lift
lobbies but this time, installed into an oval shaped
glazed vestibule to draw attention to the statuesque,
enclosed elliptical entrance-way. This light source
needed to achieve 200 lux at 6m height from floor
level, with 4000k 90CRI with integrated emergency
lighting, and needed to be DALI controllable.
Once again the Electrical Engineer, Product Design
and Manufacturing Teams at Unibox came together
to design a 100mm depth aluminium profile frame,
rolled to the various radii required to fit exactly to the
vestibule footprint, complete with bespoke LED light
engine in order to achieve the Lux Level, and fabric
diffuser face cut and sewn to the exact shape to
create a drum-like homogenously illuminated fascia.

15. Foggo Associates wanted to create an impactful reception
area for 70 St Mary Axe, as it was located in the bustling hub
of the landmark building and surrounded by high traffic public
footpaths and roads to all four aspects.
The monolithic stepped design was clad with cast concrete
and built into the interior architecture. The architects wanted to
contrast the rough texture of the shuttered concrete, with cool
white, sleek illuminated panels framing the reception desk on
all for internal faces.
The product would need to withstand high
trafficandberobust,meetthestrictmaterial
fire regulations, have minimal visible frame
detail, whilst allowing for the face of the
lightbox to withstand compression and be
removable. Consistent with the rest of the
building, the lighting was to be 4000k in
colour temperature.
The lightbox would be required to fix back through
the backing panel and allow for installation in series
with minimal join detail. The depth restrictions on
this element were 40mm, so Unibox developed
a bespoke aluminium profile frame with a clip in
thermoformed diffuser allowing the face to be
removable, whilst withstanding compression and,
and suspend upside down, and remain in place.
Several prototypes were manufactured, making
good use of our in-house 3D print facility to model
and test bespoke components that brought all the
elements together.
For the vertical and overhead facades, a
polycarbonate diffuser was used for its lightweight
properties and appropriate fire rating, but the desk
surface was faced with 6mm low iron glass for a
more robust table top.

16. The same principal was put in place for the lift
reveals in the Ground Floor lift lobby. Each elevator
doorway was lined with illuminated panels, made
much in the same way as the facades of the
reception desk, with some sleek, simplistic laser-
cut signage bonded in place.
These elements presented the unique challenge of
achieving an even light distribution in a lightbox of
such a shallow depth and our capabilities enabled
us to help bring the heart of this remarkable
building, to life and set the tone throughout 70 St
Mary Axe.

17. Footwear retailer schuh introduce their visionary new store
concept: schuh TwentyTwenty.
Offering unparalleled experience in designing, extruding and
fabricating aluminium profiles to deliver retail merchandising
solutions integrated with leading lighting technology, Unibox
were the perfect partner to help Briggs Hillier Design deliver
schuh’s vision.
Briggs Hillier
Schuh

18. The new format aimed to capture the focus of the
youth demographic, specifically people aged 14-24
years, through key brand storytelling and product
activations and create a ‘Future Fit’ retail system in
order to grow this market over the next decade.
The standout feature of the design was the
illuminated archways, spanning the full width of the
store. However, this had a dual purpose. The striking
illuminated goalpost upright element served as the
main merchandising system as well as providing
much of the store’s interior lighting.
Our team’s expert knowledge of the inherent
properties of the materials we were working with
enabled us to develop, manufacture and install a
system that would look fantastic, perform well and
be simple to install.

19. “Thank you for all your efforts in getting this
project over the line. It has been a pleasure
working with like-minded people and learning
from each of you as we go. It’s great to have
such a high level of confidence in our supply
partners and the result speaks for itself. We
look forward to a continued and successful
business relationship with you.”
Head of Store Development, schuh
The lead time to design, engineer, prototype,
fabricate, assemble, test and then install the iniital
trial store was incredibly tight, even in retail terms. We
even made time to pre-build the entire system in our
factory prior to dispatch to make sure it lived up to
Briggs Hillier Design’s expectations and performed
exactly as schuh hoped it would.
For just 1 store, Unibox supplied over 120m of
illuminated profile for the archways, along with nearly
1000m of extruded RSB, all delivered on time and
to budget.
After a successful install at schuh Livingston, Unibox
has since delivered the same system for the Bristol
and Manchester stores.

20. Iconic lamp design company, Anglepoise, required a modular display
unit for their new Clerkenwell showroom ahead of the annual
gathering of architects and designers at Clerkenwell Design Week.
With less than a month to design and manufacture, Anglepoise
called on our UK-based production facilities and Clerkenwell Design
Office to turn this project around on an incredibly tight deadline.
Anglepoise

21. The display needed to be able to
incorporate floor, table and wall
lighting ranging from giant to micro
variations, therefore developing a
system that could accommodate
each size of product was essential.
Space within the working studio was
also limited, so we needed to utilise
the high ceilings to display the whole
collection within a small footprint.
Animportantconsideration
within the design was
modularity, as Anglepoise’s
showroom space is semi-
permanent, meaning the
displays needed to adapt
to any given space, and
be easily transported and
reconfigured.
Using our SOL system, we created 800mm sections
that allowed larger lamps to be displayed as single
items, or products to be grouped together. Conscious
that time was tight, our designers created the
structure so that the whole unit could sections could
be pre-assembled to save time installing on site.
To ensure each of the graphic panels, which were
fixed to a single system channel, aligned correctly,
the Unibox design team devised a clever solution that
treated the panels like a jigsaw, designing notches
that were cut from each panel to join the neighbouring
panel. The parts went into production within a week
of the initial phone call and all parts were CNC cut to
ensure absolute accuracy and precision.
Three and a half weeks after the brief, the display
was designed, fabricated, assembled and installed,
looking incredible and really allowed the product to
show off it’s iconic silhouette.
“We were really pleased with the overall product quality and aesthetic,
this system has helped bring our new London Studio to life.
The team at Unibox responded quickly to a demanding brief and were
incredibly helpful and knowledgeable throughout.
Simon Terry, Managing Director

22. As part of an ongoing collaboration between
Unibox and Tom Dixon, our Creative Director, and
former Tom Dixon employee, together with Unibox
Managing Director were invited to present a range
of new and existing display systems that would offer
a cost-effective, flexible solution for a series of retail
fixtures to display the ever-growing range of home
accessories and hugely successful Scent range.
The displays were to be flat-packed and shipped
worldwide so weight was an important factor together
with materiality, an ever-present theme linked
with Tom’s iconic style. From previous experience,
Tom knew that Unibox were experts in the field of
lightweight yet robust modular systems.
Shop In Shop Fixtures
Tom Dixon

23. After the initial meeting Tom and the Retail and Product Design
Teams shared initial sketches to convey dimensions and design
intent.
Having discussed the choice of systems available we narrowed it
down to two options; the 2525 system – a slim 25mm box section
profile with predetermined fixing points, and the Sol modular
system – a 35mm aluminium profile with system channels and
connectors which offers the ultimate kit of parts.
We prototyped a 1:1 mock up to test the size, rigidity, and
weight loading and presented this during a workshop meeting
in our Manchester factory. During this day we explored finishes,
manufacturing methods, design tweaks and branding opportunities.
Tom provided design direction, surmising that although
the Sol fixture wasn’t as slim as the 2525 system,
the system channels inherent in the Sol kit were
something to be celebrated and further to this, the
standard anodised silver finish was key to its honesty
and integrity, which lead to the decision to follow suit
with the shelf material and CNC cut the shelves from
2mm pre-anodised aluminium sheets.
Having tested and timed building each unit in-house,
the prototypes were shipped to the London concept
store so that the VM teams could assemble the units,
as these would need to be easily constructed by shop
staff. On average the units took 15 minutes to unpack
and assemble.

24. The finishing touch was the addition of a punched logo, using a
pneumatic stamp tool, the Tom Dixon logo was pressed into one
corner of the bottom shelf to subtly brand the unit.
Once the designs were drawn up, approved and in production, the
Production Team worked on the most effective way to package
the kit so that it was suitable for airfreight and ensuring it could be
handled by 1-2 people, stored, picked and packed efficiently in the
Tom Dixon warehouse.
The result is simple but effective, and in time the shelves can be
replaced with another material and therefore customised for the
launch of future product ranges.

25. Debenhams’ iconic Oxford Street store spans seven floors,
with over 360,000 sq ft of retail space.
Withcurrentfeaturedretailerpromotionschangingmorethan
10 times per year, Debenhams were looking to introduce a
20m wide window display that could be easily reconfigured
whilst retaining the high quality finish their brand dictates.
Debenhams, Oxford Street

26. The window was designed in layers with the
background made up of the largest Kinetik lightbox
we have ever made, spanning the full 20 meters
of their Oxford Street window. As experienced
manufacturers of LED Lightboxes, creating a
lightbox of that size was simple, however these
lightboxes were not only introduced to illuminate
high resolution graphics, the team wanted to
introduce an element of movement, to capture
the attention of passers by and bring the imagery
to life This presented our lighting division with
the challenge of integrating our patented Kinetik
technology, configuring over 450 dynamic LED
modules, ensuring they were sequenced correctly
for the animation to work.
The second layer was even more complex, in that the
Debenhams Windows Team wanted to be able to
introduce a second layer of Kinetik lightboxes, but this
time mobilise them via an industrial wheel and track
system embedded into a custom two-tier white gloss
laminated plinth with integrated LED lighting, enabling
the secondary layer of lightboxes to be moved laterally
and positioned anywhere along the 20m window. These
moveable lightboxes were also made to incorporate our
Magnetik system enabling the team to combine hero
merchandise, displayed on seemingly floating shelves
and hooks, with eye-catching campaign imagery.

27. Debenhams were hugely impressed with both the
quality of the custom items and the flexibility of
the patented Kinetik / Magnetik system, which will
both reduce VM spend over the next 2 to 3 years,
and provide a display fitting for such an iconic store.
It took five weeks from design and consultation, to
manufacture and installation - which goes to show
how driven our in-house design and production
teams and on-site manufacturing team are.

28. Unibox joined forces with Innerspace Cheshire to
combine their expertise and produce beautiful and
impactful biophilic signage for The Finsbury Business
Centre café space, run by The Social Coffee Co.
The brief was to create an energy efficient, affordable,
fun and authentic art piece, with custom illuminated
lettering embedded in real, preserved moss to
compliment the newly refurbished third floor café/
co-working space and offset the industrial look and
feel inherent within the building.
Café & Signage
The Finsbury Business Centre

29. Each letter was fixed to a timber back panel, using a
computer-generated template, which was then populated
with Naturemoss, by hand, by Innerspace. For this project
we used ‘Bun moss’ and ‘Meadow moss’, to give the panel
depth of tone and texture and provide a beautifully organic
backdrop.
We used stabilised Icelandic moss, which is sustainably
harvested in Scandinavia, cleaned and then preserved to
retain its natural characteristics, remaining soft to the touch
and needs no watering, sunlight or maintenance, relying
purely on the humidity in the air to stay fresh.
“We couldn’t be happier with our awesome
moss-covered Neonist sign. It is really
quirky and adds a very unique and fun twist
to our café space”
Ian Hudson, Director
In contrast with traditional neon, Neonist
letters are cut from cast acrylic using the
latest CNC machinery for ultimate precision
and to ensure that the letters stay true to
font. The structural properties of acrylic
ensure that we create a robust sign, able to
be distributed via courier, without the dread
of neon gas escaping from glass tubing.
Each letter has a routed cavity which is
carefully lined LEDs to fill the contours of
the letter. The light projects through the
opal diffuser surface to produce even and
vivid illumination.
Neonist is an
illuminated signage
solution with all
the glamour of
neon, but none of
the shortcomings
of last century’s
technology.

30. Having relocated both the design studio and Flagship store
to Coal Drops Yard, in Kings Cross, moving from one Wharf
building to another, the Tom Dixon team embarked on updating
the retail concept, to give customers and design fans a fresh
retail experience.
With ongoing collaborations with Unibox spanning nearly the
entire time they were based in Portobello Dock, we were tasked
with creating a custom shelving system based on a sketch by
Tom himself, etched on the back of our meeting notes, depicting
a set of slimline 2m wide shelves, stacked on thick galvanised
steel tube spacers creating a statuesque silhouette. The shelves
themselves were to be panels of light, illuminating glass and
metallic objects from below, giving them a new dimension, as
opposed to the traditional method of lighting product from above.
Coal Drops Yard Flagship
Tom Dixon

31. Once briefed, our technical specialists created
drawings of the unit, detailing their exact
composition, carefully adhering to the specific
proportions set out by Tom and the team,
yet engineering a solution that integrated
slimline light panels, whilst ensuring even
light distribution across the entire shelf even
when heavy objects were placed on them
which would otherwise have the potential to
create hotspots due to uneven pressure on
the top surface.
Due to the weight and size of the shelving
unit, our engineers designed it so that it could
be constructed on site easily, creating a plug-
and-play kit of parts.
Providing an extra element of customisation, the composition
of the shelving allows filters to be placed between the edge-
lit plate, and the opal diffuser. This means that the Tom Dixon
team can inject colour into the shelves whenever required - for
events, new product launches or seasonal changes.
In situ the unit looks monumental and the light really draws
attention to the objects displayed accentuating their inherent
materialistic properties.

32. After Caffé Concerto were awarded a prestigious
location in Piccadilly by The Crown Estate, who own
“a collection of lands and holdings in the United
Kingdom belonging to the British monarch as a
corporation sole”, they set about creating an interior
worthy of such a building.
However, while the interior design concept created
a luxury space, what the space had in terms of
character, it lacked in natural light.
The Grand, Caffé Concerto

33. Unibox were first contacted by
Tekne Shopfitting, who were
appointed to implement the new
design, after they saw our lighting
expertise first-hand whilst
working together on Clarks’ new
showroom.
Dover Design, interior design
specialists, were looking to
add light into the stairwell and
mezzanine areas overlooking the
double height salon restaurant
and came up with the idea
to incorporate simple back-lit
mock-windows and had originally
specified fluorescent tubes as
the light source. This would have
created hot spots local to where
the light fittings were positioned
and meant sacrificing control of
colour temperature.
After a design briefing at our
London Studio, our solution was
simple. By using a Ledge 65 LED
Lightbox, it would be possible
to create irregular shapes that
would both; fit the contours of
the stairwell perfectly and could
be formed to look like traditional
Lunette windows for the
mezzanine. This would enable us
to select LEDs that could mimic
the colour temperature of natural
daylight.

34. Knowing all too well that sunlight isn’t a constant
(especially in the UK!), we added controls to the
lightbox that allowed the team at Caffé Concerto
to maintain the ambience no matter what time
of day it is, or what the weather outside was
like.
Slimline lightboxes were also used to back light
the framed artwork throughout the restaurant to
add ambient lighting to darker areas beneath the
mezzanine, bringing the imagery to life.

35. Jo Malone CBE is best known for the cult fragrance brand named after its
founder, bringing much adored, luxurious scents to homes worldwide. After
selling the business to Estee Lauder Companies in 1999 and staying on
as Creative Director until 2006, Jo started up Jo Loves; a new brand with
new scents inspired by personal memories and moments. Jo opened a store
in Belgravia, and has always maintained that this store is where “fragrance,
experience and creativity come to life”.
Jo Loves

36. Unibox was approached by the Marketing &
Communications Coordinator as the Elizabeth
Street store was in need of a bespoke illuminated
plinth for the window display, visible from both street
level and in store to add elegance and ambience of
the existing interior, up-lighting the graceful glass
products.
The plinth was to sit atop an existing joinery unit,
and so needed to be made to the exact dimensions
specified. The team were able to guide Jo Loves on
the right colour temperature and light level required
for the application – it needed to be bright enough
to stand out in the window, but not so bright that it
would overpower the rest of the interior.
The initial enquiry was taken in early-mid August
and by the 1st September, the plinth had been
designed, fabricated using CNC machinery,
assembled with LED lighting and installed in situ.

37. Fortnum & Mason, established in 1707, is a stalwart of British culture.
Founded on the principle of supplying high-quality food, they have
opened department stores in iconic locations such as London Piccadilly,
Kings Cross St Pancras International Station, and Heathrow.
With retail performance strong heading into 2018, Fortnum & Mason
set out plans to open a new store in The Royal Exchange, London.
The Royal Exchange, London
Fortnum & Mason

38. The Royal Exchange store would be Fortnum’s first
city-based opening since its inception, with a luxury
customer experience and attention to detail being key
to the project. This led Fortnum’s, alongside Speirs
& Major, Universal Design Studio and Duboulay
Contracts, to specify Unibox display systems and
integrated lighting.
After hosting an initial meeting with all stakeholders
at our London-based Design Studio to discover the
scope, design intent and technical requirements, we
set about designing a product display and shelving
solution that would deliver exceptional illumination to
merchandise.
We used the flexibility of the Kontakt
system to create a variety of shelving
configurations, incorporating high-
performance luminaires and LED light
sheets but the complexity of this project
was down to Fortnum’s desire to have
custom bay widths, each determined by
the size of the product packaging, which
the brand is known for. This resulted in
multiple production drawings, technical
specifications and power calculations,
with each bay developed with integrated
linear shelf lighting that matched the
ambient lighting of the store, which was
set at 3000k with a high CRI (95+), to
ensure brand colours remained true.

39. “It made such a difference to be involved
at concept level as it gave us an in-depth
understanding of the design intent and brief
but also allowed us time to prototype and test
the system to make sure it would perform to
Fortnum & Mason’s exacting standards. We
are very proud to be able to add value with
a solution that met the high specification
and offered the versatility that the design
required.”
Nikki Talbot, Creative Director, Unibox
Our final challenge was in the creation of a curved
shelving bay for Fortnum’s famous range of honeys
and preserves. The resulting light source was curved
to the exact radius required on two axes, from our
Manchester-based HQ on our CNC bending machine.
For added shelf appeal, we incorporated an LED Light
Sheet into the base of each shelf, with cutouts in
the shelf designed to perfectly fit Fortnum’s honey &
preserve jars, creating a uplit glowing effect.
Working alongside Speirs & Major, Universal Design
Studio, and Duboulay Contracts resulted in an
environment befitting the prestigious brand, thanks to
true collaboration on each aspect of the store interior.

40. Ten Health & Fitness is a leading Boutique
Fitness provider in London, best known for
Dynamic Reformer Pilates classes, with an
ever-growing list of locations. In November
2018, Ten’s Creative Director got in touch
as they were due to open a new studio in
Notting Hill and having seen Neonist; the
LED alternative to neon, online it seemed a
perfect fit to add Ten’s peacock logo in a fun
and dynamic way.
Ten Health & Fitness
“The sign looks great, arrived bang on time,
was a doddle to install and our clients and staff
love it. Job done!”
Justin Rogers – Creative Director
To begin, Justin provided a vector file of the logo,
which was used to calculate the cut path ready for
quoting and create a manufacturing drawing showing
the logo to scale with a 19mm stroke width applied.
Justin explained that this sign was to be mounted
on to timber panelling and therefore needed to
conceal the power cable between a timber groove.
As the logo would be mounted via several stand-off
positions, careful thought went into how the sign
would be installed easily, negating the need to make
many holes in the new timber backdrop.
The solution was to CNC cut a clear polycarbonate
back panel that was cut to mirror the contours of
the outer edge of the logo but 1mm smaller so that
it disappeared. This meant that the sign could be
mounted to this first and then the whole item mounted
to the wall via three keyhole slots machined into the
back panel, with the precise cable exit location having
been agreed with Justin and the team.
Neonist is custom by nature and we were able to guide
Justin through the options available, such as; stroke
width, colour temperature, mounting method, back
panel design and cable colour, further galvanising
the important relationship between manufacturer and
client.

41. Having received a tip on our ability to deliver stunning
results – even when faced with the most technically
complex, bespoke project briefs – Parkeray asked
to partner with Unibox when creating a three-storey
illuminated feature staircase for their client’s new
office in The Scalpel, London.
Parkeray
The Scalpel, Lime Street

42. Initial architectural drawings showed a three storey
welded steel staircase, made from 20mm thick steel,
spanning the full height of a central atrium. The
100mm recess on the underside of this structure was
to be filled and illuminated by irregular, geometrically-
shaped panels of light which, once installed, would
create the illusion of a “continuous ribbon of light”
flowing through the heart of their client’s office space,
dubbed “the jewel in the crown”.

43. To stay true to the client’s design intent, Unibox developed a bespoke solution
using a series of our Ledge100 RGBW (white and colour-changing) lightboxes,
compatible with the building’s Simmtronic electrical system. Given the need for
these lightboxes to have such challenging angles, we opted to custom fabricate
and weld a number of the frames to achieve a millimetre perfect fit.
To satisfy building regulations, all the lightboxes incorporated emergency
lighting, complete with LED indicators and the associated battery hardware,
which posed a further challenge when ensuring the illuminated surface was
shadow free.

44. It has been my pleasure to work with Unibox.
The product & installation are exceptional
and the client is overjoyed at the end result &
I am hoping to work with Unibox again in the
very near future.
Vince Bevan – Project Manager
Unibox made sure that the illuminated sections of the
staircase sat perfectly flush with its steel framework
and emitted evenly distributed light. Moreover, due
to a tight program, our incredible team managed to
manufacture the lightboxes in just 4 weeks.
In addition to the original brief, the architect in charge
asked us to help further with an LED luminaire
embedded into the stair treads and risers to form a
continuous line or light mirroring the angles of the
staircase from top to bottom.

45. With a network of more than 240 gyms and a
membership of over 1 million, PureGym is one of
the largest and most widely recognised health club
chains in the UK. Such rapid growth as a business
is a testament to the commitment it has shown to
its overall mission: making fitness “more affordable,
convenient and flexible for everybody, everywhere”.
In 2017, seeking to build further on these successes
by making its clubs even more user-friendly, PureGym
decided to embark upon a nationwide modernisation
project and reached out to Unibox for help.
Pure Gym

46. As part of the new look PureGym wanted to redesign
the self-service registration kiosks that are used
by the public in order to register as a member of
PureGym.
Whilst the function of the kiosk was to remain
largely the same, the Marketing Team at PureGym
stressed that the aesthetic of any replacement must
be decidedly sleeker. They also specified that the
new design needed to be more cost-effective to
manufacture and quicker to install than the existing
model.
Throughout the development process we designed a
range of value-engineered solutions and built a series
of prototypes, to ensure the final design would be
wholly suitable for a nationwide roll-out. For example,
the addition of removable fascia panels
allows PureGym to update any printed messages and
logos to match changes in its branding and marketing
endeavors. Moreover, in specifying a keyhole fixing
method, we guaranteed that members of PureGym’s
on-site team would be able to access the hardware
integrated within and replace panels easily in-house,
negating the cost of employing contractors.
Given that the kiosk was to become slimmer than its
predecessor, we used LED edge-lit panel technology
to be able to incorporate evenly illuminated signage
to bring the display to life.
Our client-led design process has allowed us to work
in partnership with PureGym to reduce costs both to
manufacture and install, whilst allowing for any future
marketing modifications to be made at a similarly
minimal cost.

47. Having supplied lightboxes and display systems
for previous exhibitions and the London showroom,
when the opportunity arose for Boss Design to open
a new Showroom in Manchester, the Sales Director
and Head of Marketing at Boss came to Unibox for
assistance with transforming a two-storey 3,300 sq
ft blank canvas into a functional, elegant commercial
furniture showroom.
Boss Design, Manchester

48. Unibox was involved from inception, in fact, before Boss bought the
lease for the building, offering space planning advice on site, putting
forward suggestions on how to both store and display upholstery
swatches, maximise the footprint with custom size chair display
walls to showcase the diverse range of seating and advised where
lightboxes and illuminated signage could be positioned, making use of
architectural features, to apply branding and marketing assets.
After a full site survey, our Graphics
Team created 3D models and submitted
rendered visuals of the custom display
systems and bespoke Kontour signage
to scale so that the team at Boss Design
could see the element in situ and sign
off ahead of the manufacturing phase.
Every product was made to measure
and installed by the Unibox team ahead
of the launch party.

49. Sebastian, Founder of independent organic café,
White Pine, was looking for an easy changeable
illuminated menu board and so contacted the
London-based Unibox showroom to view the LED
lightbox range and test them out.
White Pine Forest

50. “Unibox made the whole process
super easy and the result is just
fantastic. I did a lot of online
research and compared different
companies providing light boxes
- trust me, you won’t get it better
value and quality anywhere else!
From the first contact to receiving
the items, a very professional and
smooth experience. HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED and the result
is stunning!’”
Sebastian Doehring – Founder & Director
At our first meeting Sebastian expressed the need
to update menus at varying times of the year, some
monthly, some more seasonally. The solution was to
make a collection of modular Ledge 65 (65mm deep)
backlit lightboxes with internal power supplies and
removable UV printed fabric graphic fascias.
The next step was to guide Sebastian through the
printing process. The artwork was blue and white
text on a black background so our team advised that
the best way to approach this was to apply a block
out layer on all the black areas, to ensure a sharp
contrast between illuminated text and background,
thus making the menu options really pop.

51. With their inception dating back to 1786, George
Smith focuses on contemporary designs featuring
eclectic twists, with every piece made from the
finest raw materials right here in the UK. LOT Studio
were approached with a brief for the George Smith
Christmas window display at the Kings Road store.
LOT Studio
George Smith
Having previously worked together, Charlotte, Founder of LOT Studio, met
with the Unibox Creative Director at our London Design Showroom, in the
heart of Clerkenwell, to run through the concept for the window displays
which featured large scale celestial graphics flanking a styled furniture
vignette. It was obvious to us that by illuminating the graphics, the imagery
would be brought to life and help the windows glow from wthin.

52. “It was an absolute pleasure to
work with the team at Unibox.
Not only were they extremely
supportive; but their fantastic
light boxes brought our
windows to life. The boxes were
surprisingly easy to assemble,
and their visual appeal added
a whole new dimension to our
window dressing display. The
illuminated night sky that
we used provided a magical
backdrop that was impactful
and drove customers to our
showroom. I would highly
recommend the product and the
team, thank you!”
Amanda barrett – Head of Sales., George
Smith

53. To provide a dramatic backdrop, freestanding
Ledge 105 lightboxes were chosen as they
incorporate high-quality LEDs mounted directly
into the aluminium frame, with optics applied that
distribute light evenly across the surface of the
display. Thanks to this ingenious bit of engineering,
there is no need for a back panel, resulting in flat-
pack lightboxes that are easily installed on-site.
To complement the freestanding backdrops, we
also manufactured wall-mounted lightboxes
using our Ledge 65 frame, the outcome being an
effective display with impressive illumination.
“Our experience working with Unibox meant they
were the ideal partner for this project. When it became
clear that our concept would require the illumination
of graphics, we knew they were the go-to people in the
industry and trusted them to create exactly what we were
looking for”.
Charlotte McCarthy, Founder of LOT Studio

54. Studio Able is a purposely small creative agency,
specialising in branding and commercial interior
design.
Our shared values - intelligent design that adds
value to retail environments - made for a successful
collaboration in order to deliver an interchangeable
mid-floor retail space for Westgate Shopping Centre..
Studio Able

55. After contacting Unibox with sketches and a brief
to create a multi-functional unit that was capable
of holding a range of merchandise, from jewellery
and small accessories, to clothing and footwear, we
produced a kiosk, destined for multiple brands, that
lived up the demands of fashion-focused Westgate
Shopping Centre.
The clean, linear design lent itself to using our SOL
modular system to provide the framework for product
display, with leather strap details used to suspend
clothing rails, together with our custom-made
showcases with integrated LED lightboxes featuring
customisable fabric fascias.
A notable feature was the inclusion of plinths with
integrated screens to communicate live brand content
in order to draw attention from passing shoppers.
Hard-wearing, neutral materials such as; Calacatta
marble high impact laminate and matte black powder
coated metal work were offset by the textures; such as
dark-grained timber; printed onto the interchangeable
fabric fascias on the lightboxes that could be easily
and cost-effectively replaced when new brands take
ownership of the kiosk.

56. Businesswise Solutions offer expert energy buying and management
solutions, that help large energy users reduce their costs.
With large-scale clients including the likes The Lowry Hotel and
Harrogate Spring Water, Businesswise wanted to create “an experience”,
where customers could visit and understand the companies unique
energy saving capabilities. To help with this, Businesswise Solutions
turned to Cornershop Design, to provide the vision as to how they could
transform their space.
When it came to implementing this vision, Cornershop Design turned
to Unibox to deliver custom-designed displays ranging from animated
lightboxes to bespoke display tables with integrated touch screens.
Having been briefed on the design intent, we used modified Ledge
135 aluminium profile which is usually found framing tension fabric
lightboxes, and installed vinyl-wrapped MDF panels with apertures for
interactive touchscreen displays.
Surrounding the entire exhibition space, our Sol modular system was
fixed to perimeter walls and used as freestanding displays, with an
integrated acrylic panel that featured updatable vinyl graphics.
To complete the experience within Businesswise’s exhibition space, we
installed our patented Kinetik lightbox technology which spanned its
entire length. 14 metres to be exact, ensuring this was the epitome
of ‘eye-catching’. However, the challenge with developing this huge
display was synchronising each of the seven 4m2
panels to link up to
play an animation. Two animations were created and programmed for
the launch: rolling clouds and northern lights-effect stripes. The effect
was incredible and made for a particularly striking launch event.
BusinesswiseSolutions

57. An award-winning business located in Manchester
and London, we specialise in engineering aluminium
modular systems and are experts in integrated LED
technology. Combining exceptional design experience,
pioneering machinery, in-house lighting capabilities,
and advanced manufacturing skills, we bridge the gap
between production and creativity.
Straightforward and principled, we are able to provide
our clients with reliable advice thanks to almost three
decades of experience, a strong sense of who we
are, and a clear vision of where we want to go. We
strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible, while
remaining honest and upfront at all times meaning we
never over-promise and under-deliver.
About Us
We invest in our people.
We have both technical and creative experts to bridge the gap
between concept and manufacture.

59. Meet the team ...
Get in touch
0161 655 2121
info@unibox.co.uk
www.unibox.co.uk
Manchester
Greenside Way, Middleton, Manchester M24 1SW
London
Finsbury Business Centre, 40 Bowling Green Lane,
Clerkenwell, London EC1R 0NE