Harry Potter Themed Launch for Kinder

Background

Kinder’s PR agency tasked us with building a lifesize “Platform 9¾” set for a one-day activation at Manly Wharf. The brief required us to produce a captivating set that would draw the attention and engagement of the young target audience and allow for an interactive experience, while providing an authentic Harry Potter atmosphere.

Given the temporary nature of the installation, we had to be mindful of budget constraints while ensuring the set was visually striking. Care also had to be taken to ensure the set would withstand a day of exposure to the elements outside Manly Ferry Terminal.

The Challenge

The outdoor setting in a public area presented several challenges.To ensure we had the lay of the land, we headed down to Manly for a site inspection, taking measurements and noting the layout, including the location of power supply sources and access points for installation.

With our client only having use of the site from midnight on the day of the event, we faced a tight timeline for bump-in. Complicating matters, local noise ordinances prevented us from using power tools in the area before 7am. Given the site’s location in a busy public area, it was crucial to complete the build before the day’s foot traffic arrived.

The Solution

Knowing our bump-in time was limited, we prioritised pre-fabricating and pre-assembling as many elements as possible beforehand, thereby minimising the time required for onsite construction. To enhance the immersive experience while remaining budget-conscious, we created cobblestone-look decals and adhered them to sheets of plywood to produce an eye-catching floor.

To allow the client to store product samples for easy replenishment during the course of the day, we built a storage room behind the set wall, complete with intricate hand-sawn “brickwork” along the edges, To manage expected high foot traffic we installed silver rope bollards along one edge to guide a queuing system - which had the added bonus of creating an air of exclusivity. Half a sawn-off trolley attached to the back wall completed the immersive Harry Potter experience, while also providing visitors with the opportunity to take some memorable photos of their very own journey to Platform 9¾.