Interactive Models

An interactive model communicates so much more.
If you have a complex story to tell or a lot of information to convey, an interactive model is the most effective way to engage your audience and get your message across. The level of interactivity can range from a few buttons that light up key areas on the model to a full touch-screen interface that activates multiple lighting zones and displays on-screen information (such as the Cardiff City Masterplan model – see below).

If you look through our previous projects, you’ll see that we can also make things pop up, light up, flash, float, pulsate or rotate, all with interactive speed or direction controls. Scroll down now and see what we can do. Make sure you also click on the links for more detailed information.

Cardiff City Masterplan Model – Scale 1:750 1:750 is an ideal scale for masterplan models showing an overview of large redevelopment areas. This 6.5m x 5.5m interactive model of the city of Cardiff took almost 5 months to design and build. The model has been designed for use in a permanent marketing suite to promote the city of Cardiff to national and international investors. It is a fully interactive model controlled via a large touchscreen which activates over 30 different lighting zones on the model and at the same time displays relevant information pages on the screen. The screen images are also projected onto a large screen so that the information is visible to all.


GlaxoSmithKline Interactive Model – Scale 1:200 Originally built as a static model, GSK asked if we could add an interactive element to help convey a more detailed representation of their sustainable energy and waste treatment processes. Our solution was to add a touchscreen information panel linked to area specific illumination on the model. This was the second major project we’ve completed for the blue chip pharmaceuticals manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline who demand the very highest standards from all their suppliers and sub contactors. The main aim of this model was to demonstrate how the company harnesses biogases from their waste treatment process to fuel a newly installed Combined Heat & Power facility. On the original static model colour coding of the pipes indicated the different stages of the treatment process. The addition of the interactive touch screen and pulsing lights on the model allowed us to create a much more engaging and informative presentation. View more photos on our Projects Archive.


London Apartments Interactive Model One of our existing clients recommended our services to Notting Hill Sales which lead to us producing this fully interactive sales model for one of their major developments in London. The interactive element allows touch-screen controlled illumination of individual apartments with floor plans visible on screen and various filter options such as number of beds, aspect, availability, etc. Due to limited space in the marketing suite, we had to use a smaller than usual scale for this type of model which made it much more tricky to build.

CryoBattery Power Station – 1:150 scale Although this is very much a stylised representation of a CryoBattery power station the main purpose of the model was to illustrate the operating processes of the system which uses renewable sources to compress air in tanks which can later be used to generate power. In effect, it acts as large battery to store energy for when it is most needed. To demonstrate this we’ve used interactive LED lighting effects combined with strong colours to indicate the different stages of the process. The LED illumination rises slowly upwards to the top of the vessels and then gradually drops down again to represent the “filling up” and “emptying” phases of the CryoBattery system. Visit the “Interactive Models” page to see a “lights on” view of this model.




Interactive models for Engineering Exhibition This group of four interactive models was commissioned by the Cardiff University School of Engineering for their stand at the Royal Academy of Engineering Summer Soiree. The models were used to highlight the university’s extensive research in the field of geo-engineering (underground engineering), covering areas such as nuclear waste containment, ground source heating and other underground activities. The models represent cut-away views of the earth’s strata, using different coloured LEDs to illustrate the various processes happening in the layers of rock and sediments. The lights, which were activated by labelled buttons on top of the models, had to recreate several different effects, including linear flows, pulsing, slow fades, changing colours, random flashing, and some complex, timed sequences. See more images in our Projects Archive.


CLNR Interactive Model for Northern PowerGrid CLNR stands for Customer Led Network Revolution, a method of optimizing the power supply network based on immediate reaction to varying customer demands. The purpose of this model was to illustrate Northern Powergrid’s strategies for maximizing the efficiency of their supplies to both domestic and commercial users. The model looks deceptively simple but actually features some complex programming to demonstrate how the network adjusts to the demands of different users at different times of the day, including storing surplus power for later use. The button panel allows the user to set up varying power requirements which are indicated by lights on the model (turning red) and then press further buttons that illustrate how the demands are resolved (turning the lights green) with energy efficient systems and procedures. See more images in our Projects Archive.




Moving Lights Display Featuring pulsing white LEDs, this illuminated display illustrating the workings of a power station had to “Flat-pack” into a flight case for transport to the USA. Comprising 8 main panels, it was designed as a mobile display the client could set up themselves at different venues.