Client: Proud Productions in association with Proud Events
Services: Creative concept development, bespoke event design, custom fabrication, festive styling, signage and installation
Location: Royal Hospital Chelsea, London
The Brief
For the inaugural Chelsea Winter Light Trail, produced by Proud Productions in association with Proud Events, our team at Nikkita Palmer Designs was commissioned to bring the event’s Winter Village to life through a collection of bespoke festive installations, decorative details and guest experiences.
Set within the historic grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the event introduced a 1.5km immersive light trail to central London, alongside a bustling village of traditional Christmas market chalets, street food traders, bars, workshops, fairground attractions and a dedicated curling club.
The brief was to create a cohesive visual identity across this varied space, elevating the guest experience with considered festive styling that felt premium, welcoming and in keeping with the event’s existing branding.
Key elements included a statement winter foliage arch, bespoke signage and wayfinding, an immersive photo opportunity, a large decorative post box and an interactive Letters to Santa station.
The Creative Approach
Working with the event’s established branding and colour palette, we developed a decorative concept that brought consistency to the different areas of the Winter Village. Through moodboards and bespoke designs, we presented the proposed installations in context before moving into fabrication and on-site delivery.
Our approach combined traditional festive materials with practical, guest-focused design, ensuring each installation was as functional as it was visually striking.
Bespoke installations with purpose
A statement winter entrance
A 4 x 3 metre truss arch formed a striking entrance to the Winter Village. Wrapped on all sides in fresh seasonal foliage, including pine, fir, eucalyptus and ferns, the structure was finished with warm white lighting, oversized bauble clusters, pinecones, stars, dried oranges and cinnamon sticks.
Handmade wooden signage welcomed guests on arrival and bid them farewell as they left. Beyond its role as an entrance feature, the arch became a natural photo opportunity, extending the event’s visual identity into guests’ own social content.
A sleigh designed for the crowds
The bespoke photo-op sleigh was constructed from reclaimed timber, combining characterful craftsmanship with the durability required for a busy, multi-week event.
Designed around the practicalities of hundreds of guest interactions each day, it allowed visitors to get in and out easily while being engineered to travel flat and assemble on site. This meant the installation could deliver both visual impact and operational practicality without compromising on quality.
Signage that brought the village together
From large, hand-painted wooden signs identifying key destinations such as the Curling Club and bars, to smaller directional signage and a decorative What's On board, every detail was designed to reinforce the event's visual identity.
Rather than relying on printed graphics, our team hand-painted the signage, bringing texture, character and a more considered finish to the environment. Repeated visual cues helped guests navigate the busy village, find activities and move confidently between its different areas.
Festive details beyond the expected
A bespoke statement post box offered guests a practical way to post their letters to Santa, with a concealed rear access door allowing event staff to retrieve the contents. A removable custom decal also made the feature adaptable for future events.
Inside the Tipi Bar, a dedicated children's letter-writing and drawing station created an additional festive activity for families. These thoughtful details helped extend the experience beyond the main attractions, giving younger guests something to enjoy while adults relaxed nearby.
Throughout the village, bespoke garlands and decorative finishes tied the individual trader chalets and food pop-ups into one cohesive environment.
The Result
The finished Winter Village brought together multiple traders, attractions and hospitality spaces under a consistent festive design language.
Centralising the decorative concept gave the organisers greater control over the overall look and feel of the event, while creating a more elevated environment for guests and a cohesive backdrop for the individual businesses operating within it.
Every installation was developed with its setting, audience and intended use in mind. From durable, reusable construction to fresh seasonal foliage and hand-finished signage, the result balanced visual impact with the practical demands of a busy outdoor winter event.
Drawing on our experience delivering festive installations in challenging winter conditions, we created decorative elements designed to withstand extended outdoor use while maintaining their appearance throughout the event.
Bringing the Vision to Life
Chelsea Winter Village brought together many of the things we love about event design: creative problem-solving, bespoke making, thoughtful guest experiences and the opportunity to transform a space through carefully considered details.
From the first moodboards to the final on-site installation, our team worked to ensure every element felt connected to the wider event, creating a festive village that was distinctive, functional and full of character.
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