THE CAMPAIGN
Nike’s mission to honour British athletic excellence led to two creative briefs over the Summer of 2024. In London, we took over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with towering hand-painted portraits of Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher-Smith, and Katarina Johnson-Thompson on giant shipping containers. In Manchester, we marked Keely Hodgkinson’s golden homecoming from Paris by transforming shutters and shipping containers into a surprise city take-over to celebrate her success.
Project Details
Client:
Nike
Rapport
Initiative
Location:
East London
Manchester
Sector:
Sports and Fitness
Tagged:
Portrait
Shipping Containers
Shutters
RESULTS
Both murals grabbed attention, and got people talking in the news and across socials. The London installation fascinated passersby as they watched the shipping containers transform over a matter of days ahead of the 2024 Diamond League event at the stadium, whilst the Manchester piece was covered by major press, including ITV News and the Manchester Evening News. The Manchester campaign was also shared widely on social media, including TikTok, where Secret Manchester posted a video celebrating Keely's gold medal and the new mural. Over on Instagram, I Love Manchester celebrated her win and Keely was so blown away by the incredible surprise she even shared it on her own socials.

A first-of-its-kind, reactive shipping container campaign – right where it mattered.

Our lead artists, Pete Barber and Neil Edward, took on the challenge of capturing these incredible athletes with hand-painted murals. Briefed to execute a campaign near the stadium, we developed an innovative way to pop up exactly where no one else could. Using our unique shipping container format, we delivered a geo-specific, reactive installation that maximised impact in the lead-up to the Diamond League event. In collaboration with Nike, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Rapport UK, Initiative WW, and Space and People UK, we proved that when speed, creativity, and precision come together, you can own the moment in a way no traditional format can.

    Keely’s golden moment was brought to life in the heart of Manchester.

    Fresh off her historic gold medal win in Paris, we worked with Nike to welcome Keely Hodgkinson home with something special. Overnight, our team painted hyper-realistic murals across shipping containers and shutters in Manchester, creating an unforgettable surprise moment for both Keely and the city. The coverage was huge, with major press picking it up and Keely herself sharing it – proof that when you move fast and think big, the impact is undeniable.
    Keely’s homecoming mural became an instant hit, drawing in crowds and turning Stevenson Square into a space of celebration. The combination of speed, artistry, and perfect timing made this a moment Manchester won’t forget.

      xx