Interviews met Impactplan Art Productions

My background is Marketing that's why I always try to apply art improving cities and businesses results.

I never thought I would be working in this area, but I really love what I do!

impactplan is a creative agency located in Portugal, working worldwide. Our team is composed by amazing people between designers, marketeers, creatives, thinkers, dreamers...We create instagrammable art installations to have real impact on businesses and in peoples lives!

For me design is about beauty and simplicity that make people fell something and improve peoples live's even if just for a moment

I prefer the more colorful art installations because we can watch the effect they have on most of the people, it makes them smile or feel happier

The Umbrella Sky Project because of its simplicity and utility, creating beautiful scenarios wile providing shade and protection

you never now when creativity can happen so I'm always prepared to write down ideas or take pictures of inspiring things

if the installations will produce a good picture easy to capture

energy and enthusiasm

Happy and proud of my team's work

the impact it has on people and surroundings

How do I fell when interacting with the design

making the world a better place even with small acts

The future and the challenge is being eco friendly in everything we do

Last exhibition was in a shopping mall in Bordeaux, we have several new exhibitions schedule for this Christmas in Portugal, France, England, EUA

a lot of research, trying new things and always be thinking in the problems even when out of the office ..to be creative we have to live and love what we do 100% because it never shuts down we can't program us to be creative just between working hours

Me and my team work on visual art installations, based on color repetitions and miss placing objects to create impact.

We search for the perfect photos to share on social media and that is noticeable on all our designs

Portugal, because we are located in Europe we can travel fast an easy to different countries that are so different and were its easy to be inspired that is a enormous pro. The cons are related to how people in Portugal react to art work I think most of the population doesn't value art has in for example in France or England, specially different forms of art

our company found a way to apply art to business, so most of our costumers will look for us to use our work to attract people to local stores, or to bring life to a forgotten part of a city

the best designers I think are the ones who listen to clients needs and improve their designs by adding they inputs without compromising the results of the work that is being done

I brainstorm and research with the team and altho sometimes its really difficult to come up with solutions, we try a lot of things that don't work until we find it.

balcony swings, lego art of Marylin Monroe, monkey table chandelier, sculpture called Cactus man its a vase with a men with cactus air from a local artist, an enclosed terrarium from a French artist

I wake up at 7:30 and rush to be at work at 8:30, have lunch at work or at home and work until 17:30 / 18H / 20h depends on the enthusiasm and need, sometimes I work out, but I would arrive home between 20h/21h eat dinner, read a book, search and search for random things on Pinterest or YouTube tutorials on how to make random things and go to sleep around 1:00

keep it simple, don't follow the trends, listen more than you talk, focus on good, try, fail, try again, and again, never give up, things only happen for hard workers ...

The positives is being able to have impact on places or peoples lives with what we do (I personally don't lose the opportunity to do so) and the negative would be that we never shut down from work we are always searching, observing or studying sometimes it can be overwhelming

simplicity, design for others not for yourself

never stop listening, studying, be aware of what surrounds you

pinterest, instagram, google, books, samples of different materials, talking to different people not necessarily designers...

I love what I do, so when I'm researching or writing down ideas at home it feels natural, because I'm doing what I like. Its a 24/7 job to create you have to have your mind on what you are doing all the time, because ideias don't come just when we want them too, we have to keep alert

depends on the project and the clients needs, but I think we work really fast and can build projects from the design to the execution in 1 month, but we have projects that are developed in years

what inspired you?

all my jobs made me how I am today, since working in coffee shops, stores, with fashion, events. I had a lot of different occupations before making my company successful and working full time in my projects

Most are cities and malls, Promenade Sainte Catherine, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Carp, City of Coral Gables, city of Laon, city of Águeda...

Outdoor Art installations, because they make art look easy and more accessible to everyone

don't make big planes we go with the flow trying to innovate but always aware of what is happening around us

as a team always try to use the best skills of everyone in the team

we are experimenting a lot with recycled materials and creating a re-use system in the company so things can be used and transformed over and over again

I'm always available trough Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn , e-mail, WhatsApp ... 24h/7 :)

Our vision was to merge the elegance of the hotel with the festive spirit in a way that felt unique and immersive. To bring this vision to life, we collaborated with dozens of incredibly talented local artisans. Their craftsmanship and dedication were at the heart of this project. Over 1200 hours of manual labor went into this creation, what made it unique down to the smallest detail. Our installations are often characterized by the repetition of objects, and for a project as grand as this, we used an incredible one million golden sequins! Seeing the final result, a mesmerizing golden tunnel that guests could walk through, was incredibly rewarding. It transformed the space into a magical experience.

What is Christmas without some lights? We wanted the installation to captivate viewers both during the day and at night, creating two distinct but complementary atmospheres. During the day, the one million golden sequins shimmer with natural light, creating a vibrant and playful interaction with the surroundings. We wanted the installation to keep shining as the sun set. By using LED lights, we were able to create a seamless transition from day to night. The soft, glowing lights add depth and warmth to the tunnel, highlighting the intricate details of the sequins and amplifying the festive atmosphere. This dual-identity concept reflects our commitment to creating installations that are not only visually striking but also immersive and engaging throughout different times of the day.

The legend of King Midas, with its themes of transformation and the allure of gold, was a perfect inspiration for the Golden Dot Invasion Christmas Decoration. We wanted to reinterpret this ancient story in a way that felt fresh and contemporary, while still evoking the sense of wonder and magic associated with it. In the legend, Midas’s touch transforms everything into gold, we sought to create a space enveloped in gold where visitors could feel this transformative magic. The use of gold also holds deeper meanings, as it is often associated with good luck, prosperity, and abundance—qualities we wanted to infuse into the festive season and the overall atmosphere of the hotel. Our goal was to spark joy and awe, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and feel a sense of connection to the beauty and symbolism around them. In a way, we wanted each person walking through to experience their own “Midas moment,” where the ordinary transforms into something extraordinary and radiates positivity for the future.

This innovative solution really emerged from the challenges we faced during the planning phase. When obstacles arise, they often spark the most creative ideas, and that was exactly the case here. We needed to find a way to make the Golden Dot Invasion Christmas Decoration not only visually stunning but also portable, lightweight, and easy to assemble, essential qualities for an installation of this scale that needed to be exported from Portugal to Bahrain. The idea of using reinforced PVC nets came from the need to balance durability with flexibility. These nets allowed us to securely attach and arrange the one million sequins while keeping the overall structure light and compact. This approach made the entire installation much easier to transport and assemble, reducing logistical challenges significantly. This solution has influenced many of our subsequent designs. It’s become a hallmark of how we approach large-scale installations: finding ways to combine artistic impact with practicality. The use of modular and lightweight materials enables us to share our work with a global audience, ensuring that our installations can travel easily and maintain their quality no matter where they’re displayed.

Since our very first installation, the Umbrella Sky Project, we have always been intentional about creating works that leave a lasting impact. We’ve developed a formula that we apply to all our installations, including the Golden Dot Invasion Christmas Decoration, to ensure they capture attention both in person and on social media while staying true to their artistic essence. This formula involves using unexpected objects in unconventional places, creating a sense of surprise and curiosity. For Golden Dot Invasion, the repetition of one million golden sequins in a tunnel format felt both grand and utterly mesmerizing, immediately drawing people in. We also love to create contrasts, and in this case, the golden shimmer of the installation stood out dramatically against its surroundings, making it impossible to ignore. Colors are another key element we focus on. While many of our projects feature bold, vibrant palettes, here we embraced the timeless elegance of gold, intensifying its effect with vibrant lighting contrasts, both natural and artificial. The interplay of light, movement, and reflection created dynamic visuals that change with the viewer’s perspective, making every photo unique and engaging. Our ultimate goal is always to create emotional connections, sparking joy, surprise, or even a little discomfort that challenges perceptions. By designing with these principles, we ensure our installations are not just "Instagrammable" but also meaningful, blending artistic integrity with modern-day shareability.

Managing such a large-scale collaborative artistic process was both a challenge and a rewarding experience. With over 100 people involved during two months of assembly work, we knew that organization and simplicity were key to ensuring everything ran smoothly. To streamline the process, we developed a straightforward manufacturing system that allowed anyone to contribute to the creation. This simplicity was crucial, as it made the project more inclusive and efficient. We carefully organized and distributed the raw materials, ensuring everyone had what they needed at each step. By closely monitoring production timelines, we were able to identify bottlenecks early and adjust by introducing more people into the equation whenever necessary. Because we rely entirely on human labor, there are always challenges when it comes to meeting tight deadlines. However, we embraced these challenges as part of the creative process, finding solutions and maintaining clear communication with the entire team. In the end, the dedication and craftsmanship of everyone involved made it all come together beautifully. This collaborative effort is a testament to the power of teamwork in large-scale artistic projects. Seeing the final installation light up and knowing the collective hands and hearts behind it is always an incredibly fulfilling moment.

When designing the structure, we carefully analyzed the natural elements specific to the location. In Bahrain, for example, heavy rain isn’t a major concern, but sandstorms and high winds are potential challenges. To address this, we developed a reinforced framework capable of withstanding strong gusts while allowing the sequined surface to move freely without compromising the integrity of the structure. The movement of the sequins was another key consideration. While we wanted them to interact beautifully with the wind, we also needed to ensure they wouldn’t tangle, tear, or cause undue strain on the support system. This required precise spacing and secure attachment methods that balanced freedom of movement with durability. Every detail, from material selection to structural reinforcements, was meticulously planned to account for these variables.

Winning the Gold A' Design Award was an incredible honor and reinforced our commitment to creating public art installations to create impact and improve people's lives. This specific installation has been displayed on multiple occasions, not just during the Christmas season. The most recent exhibition was in the heart of Paris, where it captivated both locals and visitors alike. When creating Christmas artistic installations, we aim for them to have a strong visual impact at all times, whether during the day or at night. This is something that sets our work apart from typical Christmas decorations, which often only shine once the lights are on.

Mostly, we experimented with different materials and textures for the sequins to see how they would interact with natural and artificial light.

While we are proud of the lessons we’ve learned, especially with the assembly systems, materials, and our distinctive style, we are always eager to bring something fresh to each new project. We love the challenge of creating completely new concepts, tailored to each specific location where we exhibit. Each environment offers unique characteristics that inspire us to adapt and innovate. Whether it’s a new material, a different design element, or a local cultural influence, we believe that every installation should reflect the place where it’s displayed, making it more meaningful and engaging for the audience. Our goal is to build on the knowledge we’ve gained, while always ensuring that we’re pushing creative boundaries and adapting to new environments.