To mark its 175th anniversary, Radley College commissioned a large-scale visual installation to celebrate its rich heritage, achievements, and future ambitions. Delivered in collaboration with PO’SH Creative and Graphic Signs, the project transformed a central campus corridor into a striking 150-foot immersive timeline, bringing nearly two centuries of history to life.
Founded in 1847 by William Sewell, Radley College is a prestigious independent boarding school located in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Established to provide a classical education in the Anglican tradition, the school has built a longstanding reputation for academic excellence, character development, and a strong sense of community.
Set within an impressive Gothic campus surrounded by extensive grounds, the college continues to combine tradition with innovation, offering students an inspiring and nurturing educational environment.
Radley 175 marked a year-long celebration culminating in a series of events. Highlights included art exhibitions, performances, lectures, sporting events, the unveiling of a commemorative sculpture titled Habitat by Sir Antony Gormley, and the opening of a new Science and Technology Centre.
As part of these celebrations, Graphic Signs was commissioned to design, manufacture, and install a large-scale wall graphic within the college’s main link corridor, a central and frequently used passageway connecting key areas of the campus.
Spanning over 150 feet, the installation needed to serve as a permanent visual centrepiece, showcasing the college’s history from its founding to its modern-day achievements.
Collaborative design development with PO’SH Creative and the Estates team
Full-length 150ft bespoke timeline wall graphic
Integration of inspirational quotes, archival photography, and contemporary imagery
High-resolution, vivid colour printing for accurate visual representation
Installation using Digimura Premium fire-rated, heavy-duty wallpaper
Rapid two-week production and installation turnaround
To celebrate the history of the college, Graphic Signs was asked to transform the main corridor into an engaging historical, visual timeline.
The design required a lot of historical input from the college which allowed us to capture milestones, achievements and influential figures from their history.
Our team was able to collaborate seamlessly with the designers and the Radley Estates team to ensure the best results.
We were able to complete the production and installation within a tight turnaround timeframe to reduce any disruption to the college.
This project demonstrated the power of environmental branding in bringing heritage to life. By combining meticulous technical execution with a deep understanding of the college’s identity, the installation became more than a visual display, it became an immersive storytelling experience. The Radley 175 Timeline now stands as a daily reminder of the school’s legacy, community spirit, and future ambition, proving how thoughtful design can transform a transitional space into a meaningful destination.
