Making Waves at QEII – An Underwater Wonderland in Westminster

27th October 2025

[email protected]

Making Waves at QEII – An Underwater Wonderland in Westminster

27th October 2025

[email protected]

Client: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Event: 2025 Summer Showcase

Theme: Under the Sea

Setting the Scene: A Showcase to Impress

As one of the UK’s leading event venues for domestic and international conferences, exhibitions, and corporate gatherings, the QEII Centre holds a prestigious position in Westminster’s events landscape. Each summer, they host a showcase event to inspire new business and re-engage existing clients.

The Creative Brief: Dive Into the Deep

After a successful collaboration on their 2024 showcase, the QEII Centre returned to EPH Creative in 2025 with an ambitious new brief. This time, they wanted to go bigger than ever – transforming their third-floor event space into a fully immersive “Under the Sea” experience. The goal?

Surprise and delight existing and prospective clients
Outdo the previous year’s theme
Create a lasting impression that would drive future bookings.

Our Vision: Four Worlds Beneath the Waves

We designed four interconnected zones, each with its own look, feel and emotional impact:

The Lost Shipwreck
The Coral Lounge
The Lost City of Atlantis
The UV Zone

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From high-impact centrepieces to subtle detailing, each area invited guests to explore a different dimension of the deep sea. Moodboards, floorplans, and early visuals helped the client visualise the journey, and allowed us to refine our approach collaboratively.

Bespoke Builds: Immersive Design with a Purpose

We proposed and produced a range of bespoke props that both wowed the audience and entered our rental stock, allowing us to balance creativity, sustainability, and budget. Key new elements included:

A fully immersive walk-through sea tunnel
A sunken shipwreck and jewel-toned corals
Custom jellyfish, reef fish, and UV-reactive décor
A glowing wave chandelier as a central design statement
A Parisienne gazebo dressed in vibrant reef detail

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We also introduced the client to fun interactive moments like Lick Me Delicious’s tasting bubbles, offering a playful sensory touchpoint for guests.

Bespoke Builds: Immersive Design with a Purpose

While creativity led the way, production and logistics kept us grounded. We worked under:

Strict timeframes for bespoke build production
A challenging ceiling height that forced a rapid redesign of the sea tunnel
A broken lift during de-rig, which meant manual transport of heavy props via staircases

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Thanks to our in-house logistics team and experienced installers, we overcame every issue without disrupting the schedule or compromising the finish.

The Guest Journey: Four Zones of Discovery

Over the course of one night, 500+ guests were transported into a deep-sea adventure, with each zone offering a different mood, purpose, and immersive energy.

The Lost Shipwreck

Dark, rustic textures, coral-strewn rocks, and buried treasure created the look and feel of a sunken galleon. It was the most densely styled area with rich layering, including netting, bottles, ropes, and pearls.

The Coral Lounge

A jewel-toned chill zone designed for conversation, drinks, and discovery. A standout bespoke coral wall installation anchored the space, with a fully dressed gazebo creating a focal point. This became the key networking area for food, conversation, and brand interaction.

The Lost City of Atlantis

Tranquil lighting and cleverly repurposed props gave this zone a mystical tone. Soft purples, sea greens, and backlighting created the illusion of exploring ancient ruins through the haze of the ocean depths.

The UV Zone

The wild card of the event. This bold space fused neon elements with glowing jellyfish, UV-reactive coral, and abstract sea creatures; offering a party atmosphere without breaking the thematic consistency. It gave guests something they didn’t expect from an underwater brief, and it worked.

The Results: A Record-Breaking Showcase

515 RSVPs – up from 250 the year before
5 articulated truckloads of theming delivered and installed
28-hour install across 2.5 days, plus a full de-rig in under 10 hours
5,800+ individual elements and props used
Rave reviews from attendees and the QEII team: “The best showcase we’ve ever had.”

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The QEII Centre reported that clients were stunned by the detail and ambition of the design, and it set a new benchmark for what their future events could look like.

Why It Worked: Creativity Meets Collaboration

This project was a success because of three key factors:

1. Collaboration & Trust
Building on the success of the previous year’s showcase, we already understood QEII’s working style, expectations, and ambitions. That foundation allowed us to work quickly and creatively, with fewer revisions and clearer direction.

2. Creative Freedom, Grounded in Practicality
With creative freedom over the design and theming, we could design environments with emotional and sensory impact, while keeping sight of budget, install times, and venue constraints.

3. Sustainable Investment in Stock
By designing props that would go into our permanent rental collection, we could offset costs and reduce waste, making the event more sustainable without compromising on impact.

Want to Make a Splash with Your Next Event?

Whether you’re planning an internal launch, a showcase like QEII’s, or a one-off brand experience, EPH Creative will handle everything from design to de-rig. From concept to delivery, we help bring your vision to life; on time, on budget, and beyond expectation.