PUBLIC WORK
Against the Odds
Client: Wembley Park
Service: Public Art / Campaign Design / Environmental Graphics
Year: 2021
Against the Odds
After a successful bid to produce the installation on the Spanish Steps leading up to Wembley Stadium for the Euro 2020 football competition (played in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic), I was invited to also develop the wider visual system for surrounding digital and environmental assets across Wembley Park.
The brief, Against the Odds, became the foundation for a series of public-facing artworks and communications centred on resilience, unity and collective experience.
Developed during a period of national uncertainty, the work explored how public messaging can foster connection and shared identity in large civic spaces. Typography, language and composition were used to create a direct and accessible visual system that could operate across multiple scales, from digital screens to large architectural surfaces.
As Metroland noted, the work was underpinned by a sense of togetherness and hope, designed to create a memorable public experience within a high-footfall environment.
Metroland write ‘Underpinned by a sense of togetherness, diversity, and hope, Against the Odds was inspired by people uniting in tougher times to stand together for the greater good. A theme Micah Purnell has been looking over through 2020 and 2021, he sought to bring a positive and memorable experience to Wembley Park, creating an ‘Ahhh’ moment through the powerful design.
Metroland described the work as being “underpinned by a sense of togetherness, diversity and hope”, inspired by people coming together during challenging times and designed to create a positive and memorable experience at Wembley Park.
Micah Purnell said: “The work followed on from a body of work I produced during lockdown around the theme of community. Despite the difficulties of that period, I witnessed countless acts of kindness and connection. This piece was designed as a reminder of the strength that exists when people come together.”
See also The Guardian magazine design, Wembley Steps, Jack Arts Outdoor and Axis Tower for similar colour schemes.