The Lord
Mayor’s Show
Institute of Directors
In November 2024, the Institute of Directors took part in the Lord Mayor’s Show, one of London’s most iconic civic traditions, dating back over 800 years. This historic procession celebrates the inauguration of the new Lord Mayor with a spectacular display of pageantry through the City of London, broadcast live on the BBC and featuring thousands of participants, floats, and marching bands.
This year held particular significance for the IoD, as Alastair King, elected the 696th Lord Mayor of London, is also our London branch Chair. Our presence in the procession was both a celebration and a proud moment of alignment with civic leadership, offering an opportunity to showcase our brand in front of a large public and televised audience.
I led the creative direction and design of all visual elements for the IoD’s parade presence. This included developing a clear, cohesive identity across banners, flags, and branded accessories. I worked closely with the events team and production partners to ensure everything was both visually impactful and practical for a fast-paced, outdoor event.
The project had to be delivered within a tight timeframe and fixed budget, with sustainability as a key consideration in material choices and production methods.
While this was a high-profile project, it ran alongside my regular responsibilities at the IoD, requiring careful time management and collaboration across teams to ensure all design deliverables, both for the parade and other ongoing work, were delivered to a high standard.
My role
Before moving into production, I was first asked to develop a high-level concept to help parade organisers visualise the IoD’s planned presence. This involved creating a bird’s-eye view layout showing our position in the procession, along with details such as the number of participants, use of any vehicles, and estimated space requirements on the road.
An early direction, proposed by management, included the use of a traditional London double-decker bus. I was responsible for creating a branded concept and mock-up for this option, which informed internal discussions and helped shape logistical decisions. While the bus concept was later dropped, the visual work provided a helpful reference during the planning phase.
The final creative approach focused on branded accessories that could make a strong visual impact without relying on large structures. These included custom-printed umbrellas, inflated branded balloons, and coordinated sweatshirts for participants, designed to bring a unified and professional appearance to the IoD group within the wider procession.
The brief
Process and execution
My first step in this project was to liaise with suppliers, collecting quotes and exploring sustainable material options that aligned with our budget. I worked closely with the IoD events team to evaluate practical considerations, such as reusability, visibility, and comfort, particularly for items that would be worn or carried for an extended period.
The merchandise I designed included:
1 processional flag
4 fin flags
Branded umbrellas
Branded sweatshirts
Inflatable balloons (worn on backpacks)
Mini handheld flags
Each item had to balance strong visual impact with practical usability. For example, flag dimensions were carefully chosen to ensure they would be clearly visible without overburdening those carrying them during the parade. Inflatable balloons and umbrellas added movement and height to the group, helping to draw attention in a crowded, dynamic environment.
Once the items were finalised, I designed visuals that reflected the IoD brand and ensured consistency across all formats. My design goals were exposure and unity, creating a presence that felt polished, professional, and unmistakably IoD, even in a fast-moving, visually busy setting.
Throughout the process, I prepared all artwork for production, reviewed proofs, and oversaw print and delivery timelines, while continuing to support other ongoing design requests at the IoD. This required careful planning, time management, and strong communication with both internal teams and external suppliers to ensure everything came together seamlessly.
Reflections
The Lord Mayor’s Show was a rewarding and high-impact project to work on, from early planning and supplier research to designing and delivering a full set of branded assets for one of the most prestigious civic events in London.
Despite working within a set budget and a tight timeline, everything came together smoothly thanks to clear planning, collaboration with the events team, and strong supplier relationships. Seeing the IoD group make a strong, unified impression in such a historic and widely viewed setting was a proud moment.
This project sharpened my ability to manage large-scale, multi-output design work, strengthened my confidence in supplier coordination, and deepened my understanding of how to create impactful visuals for public-facing events.
