Case Study:
Transformative Projection Experience – Nissan LEAF at The O2 Innovation Station.
The Tint Shop has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, specialist glass-film installations across commercial, creative, and corporate sectors. One of the most innovative projects in our portfolio was a collaboration with Nissan and Projection Artworks at the O2 Arena in London, where we helped transform a Nissan LEAF into the centrepiece of an immersive projection-mapped experience.
The installation, housed within Nissan’s Innovation Station, ran from 2014 to 2017 and was designed to engage the O2’s millions of visitors with cutting-edge technology while showcasing Nissan’s leadership in electric mobility.
Project Background
The Innovation Station was conceived as a dynamic brand space, presenting visitors with interactive exhibits ranging from NISMO performance simulators to sustainability showcases. At its heart stood the Nissan LEAF, reimagined as a virtual reality and projection-mapped experience.
The Tint Shop was commissioned to apply 3M Vikuiti rear-projection film to every glass surface of the vehicle. This created a seamless projection canvas capable of delivering vibrant, high-contrast visuals, allowing the car to serve as the foundation for a Tron-style digital display.
The Challenge
This project presented a number of technical and logistical challenges:
- Glass Geometry: The curved and angled glass surfaces of the LEAF required precise application techniques to achieve distortion-free projection.
- Venue Conditions: The O2 Arena’s busy environment and fluctuating ambient light levels demanded a film capable of maintaining clarity and contrast under pressure.
- Longevity: The installation needed to endure three years of continuous public use without degradation of the film or visual quality.
The Solution
Working in close collaboration with Projection Artworks, our team installed 3M Vikuiti rear-projection film across all of the vehicle’s glazing. The film was chosen for its ability to deliver vivid, high-resolution imagery while blending invisibly into the vehicle’s glass when not illuminated.
Key aspects of the solution included:
- Precision Application: Careful preparation and installation ensured complete coverage of the car’s glass without imperfections, maintaining a flawless projection surface.
- Calibration: Once the film was installed, Projection Artworks aligned the projection content with the vehicle’s contours, bringing the Tron-inspired design to life.
- Durability: The film provided sustained performance over three years, withstanding the demands of daily operation and high visitor traffic.
Results and Impact
The Nissan LEAF installation became the Innovation Station’s defining feature, attracting significant attention and reinforcing Nissan’s position as a technological innovator. The use of projection film enabled a unique storytelling platform that blurred the line between physical product and digital experience.
The impact was clear:
- The projection-mapped LEAF served as a memorable centrepiece for the exhibition.
- Visitors experienced a futuristic, interactive display that enhanced Nissan’s reputation for innovation.
- The installation proved both visually striking and technically resilient, maintaining quality over its three-year lifespan.
Conclusion
The Nissan Innovation Station at the O2 Arena provided a showcase of brand-led technology and creativity. By transforming the glazing of a production vehicle into a projection surface, the tint shop played a vital role in delivering a one-of-a-kind installation that combined durability with striking visual impact.
This case study demonstrates our expertise not only in architectural and security films but also in specialist creative applications, where precision and technical performance are paramount.