Tucked away in the heart of Cabot Circus, within the quiet sanctuary of Quakers Friars, Once A Pond A Time transformed an urban space into a playful pond world full of quirky characters and curious creatures. We worked in collaboration with The Bakehouse Factory to design the concept and artwork, relishing the creative freedom to dream up wonderfully weird, slimy personalities and bring them to life.

The final installation featured a giant 5-metre snail with a mirrored shell, a slug bench, towering reed seats, tic-tac-toad, acrobatic amphibians, fish tables, a hand-painted peep board, and even a giant worms and wheelbarrows game. We also created vibrant window vinyls, an accompanying poem, and an interactive AR filter—transforming visitors into the pond’s quirky creatures.

Playful, surreal, and rooted in Bristol folklore (yes, even the mythical harbour crocodile makes an appearance), Once A Pond A Time celebrated the underdogs of the natural world while offering families a joyful, unexpected space to pause, play, and imagine.