Welcome to Astral Design
Welcome to Astral. Competitive rates, competent and efficient staff and up-to-date technology combine within this company to provide you with the ultimate in lighting, staging and production.
At Astral we encourage clients with the foresight and ability to seek creative solutions in an ever inventive and competitive market, whilst still remaining sympathetic to the small producer, charity event, and community event organiser. Whether this is your 1st, 40th or 400th event we can turn your ideas into reality and create the atmosphere you want at a price you can afford. Our work includes large spectacular events with emphasis on creativity and originality. We are experienced in corporate events and presentations where we are able to provide something a little out of the ordinary for the more daring clientele. If you are hosting an outdoor event we can also provide covered stage systems, of which we are the largest supplier in Medway and the South East, including lighting, sound reproduction and consultation at all stages of planning. If you are on a limited budget Astral Design can offer value for money and sponsorship deals allowing you to create a proffesional event at a price to suit you. Although Astral Design started as a lighting design company we have expanded over the years to also specialise in the fields of architectural, environmental, fashion lighting, production and corporate events.
News
Astral reduces Carbon footprint at
National Arboretum by 7.6 tonnes .
This December Astral was pleased to win the contract to light the Westonbirt National Arboretum for their illuminated trail at Christmas.
Despite the atrocious weather conditions throughout December and the requisite challenges with such a large scale event, over 28 thousand people enjoyed the display at Westonbirt.
As a new contractor and recent recipient of a highly commended award at the Environment Awards for Kent Business, the brief was to revamp the show extensively returning the focus to the trees, highlights included Westonbirt’s famous Acer Glade which had a colour changing installation as did the Saville Glade, there was also a Spiders web feature and some visitors may have heard fairies giggling and fluttering around the woods too. A large part of the proposal was to introduce bio diesel and to reduce consumption by extensive use of LED and low consumption lighting as opposed to conventional methods. This required a substantial financial investment from Astral and fortunately this falls in line with their current investment policy of buying into modern low consumption technology. Initially the fuel consumption was reduced by at least two thirds then by using recycled bio diesel the carbon emissions was reduced by a further 7.6 tonnes.
James Waudby, creative director of Astral Design said “I am delighted to be able to reduce the carbon footprint of this flagship event for the Forestry Commission so substantially and look forward to other organisations following the Commissions lead with their events”
John Weir, director of the arboretum said “I wish to thank Astral Design for their hard work through some of the worst weather we have had in December, we achieved all our targets including 28 thousand visitors” he then went on to say “I was especially pleased with the speed of the take down and general attitude of Astral staff”
  
Wimbledon Russian Fayre
Astral Design were involved in the Wimbledon Village Festival this year providing production for the 2006's Russian themed Fayre. The festival ran from 11am to 10pm and included fashion shows, carol singing and ballet - all on Astral Design's stages. This year the festival was attended by around 7000 people who came to see Russian song and dance, the artificial ice rink and stalls selling food and crafts. Despite weather conditions and tight time constraints James Waudby described the festival as 'a fantastic event and a massive success'.
RISE Fashion Show
UEDA College of Fashion in Osaka, Japan was delighted to involve Astral Design in their International Collection in collaboration with UCCA Rochester. The fashion show was held in association with The World Food Programme, the UN's frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. This unique, Anglo-Japanese Fashion Show took place 30th November at the Boiler House, Old Truman Brewery in London. Astral Design have worked in this venue in the past and was excited about producing a unique environment that matched the ideas of the show creators. Students from both universities displayed their work alongside current fashion designers Kalikas Armour and Harriet's Muse. The UCCA Graduate Fashion Week 2006 Finalists Suzanne Roberts (River Island Gold Award) and Shamiran Khoshabe (Zandra Rhodes 'Textile for the Catwalk' Award) were thrilled to be invited to open this memorable show. All proceeds from this event were donated to the UN World Food Programme and Astral Design is prous to have supported such a worthwhile cause.
  
University of Kent ArtsFest
This summer sees Astral Design teaming up with the University of Kent in their annual ArtsFest. Held on the 2nd June this year, ArtsFest is a community and student intergration event with performances on Astral Design's stages by the University Concert Band and The Big Band with the event culminating in a fireworks display and outdoor DJ set. The nature of this event demonstrates Astral Design stage's versatility. For more information about ArtsFest please visit University of Kent Events
Snodland Festival in partnership with Panache Audio
A two week celebration of Snodland town sees Astral Design provide two stage environments - one indoor and one outdoor. Astral will be providing the Deluxe Stage Package on the 14th July for Picnic in the Park featuring The Drifters. Astral will also be building an indoor stage for the Classical Spectacular on 12th July featuring the 85 piece City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra. For more informations on the festival click here, for more information about Panache Audio click here.
Astral Design at the Ambient Picnic Festival
The Ambient Picnic Festival has joined forces with the Euphonic Festival this year and moved Hook Road Arena in Epsom. Astral Design is providing the Super Stage which will see young musicians from the Live and Direct music worskshops perform on Saturday 7th July. Regular visitors can expect the same eclectic selection of quality regional acts, a great selection of ethical food and drink, workshops, artwork, healing and good friends on Sunday 8th. The Picninc is a non-profit event meaning that all monies raised pay for the event services and infrastructure. Astral Design is happy to be involved with this community-minded green event again and looks forward to a successful weekend.
ESSEXStreeetDiversions: Twilight Spectacle
Once again Astral Design will be involved in the spectacular StreetDiversions held by Chelmsford Borough Council as part of the Celebrate Chelmsford programme of summer events. Astral Design will be providing an extensive lighting and sound rig including followspots with operators so that none of the performance is missed by the crowd.
Leo Sayer at the Big Day Out, July 2006
The two-day Big Day Out hosted at Gravesend's Riverside Leisure Area was organised to celebrate the many different cultures of Gravesham. Astral Design provided staging and production for this multi-cultural event that attracted double the crowds of the previous year. Headlining on the 15th were pop legend Leo Sayer and Bhangra star Jassi Sidu, whilst the 16th saw on stage performances from Phase 5 Steel Band, the Thai OWL Dancers and Up4theDownstroke. Astral Design were delighted to be involved with this community event and look forward to working with Gravesham Borough Council in the future.
  
The Guardian Hay Festival, May 2006
The Hay Festival is an international production company based in the Breacon Beacons in Wales. This festival annually celebrates great writing in every medium in Britain and around the world, and this year Astral Design provided lighitng and power distribution for Channel 4 who were the broadcast sponsors for the event. For more information on the Hay Festival please visit www.hayfestival.com
Matthew Boulton College Opening, February 2006
Astral Design were delighted to provide architectural and show lighting for the official opening of the Matthew Boulton College of Further and Higher Education in Birmingham. The college decided to celebrate its new £40 million state-of-the-art building by showcasing the varied talents of its students. Staff and 150 dignitaries were treated to a performance describing 'MBC through the ages' which fused the talents of the performing arts students with the high-tech multimedia software available at teh college. The week long exhibition of events culminated in the unveiling of a spectacular interior water feature by two performing arts students in the presence of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.
Astral wins BEST CREATIVE INDUSTRIES at the Medway Small Business of the Year Awards, November 2005
 Astral Design has won Medway’s most prestigious award and has been acknowledged for their strong business performance and national profile. The company has achieved considerable success locally, nationally and internationally even providing services overseas in Germany, Africa and the Canary Islands. Their creative projects have included events at Glastonbury, National Trust and London Fashion Week.
The Medway Small Business of the Year Awards was held at the Big Blue at Chatham Maritime on Friday November 11th 2005 with over 500 guests present. The event showcased 12 small businesses that had been selected from over 50 companies who had been entered for the award.
Paul Saunders Senior Business Manager, Lloyds TSB, commented on “how a local company based in Medway had an amazing national brand profile”. James Waudby, company director, was award a prize of £500. James said “the company success had been down to strong team work, combined with developing good local links, and continuous investment in new lighting/production equipment”.
The Chatham based company has extensive experience in providing production services and facilities for all types of indoor/outdoor/large/small scale events of all genres. The company has extensive management experience in providing both creative and technical excellence to a whole host of different clients wanting exciting, exotic and highly original forms of both entertainment and corporate events
The Pink Party, London, November 2005
Astral Design, alongside Peter Chivers, combined their energies with Kasteel Kru Lager, Ketel One Vodka, Matusalem Rum, The Food Doctor, Toni & Guy and D+M Events and Productions, to create a hip and glamorous party at The Collection in London, to help raise money for Cancer Redearch UK, the world's leading charity dedicated to research on the causes, treatments and prevention of Cancer. The Pink Party boasted as 'A' list crowd who watched a theatrical show created by Daniele Mancinetti, director of D+M Events and Productions, featuring the new collections of Kristian Aadnevik, Julie Berube, Joanne Hynes and Dexter Wong, dance performances, spectacular live acts and a charity auction. Danielle said "This striking venue, The Collection, is perfect to host an exciting event of this nature. It was transformed, for one night, into a surreal pink world with a touch of transgression and glamour, helped by the creativity of Astral Design"
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