Transforming Oman Botanic Garden Through Design, Print and Installation
The Brief
Oman Botanic Garden is one of the largest botanic garden projects in the world, celebrating the country’s rich biodiversity through a series of immersive habitats, educational spaces and visitor experiences. Leach was appointed to support the project from its earliest stages, delivering everything from brand development, through to the production and installation of graphics across the site.
The relationship began with Leach providing specialist expertise across branding, artwork, production and installation. Over the course of four years, the team worked closely with stakeholders in Oman, attending regular project meetings and making multiple visits to present creative concepts, brand guidelines and artwork to senior representatives.
The brief extended far beyond print production. Leach was tasked with helping create a unique visual identity for the attraction, while ensuring every element of visitor communication worked seamlessly across both English and Arabic.
The Solution
Working collaboratively with the wider project team, Leach delivered a comprehensive package of creative, production and installation services throughout the four-year project.
The journey began with the creation of a completely bespoke brand identity, including detailed brand guidelines, stationery, marketing templates and communication assets. Working alongside leading type specialists, Monotype, Leach also developed a custom typeface exclusively for Oman Botanic Garden, creating a distinctive visual identity that reflected the significance of the destination.
To complement the branding, Leach commissioned bespoke botanic illustrations, working with Marcella Wylie as the illustrator, before undertaking the extensive artwork process. Every graphic combined photography, illustration and bilingual copy, with meticulous proofreading and typesetting required to ensure accuracy across both English and Arabic. Weekly project meetings kept the complex programme on track, with artwork continually refined and approved throughout the development process.
Once artwork was complete, the focus shifted to production and installation across the Garden’s four main habitats – the Dhofar Mountains Biome, Hajar Mountains Biome, Deserts Pavillion and Visitor Centre.
Given the extreme desert climate, careful consideration was given to material selection. Eco-vault panels were chosen for external signage due to their durability, longevity, and low-glare finish, allowing them to withstand temperatures exceeding 40°C. Inside the visitor spaces and domes, specialist materials were selected to minimise reflections and perform reliably within humid environments.
The project included the production and installation of around 100 Eco-vault external interpretation panels, 188 stoved aluminium plant identification labels, approximately 750 door signs produced using clear self-adhesive vinyl and Perspex, and 28 bespoke wallpaper installations covering around 200 square meters.
With thousands of individual elements to coordinate, logistics were carefully managed throughout. Every item was photographed before shipping to ensure quality and assist with installation planning, while Leach’s project management team travelled to Oman on multiple occasions to oversee artwork reviews and phased installations on site.
The Results
The completed project has created a visually engaging and educational visitor experience that brings Oman’s unique natural habitats to life through carefully considered branding, interpretation and environmental graphics.
By combining strategic brand development with specialist large-format production and installation, Leach delivered a cohesive visual identity that extends throughout the entire attraction, helping visitors navigate the space while enhancing their understanding of the country’s diverse flora.
Despite the scale and complexity of the project, close collaboration, regular communication and on-site project management ensured every stage was delivered to the exceptionally high standards required.
Today, the work stands as one of Leach’s most significant international projects, showcasing the team’s ability to deliver world-class branding, creative artwork, specialist production and complex installations on a global stage.
Bringing the Project to Life
From developing a bespoke typeface and bilingual brand identity to producing thousands of environmental graphics designed to perform in one of the world’s harshest climates, the Oman Botanic Garden project demonstrates the breadth of Leach’s expertise.
Whether you’re creating an immersive visitor attraction, museum, exhibition or public space, Leach can help transform your vision into an engaging environment through creative design, specialist print production and expert installation. Get in touch to discuss your next project.
