Job Role: Video Design Consultant/Disguise Programmer

Client: ONE.org

Tech & Workflow Lead: Toby McManus (QED Productions)

Technical Team: Toby McManus, Harry Richardo, Ben Shepherd

Production: POW

Venue: Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square, London 2025

In February 2025, QED Productions collaborated with ONE.org and POW to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s historic speech at Trafalgar Square, which called generations to action to ”Make Poverty History“. The event included live performances, inspiring speeches, and concluded with a poignant projection finale, casting Mandela’s words and voice onto Nelson’s Column.

Technical & Creative Execution:

Toby worked closely with POW to develop a custom projection workflow tailored to Nelson’s Column - modelling and aligning a precise template that ensured correct placement across the iconic structure. This involved delivering a 3D model with UV mapping and creating resources within After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, Photoshop and Disguise (D3).

Impact:

An evening of powerful emotional activism and remembrance, envisioned through projections, performers, speakers, and activists, gathered in Trafalgar Square. We were joined by policy leaders, campaigners, and civil society activists to reflect and recommit to Mandela’s enduring message.

Media coverage from BBC1, ITV1, and The Guardian brought global attention to the powerful message of the evening.

video credits: ONE.ORG