Apple has launched an engaging festive campaign inviting UK residents to submit digital Christmas tree designs created on iPads, with the unique opportunity for winners to see their artwork projected onto the chimneys and wash towers of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station. The competition, titled "Your Tree on Battersea," opens a creative channel for participants of all ages, from four years old upwards, allowing them to contribute to a large-scale public art display during the holiday season.
The creative process involves working within the visually distinctive and technically challenging canvas of Battersea Power Station’s façade. Designers are encouraged to embrace the structural features of the building, with one of the contributing artists, Yonk, noting that their design accommodated top branches to be thinner so as not to obscure the building’s chimneys. Such limitations were said to add to the character and charm of the projected Christmas tree. The medium and scale of the projection introduce unique constraints, as each light functions like a pixel in a low-resolution display. This reality calls for designs that are bold, simple, and large, promoting the use of bright and distinctive shapes over intricate details to ensure visual impact from a distance.
To help participants tap into this approach, Apple is hosting ‘Today at Apple’ sessions across 39 retail stores in the UK from November 6 to 22. These 30-minute workshops aim to assist creatives of all skill levels in making the most of iPad tools to develop their Christmas tree designs. The competition encourages submissions from home or at participating Apple Stores, with a deadline set for November 23, 2025, at 11:59 pm. On December 4, the winning entries will be publicly unveiled and projected continuously on Battersea Power Station until Christmas Eve.
In addition to the 24 winning entries from the public, the projected display will feature commissioned works from notable artists such as Sir Stephen Fry and David Shrigley OBE. This initiative follows a tradition of high-profile artistic installations by Apple at Battersea, including past contributions from the likes of David Hockney and Aardman Animations, underscoring Apple’s commitment to blending technology, art, and community engagement in landmark public settings.
While digital projection technology dictates some limits on resolution, the ambition is to enable a festive spectacle that is both immersive and accessible, stimulating local participation in a landmark seasonal event. Creators like Things I Have Drawn reflect a common sentiment that, despite the challenges of large-scale digital projection, the experience offers a rewarding creative opportunity, even if artists wish they had tweaked certain elements upon viewing the final projection in situ.
Overall, Apple’s “Your Tree on Battersea” competition presents an innovative fusion of digital art, community involvement, and urban spectacle, inviting the public to celebrate creativity and the spirit of Christmas in a visually striking manner.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (It's Nice That) - Paragraphs 2, 5
- [2] (MacRumors) - Paragraphs 1, 3, 4
- [3] (Battersea Power Station) - Paragraphs 1, 3
- [4] (Apple Newsroom) - Paragraphs 1, 3
- [5] (MacTrast) - Paragraphs 3, 4
- [6] (Apple Official News) - Paragraphs 1, 3
- [7] (9to5Mac) - Paragraphs 1, 3
Source: Noah Wire Services