All Hands on the Don Interpretation design and production

Bringing the Stories of the Don to Life

As part of my work with Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT), I was commissioned to design a series of public engagement interpretation panels for their “All Hands on the Don” project. The aim was to celebrate the rich history, industrial heritage and natural beauty of the River Don catchment, bringing the stories of these fascinating places to life for residents, visitors and future generations.

Each panel explores a unique location along the river and its surrounding waterways, uncovering the people, places and events that have helped shape the area over the centuries. From pioneering feats of canal engineering and the growth of railway communities to much-loved riverside retreats and important wetland habitats, the panels reveal the remarkable diversity of the Don’s heritage.

The locations featured include:

• The Don Aqueduct and New Junction Canal – Celebrating an impressive feat of canal engineering and the last commercial canal to be built in Britain, highlighting the waterways that once played a vital role in the movement of goods and materials.
• Hexthorpe Flatts – Discovering the story of an Edwardian riverside retreat, created to give local workers a place to relax, unwind and enjoy their precious leisure time away from the demands of industrial life.
• Hexthorpe – Exploring the transformation of a small village into a thriving railway community during the 1850s, as the expansion of the railways brought new opportunities, industry and a changing way of life.
• The Stainforth and Keadby Canal – Tracing the history of this important waterway and its place within Britain’s wider canal network, connecting communities, industries and landscapes through a remarkable network of navigable waterways.
• The Great Ings – Celebrating a valuable wetland and conservation area alongside the River Don, where rich wildlife habitats highlight the importance of protecting and restoring the natural environment for generations to come.

To make these stories engaging and accessible to a broad audience, illustrations, graphics and carefully considered layouts bring historical events, industrial landmarks and natural habitats to life. Rather than simply presenting facts, each panel offers an inviting visual journey into the past, helping visitors connect with the heritage of their local landscape and appreciate how the river continues to shape the places and communities around it.

The result is a series of interpretation panels that combine storytelling, design and education to encourage people to explore the River Don catchment, discover its hidden histories and develop a deeper appreciation of the area’s unique cultural and environmental heritage.

For more information about the “All Hands on the Don” project – click here.

Signage Design & Production Specifications

Designed to be both visually engaging and built to last, the public information graphics were produced for a series of A1 lectern-mounted interpretation panels and an A1 railing-mounted display.

Durability was a key consideration throughout the production process. Each frame was fabricated from powder-coated aluminium, providing a robust, lightweight and weather-resistant structure capable of withstanding the demands of an outdoor environment.

The graphic panels were printed onto a Dibond-style aluminium composite material, finished with a Durable Ali Plus protective laminate. This specialist surface finish offers excellent resistance to vandalism, helping to protect the printed graphics from damage and preserve their appearance over time.

The result is a professional, hard-wearing interpretation system that combines high-quality visual presentation with durable materials and construction, ensuring the stories of the River Don can be enjoyed by visitors for years to come.