At Impact Production Group (IPG), we don’t just build decor : we craft immersive worlds.
For one unforgettable themed event, our team was asked to create a life-size pirate ship : not as a stage, but as an interactive photo booth and high-impact decorative centerpiece. The result? A full-scale shipwreck-inspired structure that looked straight out of a blockbuster, built entirely in-house and engineered for pure visual magic.
Let’s take you behind the scenes of how we brought this floating fantasy to life.
Our client’s vision was bold: deliver a visually stunning pirate ship prop that would anchor the event theme, amaze guests, and become the ultimate backdrop for photos : without functioning as a stage or being climbable.
The ship needed to:
- Feel authentic and theatrical
- Be safe and structurally sound
- Integrate with lighting and special effects
- Serve as a decorative photo zone and set piece
- Enhance the overall immersive narrative of the event
We accepted the challenge and dove straight into the creative waters.
Design: From Nautical Dream to 3D Reality
The concept began with mood boards filled with pirate ships, movie sets, and weathered shipwrecks. Our design team then developed detailed 3D design of the structure, ensuring it would be both photogenic and technically feasible.
Key design features:
● Faux-damaged wooden hull with weathered textures
● Torn sails with integrated LED lighting effects
● Broken masts and rigging for realism
● Decorative cannons, barrels, and treasure props
● Internal lighting designed for dramatic nighttime impact
Every visual detail contributed to the illusion of a grounded, long-lost pirate ship — now reborn as a showpiece.
The build took place entirely at our IPG fabrication workshop, where scenic artists, set builders, and AV techs collaborated to bring the vision to life.
Construction highlights:
- CNC-cut timber panels shaped for curved hull contours
- Concealed scaffolding for stability and support
- Distressed paint techniques to mimic aged marine wood
- Integrated lighting channels for fog and ambient effects
Despite its complexity, the pirate ship was designed with modularity and transportability in mind — allowing for efficient on-site assembly and future reuse.
Transported in sections, the structure was assembled over two days at the event venue. Though non-accessible, the pirate ship commanded the space with:
- Dynamic lightings
- Fog effects creating atmospheric realism
- Surrounding entertainers and props tying it into the narrative
Guests didn’t climb aboard — but they lined up for photos, took videos, and interacted with the space around it.
🗨️ “The detail was incredible — like walking onto a film set.”
🗨️ “Everyone took a photo. It became the must-see spot.”
Surrounding elements included:
- Fire performers
- Interactive zones with treasure props and barrels for photo ops
✅ Designed with purpose
✅ Built with precision
✅ Delivered with creative flair
✅ Fully managed in-house, from sketch to final bolt
This pirate ship wasn’t just built. It was imagined, engineered, and brought to life — all without a single guest stepping onboard.
Let IPG bring your vision to life with custom builds that combine scenic design, fabrication, and technical excellence.
👉 Contact us today to start planning your next bold idea.