When The Ordinary Took Over UNLOCKED Shoreditch
One of the things we love most about running a space like UNLOCKED is seeing how brands completely transform it. Every build brings a different energy, a different story, and a different experience for people walking through the doors.
Recently we had the pleasure of hosting The Ordinary, who brought a fully immersive pop-up experience to our Shoreditch venue.
For a few days, the space was completely reimagined. What is normally a raw industrial East London event venue became a laboratory-inspired environment designed around science, skincare and discovery. The transformation was impressive — white lab aesthetics, interactive installations and product displays that turned the venue into something closer to a living experiment than a traditional retail pop-up.
Visitors moved through different areas of the activation, from masterclasses and product testing sessions to immersive rooms designed to explore the formulations behind The Ordinary’s skincare range. It struck a great balance between education and experience — people weren’t just looking at products, they were actively engaging with the brand.
One of the standout elements was how interactive the experience became. Guests could step inside different installations, explore ingredients, and take part in hands-on sessions that turned the science behind the products into something tangible and memorable.
The activation also extended beyond the venue itself. With large-scale advertising across Curtain Road in Shoreditch, the pop-up became a visible moment in the neighbourhood, drawing curiosity and footfall from across East London.
From a venue perspective, projects like this are exactly what the space was designed for. UNLOCKED’s multi-room layout and production-ready infrastructure allow brands to create journeys rather than single-room experiences — letting visitors move through different environments, installations and moments within one event.
Working alongside the team behind the activation — including Studio XAG — it was great to see the concept evolve from early planning conversations through installation, live programming and ultimately a fully realised pop-up experience.
For a few days, UNLOCKED wasn’t just a venue. It became The Ordinary’s world, built right in the middle of Shoreditch. You can see the full project case study here.
And that’s exactly what we aim for — giving brands the space to create something that feels completely their own.
Planning a Brand Activation or Pop-Up in Shoreditch?
UNLOCKED Shoreditch is a 24,500 sq ft multi-level event venue in East London, designed for immersive pop-ups, brand activations, product launches and cultural events.
If you’re planning a pop-up, experiential campaign or product launch in London, get in touch to discuss hiring the space.