'ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO' - DOCUMENTARY

For One to One: John & Yoko, the brief was to create a space that was as historically accurate as possible, yet emotionally charged and deeply personal. The guiding ambition was to evoke the uncanny sense that “John and Yoko had just left the room,” with the air itself still moving from their presence. Every object and detail was carefully chosen to transform iconic but grainy photographs into a tangible environment, allowing the audience to feel as though they were stepping into a space alive with unseen history.

The main challenge was designing the set around a planned 90-second continuous crane shot sweeping through the entire room — capturing as much of the space as possible without sacrificing dressing or authenticity. This demanded extraordinary precision: only the smallest wall openings were used, while multiple versions of the camera move were animated in advance to ensure its timing, composition and views could be achieved and approved ahead of the shoot.

The palette and layering of intimate details ultimately created an atmosphere that felt both authentic and heightened — an environment in which John and Yoko seemed present within the film without ever being shown.

The project was subsequently nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction / Set Decoration / Scenic Design, recognising the work undertaken to recreate and bring this highly personal historical environment to the screen.