Founded in 2010, Wild Creations has built a reputation for intricately detailed, beautifully constructed show set pieces.
Originally specialising in PR and marketing stunts, and bringing film and TV sets to life for household names like Sony Pictures and Universal, Wild Creations has rapidly evolved to become a key player in the attractions industry.
The company has expanded its scope to design and build large scale showset packages that bring immersive experiences to life. Known for its “above and beyond” ethos, Wild Creations has earned a reputation for tackling ambitious challenges and delivering exceptional results for its clients.
blooloop recently spoke with founder Matt Wild to learn more about the company’s journey, its growing presence in the attractions sector, and the momentum driving its continued success.
Craft at its core: the origins of Wild Creations
Wild Creations was born from a simple passion: realising the weird and wonderful.
“I studied stage management and technical theatre at the Welsh College of Music and Drama,” says Wild. “I found that traditional theatre wasn’t quite for me, but I loved the technical side, the hands-on work. After uni, I worked across events, conferences, and festivals, always looking for ways to be creative.”
This led him into television production. “I ended up working on Doctor Who as a set dresser, which was incredible,” he says. “One week we’d be building a spaceship, the next a Victorian street. It was fast-paced, creative, with a lot of variety. I met a lot of great people.”
However, he wasn’t done. “I always knew I wanted to start something of my own. I wasn’t sure exactly what it would be at the beginning, just that I wanted to create.”
That feeling became Wild Creations, a company built on curiosity and craft. “One of our first breaks was recreating the TARDIS for the Doctor Who Experience. That project launched us into the attractions industry.”
A year later, Samantha Wild, now co-owner and creative director, joined the company. “Sam’s background is in ceramics and sculpture,” Wild says. “She’s since found her niche in scenic painting and design. Together, we’ve grown the business organically, following the work we love to do.”
“We never set out with a grand plan. It’s always been about making things well, and saying yes to the right kind of challenge.”
From concept to completion
Wild Creations’ commitment to quality and excellence has been central to its growth, and these values continue to drive its expansion.
“It started out as just me,” says Wild. “Now, we’ve grown to around 50 full-time staff, and we regularly bring in another 20 to 30 freelancers. At peak times, we’ve had up to 120 people on-site in a single day.”
For years, the company was rooted in theatre, TV, and film work, with a strong focus on high-profile PR stunts and promotional builds. “A lot of it was tied to film releases and big IPs. Dinosaurs, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, that kind of thing,” says Wild. “Those projects demanded precision and attention to detail, which really translated well when we moved into the attractions world.”
Today, the company operates from a 40,000-square-foot facility in Cardiff, offering a comprehensive, end-to-end service for clients in the attractions industry.
“We are a complete creative build partner,” Wild says. “We have an in-house design team, and more recently employed a structural engineer, which has really helped streamline the process and allows the team to rapidly validate design concepts before progressing too far, ensuring the creative intent is structurally sound.”
Wild Creations under one roof
Wild Creations specialises in the fabrication of show sets, static figures, and scenic elements, all manufactured in-house. “Our capabilities include advanced 3D printing, detailed sculpting, CNC machining, and operation of a seven-axis robotic arm. We have found that 3D printing has become the primary technology driving our production efficiency,” Wild says.
The workshop also includes certified carpentry and metal fabrication. “We’re EN1090 certified, so we can fabricate structural steel which is essential for attraction work”, Wild says. The workshop also has facilities for moulding, casting, finishing, spray painting, and scenic work, all supported by custom paint mixing systems.
“And once all components are fabricated,” he says, “our installation team takes over to ensure smooth assembly and final integration. They manage the entire installation process, ensuring it meets all design specifications and safety standards while coordinating logistics to deliver a smooth, efficient setup.”
Wild Creations’ growing global impact
Wild Creations has steadily built an impressive portfolio of high-profile projects—from the iconic Ball in the Wall installation for the 2015 Rugby World Cup to contributions to The Paddington Bear Experience and numerous collaborations with leading global attraction brands.
“We’re very lucky to have a strong back catalogue of work, some of it high-profile, and a lot of it that we unfortunately can’t show,” says Wild.
“Our scope of work for a major new US park that has just opened started quite small, but the contract ended up tripling in size as we picked up additional work. I visited the park in March and it was surreal walking through the rides and recognising all the pieces we’d made.
“It looks incredible. What’s especially rewarding is that our work features across three zones, and in some really prominent spots.
“We’ve definitely made our mark on the park.”
Creative problem solving
Wild Creations takes a focused, solutions-driven approach, offering highly specialised fabrication services with a strong emphasis on quality and creativity.
“What sets us apart,” says Wild, “is that we are a strong design house with a team of creative fabricators. We thrive on solving problems for our clients, taking their vision and figuring out how to make it real, practical, and spectacular.”
“One of our major current projects—with another leading theme park company—is a design-assist package,” he says. “We started with a basic model and some initial concept art provided by the client, and from there, we’ve delivered the full 3D sculpting and design realisation. We’ve taken it right through from concept to installation.”
‘Bold, unusual builds’
It’s exactly the kind of work that plays to Wild Creations’ strengths.
“With our focus on detail and the quality we deliver, we don’t settle for the easy solution,” Wild says. “We aim for the most creative and functional solution—always aiming to make the process as seamless as possible for the client. That’s a big part of what defines us.”
He adds that certain qualities make a project a great fit for the company’s capabilities.
“We love projects that align with our skill set, something we know we can execute to a high standard. We’re always drawn to creative work, especially when there’s a strong IP involved or when the brief is technically challenging, whether it’s a complex rigging situation or a tough structural design.”
Th team has a track record for bold, unusual builds as a natural foundation for their current work in themed entertainment.
“We’ve done everything from rugby balls smashing through castles to installing full-scale T. rex figures in under two hours. Projects like those have built the skill set we’re now applying in the attractions space.”
Skilled craftspeople
At Wild Creations, it’s not cutting-edge tech that defines the work—it’s the people behind it.
“Unlike much of the attractions industry, we’re not driven by mind-blowing technology,” says Wild. “Sure, we’ve got some great machinery, but ultimately, it’s all about our team.”
While visitors to the workshop may be drawn to the 3D printers and robotic tools, Wild is quick to set the record straight.
“Technology can be a bit misleading. People are always fascinated by the 3D printers—but a printer alone doesn’t create anything magical. It’s what happens after: the finishing, the texture, the paintwork. That’s where the artistry is. There’s no machine that can replicate that by itself.”
He adds that this human touch makes a tangible difference in the final product. “You can tell when something hasn’t had that hand-finished treatment—it can look too digital, too clean. Samantha and I are completely aligned on this: the machines are just tools. Useful ones, yes, but still just tools.”
That said, technology has certainly helped scale the studio’s output.
“It speeds things up and gives us greater dimensional control,” Wild says. “What you model is very close to what prints. But the clever part—the part that really matters—is the people we’ve got working on it.”
Sustainability at Wild Creations
Wild Creations’ people-first philosophy carries through into its evolving approach to sustainability.
“We’ve set up an internal environmental committee to explore where we can make a meaningful impact,” says Wild. “It’s not just top-down, it’s about everyone across the workshop playing a part.”
One simple but effective example came from the moulding and casting team.
“They said, ‘Let’s stop using disposable buckets and switch to reusable rubber ones.’ Now, instead of going through a bucket every couple of days, we’re using the same ones for weeks.”
The team is also rethinking material use and waste handling, particularly around 3D printing and polystyrene milling.
“We’re collecting and grinding excess filament to send for recycling. When we mill polystyrene, we use a compactor and return it to our supplier, it goes back into their products. Sometimes we even trade it for a new block.”
Material innovation
Innovation plays a role, too.
“For one-offs, we’ve started 3D printing the moulds themselves,” Wild says. “Instead of sculpting a piece, taking a mould, then casting it. We’re eliminating steps by printing the negative directly and casting into that.”
The team is also testing how to repurpose materials. “We’re exploring whether ground-down excess fibreglass can be used as a filler in new fibreglass parts. And we’re using water-based paints where possible. There’s a lot of research going on in that space.”
Still, Wild recognises the limits of what’s currently possible. “A big part of our environmental footprint comes down to materials. And the reality is, we’re somewhat reliant on what manufacturers make available. You have to take a pragmatic approach, some of this change depends on the pace of material innovation.”
Expanding across the Atlantic
Wild Creations has taken a significant step toward international growth with the appointment of Chris Smith, former Senior Scenic Manager at Universal Creative, as its US Development Lead.
“Bringing Chris on board has been a great move in a lot of ways,” says Matt Wild. “In the first few months, he’s been helping us wrap up our work on Epic Universe, closing out contracts and finalising site work.”
That on-the-ground involvement has also given Smith time to fully understand Wild Creations’ processes, capabilities, and culture.
“It’s been a solid way for him to learn how we operate, what we’re great at and where we want to improve,” Wild says. “Chris has over 30 years in the industry, and what drew him to us was our shared values: solving creative and technical challenges for clients. That’s what he’s always appreciated about our work, and that’s the direction he wants to keep building.”
The company plans to expand its design footprint in the US while maintaining core manufacturing in the UK.
“There’s a future not too far off where we’ll have a couple of show set designers based in the US,” says Wild. “We still want to do the making here, but having a US presence opens up more collaboration. For us, there’s nothing better than sitting around a table and thrashing through ideas. With Chris over there, it just becomes that much easier for our clients.”
Growing with the attractions industry
Looking ahead, Wild Creations is perfectly positioned to embrace the growth sweeping through the attractions sector.
“In the relatively short time we’ve been fully immersed in the attractions industry, we’ve firmly established ourselves with the two major players. We’ve been very fortunate, and our goal is to keep building on that momentum,” says Wild.
Central to that growth is the company’s unwavering commitment to quality.
“We want to be known for the excellence of our work. That’s something we’ve really appreciated about working with the industry leaders, they demand the highest standards, which perfectly aligns with our own approach.”
He adds that these clients bring the capital, vision, and drive to achieve exceptional quality, an environment where Wild Creations thrives.
“Our focus is on continually evolving and staying at the cutting edge. We’re not necessarily aiming to be the biggest player; there are established giants in the market, and we often collaborate with or subcontract to them. What matters most is that we work on some of the best attractions and produce our very best work.”
Wild acknowledges that while the company has strong growth ambitions, the expanding market itself presents ample opportunity.
“This is a growing industry, and there’s room for more talent. We’re still a relatively young company in this space, and we want to grow thoughtfully and sustainably, without stepping on anyone’s toes. The industry needs fresh energy, and we’re excited to be part of that.”
