Apple is celebrating the holidays a little differently this year – by turning Christmas tree art into a massive public light show.
The company has launched Your Tree on Battersea, a UK-wide competition inviting anyone to design their own Christmas tree on an iPad, with a chance for their creation to be projected onto the iconic chimneys and wash towers of Battersea Power Station.
Hosted by comedian Munya Chawawa, the campaign marks the first time Apple has opened the Battersea display to public participation. The 24 winning designs will appear alongside digital Christmas trees created by well-known artists and personalities, including Sir Stephen Fry and David Shrungley OBE.
“Using the power and versatility of our most capable iPad lineup yet, we’re excited to bring Christmas cheer to Battersea Power Station and inspire festive creativity across the nation,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, says.
The competition runs until midnight on November 23, with the final showcase taking place at 5pm on December 4, when all winning entries will be unveiled in a public projection event.
To help participants get started, all 39 Apple Stores across the UK will host special 30-minute Today at Apple sessions from November 6-December 22, where anyone can learn to create and submit their designs using an iPad and Apple Pencil. Submissions can also be made from home through Apple’s website – simply download the template, create your digital tree, and upload your entry.
The project builds on a growing holiday tradition at Battersea. In 2023, artist David Hockney showcased Bigger Christmas Trees, drawn entirely on iPad Pro, while Aardman, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit used the iPhone 16 Pro Max to animate the characters decorating their own festive trees
