A Decade of Design: Andy Bailey and Ben O’Neill on 10 Years with Wonder Works’

As Wonder Works celebrates its 10th year, long-term members Andy Bailey and Ben O’Neill reflect on their journey together. From working on the London 2012 Olympics to sharing a flat in Sochi for nine months, their 15-year relationship predates Wonder Works and has been defined by creativity, quick wit, and a shared passion for problem solving. With very distinct roles -“If you want a quick answer, ask me. If you want the reasons why, ask Ben,” jokes Andy – they have developed a working dynamic that generates award-winning work. Here, the duo share insights into their day-to-day and the most memorable projects that have defined their first decade at Wonder Works.

1. Take us back to the beginning – how did you first join the Wonder Works team 10 years ago?

Ben: I met Piers and Jeremy while working on the London 2012 Olympics. We built a great relationship during that time. Then after the Olympics, I moved on to join the Sochi Winter Olympics team as a CAD Manager with Andy. I stayed in touch with the guys, and when they set up Wonder Works they invited me to join. Knowing Piers and Jeremy’s reputations and what Wonder Works might become, I saw it as a great opportunity and I joined after finishing Sochi, in April 2014.

Andy: I joined Wonder Works a bit later that year. I was freelancing at the time, running my own business doing technical drawing and engineering. Like Ben, I’d worked with Piers and Jeremy on the 2012 Olympics, so when Piers approached me about joining full-time, it felt like a natural progression. At the time, I was finishing up the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, so I wrapped that up, took the summer off, and started in September 2014.

2. What initially drew you to the event production world?

Ben: Like many of us, I accidentally fell into event production. It started as a hobby that grew out of hand. I began with lighting design and production lighting at an amateur and student level. For a while, I thought that’s what I wanted to do in the industry. I worked as a technician in London for a couple of years after my first degree, before deciding to go back to university to study production management. I’d dabbled in various roles – sound design, scenic construction, flying, producing, and production management – and the latter seemed the most interesting to me.

One pivotal moment was seeing the Millennium Dome Show as a teenager. I was doing lighting for school shows at the time and was blown away by the scale of it. It wasn’t necessarily the moment I decided on this career, but it showed me what was possible. Fast forward 14 years, and I ended up working with the people who created that show, which feels like a full-circle moment.

Andy: I’ve always loved technical drawing – ever since school, where we used drawing boards. I loved how neat and precise it was, almost like an art form. Then CAD came in, which made things much faster, especially when you’re constantly making updates. That precision and problem-solving side of things really drew me in.

After university, where I studied electronic and robotic engineering at King’s College London, I started working for Unusual Rigging. A family friend there knew I had a knack for technical drawing and encouraged me to apply. It was a lot of fun, but the commute from South London to Northampton was long, so I eventually found a similar role in London with The Rigging Partnership. That’s where I met Ben.

3. How would you describe your roles at Wonder Works, and how have they changed over the years?

Andy: It’s a tricky one to answer. My role has evolved from being an engineering designer to more of a schematic, overview type of role. Instead of focusing on the little details, I’m now more about getting the general concept across – gathering all the info from the team, like what lights, sound, and scenery are needed, and then meshing it together into one sensible layout. It’s about helping the creative team understand what’s actually achievable with what we have, considering both the budget and the constraints of physics.

Ben: I initially joined Wonder Works as a Design Manager, which evolved into Technical Designer, same as Andy. For a long time, there wasn’t much change in the role itself – the focus was always on providing technical expertise to productions through drafting and design. What did change was the way I wanted to interact with productions. I found it more rewarding to have a direct relationship with the production team and project delivery. This occurred alongside a natural evolution of the company. Initially, people came to Wonder Works entirely for Piers and Jeremy’s expertise. While that is still often the case, as the business has grown, Wonder Works has developed a reputation as a company with a broader team and resources.

More recently, my role has shifted completely. I’ve moved into production management, which I absolutely love. While there are elements of drafting that I’ll always enjoy, it stopped being rewarding enough as a job, and I’d always planned to transition to a different role. Now, I get to be more involved with the wider production process, which is what I’ve always wanted.

4. Looking back, what has been your favourite project at Wonder Works and why?

Andy: I’d say my favourite, slash longest, has to be ABBA. We were involved with it from the very beginning, through all its initial stages, then on-site during the build, and we’ve continued looking after it as it’s developed. It’s one of those ongoing projects that keeps evolving. It’s also one of my favourites because of the challenge of getting everything to fit into the grid. That was a fun puzzle!

Ben: National Day 52 stands out as my favourite project. It was the first major one in my new role as a Production Manager, so it was a big challenge in a familiar context. We worked with an amazing team and contractors, and the show was technically complex but incredibly satisfying to deliver. It was a beautiful production, and it felt like a real achievement.

5. What has been the most challenging project and why?

Andy: One that stands out was a project for Tomorrowland in 2016. We came in late to design a stage with loads of trees and treehouses on scaffolding. Initially, we used steelwork, but they needed us to switch to a truss system last minute, which was a real challenge. As the project progressed, the scope kept shrinking due to time constraints, and things were still being built as the crowd arrived. But on the plus side, out of all that stress, we gained two new employees – Rishab and Anastasia, who came to us because they’d seen we’d worked on Tomorrowland. So, while it nearly broke me, there were some silver linings!

Ben: The honest answer would have to be National Day 51, which was my last project as a draftsman. It was incredibly challenging because of the relentless hours and constant changes right up to the last minute. I worked for weeks on end without a single day off!

6. Working together for a decade must create a pretty unique bond. How would you describe your working dynamic?

Andy: It’s a bit of a running joke that I do all the early work, and then Ben swoops in at the last minute to take the glory! But we’ve worked together so much that we know how to play off each other’s strengths. I focus on the groundwork, and Ben comes in with the finishing touches. It works well!

Ben: Andy and I have a long and strong relationship. We’ve known each other for over 15 years now, even before Wonder Works. This is actually the fourth full-time job we’ve worked in together. We first met at a The Rigging Partnership, which was my first job out of university. I’d only had a week of AutoCAD training, and Andy, who was the designer and engineer, ended up teaching me loads in those early days. After that, we worked together on London 2012, Sochi 2014, and eventually joined Wonder Works – but it wasn’t planned. It just kept happening, and we’d joke, “Oh, not you again!”. Andy’s brilliant and I feel very privileged to have spent 15 years working on a desk next to him.

7. What advice would you give to new Wonder Workers joining the team today?

Andy: The main thing I’d say is balance. You’ve got to juggle a lot – work, deadlines, and personal life – so finding that balance is key. 

Ben: Be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone here is willing to share their knowledge, so take advantage of that. Also, embrace the fast-paced nature of the work – it’s challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Quick Fire Questions:

1. Most memorable location you’ve travelled to for work?

Andy: The jungle moon of Ajan Kloss, AKA Swinley forest for the filming of Star Wars Rise of Skywalker.

Ben: Tokyo. I got to spend a while there for the Olympics, pre-COVID, and it was almost as enchanting as a Murakami novel, just without the lowkey creepiness.

2. Funniest or most unexpected moment on the job?

Andy: When a subtle pun is noticed by others minutes or hours later.

Ben: I’m not going to say Andy’s puns, I don’t want to encourage him. Accidentally ending up as the chauffeur for the First Lady of Azerbaijan during the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017 was certainly unexpected.

3. Favourite Wonder Works tradition or ritual?

Andy: Stretch time – around 4pm cad alley has a little stretch.

Ben: Piers asking every single delivery person whether the package contains chocolate. I did once courier some to the office just so the answer could finally be “yes”.

4. If you weren’t in event production, what would you be doing?

Andy:  Outdoor pursuits instructor in Ireland – it nearly happened.

Ben: Art conservation and restoration, perhaps. It’s related to what I originally studied and I’d like to think I have the patience for both the craft and the technical theory.

5. Most inspiring venue or event space you’ve worked in?

Andy: Expo Al Wasl, an impressive dome.

Ben: I agree, Al Wasl was special. We spent a long time there, and after Expo we were brought back to provide the expert report for its Guinness World Record status, which was a nice way to round off our involvement. But also Hatta reservoir, nestled in the mountains in eastern UAE, was a spectacular setting for the 50th National Day celebration.

6. One piece of gear or equipment you can’t live without?

Andy: My old school calculator – button numbers worn away and battery dying but it’s been faithful.

Ben: For work, the SX10, our hybrid scanner and total station. Otherwise, a pair of espresso cups made by two colleagues, Becks and Nick, while we were all staying in the UAE. One or both always travel with me.

7. Favourite way to unwind after a big project wraps up?

Andy: Usually already started the next project, but do like a lone walk in the wild.

Ben: Travel. The best kind is to see friends in interesting places.

8. Top song or playlist that always gets you in the zone?

Andy: Scooter – German happy hardcore band does it for me.

Ben: Akshin Alizadeh came up recently as my most-listened-to artist, so that should be my answer.

9. Best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

Andy: Save your drawings frequently, crashes happen at the worst time.

Ben: Make notes, and don’t get bogged down in the detail. I have had a 50% success rate with that.

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