From blimps to breathtaking brand activations, inflatable design has come a long way since its humble beginnings. What started out as a safety solution has now evolved into a leading creative medium of choice used in advertising, set design, art, and architecture.

At Truly Inflatables, we design cutting-edge inflatables for bold brands, artists and creative visionaries.

The First Inflatables: Built for Survival

The very first inflatables weren’t designed for fun or form, they were made purely for function. In 1920, the life raft was patented as an emergency flotation device for pilots and seamen, an innovation which has saved countless lives to this day. Around the same time, inflatable tyres and pneumatic safety equipment began appearing in military and industrial applications. Inflatable tanks, vehicles and buildings were even used successfully to deceive enemies in war scenarios.

Safety and practicality were originally the driving force behind the invention. But it didn’t take long for people to realise the potential beyond survival for a whole host of alternative uses.

Mid-20th Century: Inflatable Attractions & Toys

The 1950s and ‘60s marked the turning point when inflatables began to cross over into play and spectacle. This adoption led to inflatable amusements, from obstacle courses to slides to striking helium parade balloons. These creations have brought joy and happy memories for many.

1970s-1990s: Inflatable Sculpture and Radical Architecture

Artists and experimental architects in the ‘70s began to use air as a structural element. They imagined futuristic, utopian environments made of air-filled membranes. It was punk, surreal, and temporary and it challenged ideas of permanence in design. The eden project uses this thinking in its structural outer shell to allow light to penetrate the building while regulating temperature for optimum growing conditions for the plants inside.

Inflatables also entered the fashion world. Issey Miyake and Vivienne Westwood explored inflatable elements and portable forms in their collections and fashion shows.

In the 90s, inflatables even entered the home with millions of children enjoying the iconic inflatable chairs and sofas in their bedrooms.

2000s-2010s: Marketing Takes to the Skies

By the 2000s, brands began to realise the power of big, bold inflatable installations and how they can drive huge engagement at events and activations. Large scale product replicas, event props, mascots, and immersive photo opportunities became a powerful tool for experiential marketing.

Whether sitting on rooftops in London, music festivals in Europe, or product launches in Tokyo, inflatables could grab attention fast, with a fraction of the build time and set-up of traditional wooden framed structures.

Today: Inflatable Art & Experiential Storytelling

Today, inflatable design has become a serious creative discipline.

Artists like KAWS, have turned inflatable sculptures into world-touring exhibitions. Set designers are creating fully immersive experiences at music stages.

And at Truly Inflatables, we know how incredibly impactful and flexible the medium of inflatable design is and we love creating inflatable art, sculptures and installations that are functional, expressive, and totally unforgettable.

The Modern Inflatable: High-Impact, Low-Friction

What makes inflatables so powerful for brands, artists and creative visionaries in 2025?

• Fast to install and take down

• Unrivalled visual impact

• Highly customisable

• Reusable and sustainable

• Lightweight and mobile

• Promotes audience engagement, photo taking & social-media sharing

• Easy To Maintain

They’re the perfect medium for brands that want to create impact and tell their story and artists that want to connect with their audiences in a new way.

Ready to Blow Up Your Brand?

Whether it’s a giant product replica, a floating mascot, art installation or elements that turns your music / sports stage into a spectacle – we bring bold ideas to life.

Blow Up Engagement, Pop Convention and Float Above The Noise.