Stage Design

Live production has greatly influenced both my personal and profession life, thus using my digital multimedia design capstone project to explore how my interests can merge has been very exciting. Iteration and adaptation has been my working motto during my research and development process.

As I learn how to map projections, aka mask 2D and 3D surfaces with MadMapper software, I have been brainstorming how best to integrate light and sound in order to showcase my interest and developing skills in spatial design. With pixel mapped LEDs, I aim to create interesting visual effects influenced by sound. Enter stage design!

ideation Sketches

I sought out different examples of interesting stage shapes and how these mediums are currently being used in the industry. Then after referencing my inspiration photos and notebook sketches I began to play with an echo-like design of a diamond shape; the  yields the secondary shape of a triangle. Using these shapes as my base, I began to sketch in Blender.

Check out my iterations below.

 

Beginning Fabrication Design

After adapting my notebook sketches into Blender sketches, I began approaching how practical the fabrication process would be. I jumped back into my sketchbook and attempted to find the correct dimensions I would need for the tetrahedral angle of my shapes.

After consulting with my advisor Rob Leifheit, he posed the question as to how I could behoove the efficiency of my fabrication process. I then decided to iterate my design and develop what it could look like as a 2D plane.

I began by measuring a few triangle LED shapes that I had readily available to me, as I lined them up and began visualizing ta composition I was reminded me of a mountain scape. I took that idea and ran with it!

I then jumped into illustrator and began playing with multiple triangle shapes. I have learned that allowing plenty of time to consistently iterate pays off. I worked with the geometry until I found my original diamond shape from my 3D design. Success!

From there I used LightBurn software to cut the silhouette shape with the laser cutter and uploaded my design into MadMapper to assess the distance from the projector to the surface in order to continue my fabrication process.

Up next, mounting and masking shapes!

Notebook snapshots

Porgress video

In this video I show a clip of my first MadMapper output and the prep of masking my material to negate burn marks in order to keep a clean slate for projection!

Being able to make a 2D surface look 3D and 3D surface look 2D is a good skillset to have. ~ Rob Leifheit