Breaking It Down: Lighting

Over the next week or so, as I begin to break down this 850-person fund-raising event that AOO Events produced for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), I thought the best place to begin is actually with the lighting.

This is because, when working with such a huge space, lighting is not only a very economical way to transform the environment, but also plays an important role in logistics and moving people through the space. It is a great way to direct guests' attention as well as to define smaller areas within the main space.

For instance, in the photo above, the lighting creates an intimate lounge area. It’s open to the rest of the event, yet the pattern on the floor “contains” it, giving it soft borders.

In a different way, truss lighting on the stage (pictured below) lets people know this is a main area within the space. It does this in part because of its height, but also truss is one of those elements that guests have come to associate with a "happening." We strengthened this message by also positioning a gobo behind it, making the area stand out. (I'll talk more about branding in an upcoming post about this event.)


Most important, this was a fund-raising event and so the design objective here was not to wow with large props or expensive effects that would leave donors wondering how their dollars were being spent. The important objective here was to create a design that was elegant yet understated. Lighting was our most effective tool to make a big statement, to add another design dimension, and to do so with a responsible eye toward budget.