Tuesday 26 July 2011

Using LED technology for your next event







I have just returned from a conference that we do annually, and each year it is pretty much along the same lines as the previous year. This year was different, this year we had an LED wall that sat on stage underneath the main screen and displayed the events logo sting, videos and static graphics. I haven’t seen this used too often in conferences and it got me thinking about the possible usages of LED screens.

Traditionally LED screens have been a standard rectangular shape but due to advancements in the technology LED screens now have virtually an endless array of possibilities due to the variety in products now available. As designers and architects pushed the concepts, manufacturers produced the solutions and now you can pretty much create any shape LED screen, allowing the creativity to be endless.

The easiest way to add another dimension from the standard square screen is to use concave or convex screens. These are especially popular when used outdoors and wrapped around a building, famous examples of this are Piccadilly Circus and Times Square. Special software has been developed to compensate for the curvatures so the projection material does not appear distorted when displayed.

The ability to curve LED screens and the use of software that compensates for this has led to highly creative examples, the new ABC TV studio in New York uses this feature to its maximum. They have used strips of LEDs that have been curved several times to create a wave effect that has been fixed and wrapped around the studio building.

So many new LED display products have led to bold experimenting and allowed designers to create environments that amaze audiences. There are now LED curtains, floors, tubes, blocks and flexible screens that can be created to any shape you can think off.

Take for instance the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony when the Olympic rings were pulled from the floor on the night sky, a truly incredible use of LED curtains.

Music concerts are increasingly using LED technology to create magnificent visual effects examples of this are U2’s 360 Tour and George Michael’s 25 Live Tour.

More recently The 2011 Eurovision Contest in Germany used a 60 metre wide and 18 metre high LED wall as the backdrop for the performances, had a LED floor for the stage as well as LED ramps up to the stage. The result was a truly impactful atmosphere and visual spectacular.

And if you thought that was a large screen, the world’s largest LED screen is in China and part of a shopping mall. Measuring 250×30 meters it’s nearly the same size as a football pitch. Not only that, it’s also hanging 80 meters above the ground!


Of course these are extravagant uses of LED technology and are probably not appropriate for most conferences. But it shows you the possibilities. There are some creative examples that are much more in line with what conference organizers may use.  You can create a LED screen that is branded to your product or company for example Coca-Cola have a can in Times Square that displays videos continuously. These could be displayed next to the main screen on stage or even in the entrance to the venue to add a wow factor to your event.

Another way to add creative LED technology to your conference is to use LED screens within your set design. You can use multiple screens and project a single piece of material over them, adding depth and visual dimension to your design. Even adding a single LED screen to run animation underneath the main screen adds another level of interactivity to your event.


LED solutions help to create a completely new level of visual interactivity, with the possibilities and creativity really is as far as you can push it.

If you want to achieve something different at your next event and LED technology might be the answer feel free to contact us.

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