Amplifying Ideas On Stage
CAMERA-READY STAGE ENVIRONMENTS FOR TEDx BOSTON
Beginning in 2022, I took full responsibility for Arrowstreet’s ongoing collaboration with TEDxBoston, designing immersive stage experiences that elevate both the in-room event atmosphere and the filmed presentation for visual storytelling. As the project’s primary designer, working closely with one of the Partners at the firm, I led concept development, prototyping, digital fabrication, and on-site installation across multiple venues and over multiple events. Each stage emphasized spatial clarity, speaker presence, audience engagement, and camera composition, with form, material, and lighting aligned to the varying themes of the talks.
Across all events, the work relied on a modular, theme-neutral, system that allows components to be reused, recombined, and reimagined for future TEDxBoston installations, promoting both sustainability and operational efficiency.
Tools and technology used include Rhino, Miro, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, AutoCAD, and in-house Laser Cutting/Etching.
ARROWSTREET INC
Boston, MA
CLIENT/OWNER
TEDx Boston
YEAR
2022 - 2024
ROLE
Design/Concept
Prototyping
Fabrication
Project management
Installation
01
The Beginning
02
The X Series
03
The Planet Series
02. THE X SERIES: Epic Strides Event, 2023
For this event, the stage centered around a tall translucent parametric wall created from stacked X shaped modules. Positioned beside the speakers, the installation displayed silhouetted figures that symbolized the barriers they had overcome, turning the backdrop into a visual metaphor for resilience. The iconic TEDx red carpet was reimagined by engraving speaker footprints and names, creating an intimate Walk in Their Shoes moment that grounded each talk.
Photo courtesy: John Werner Photography
03. THE EARTH SERIES: Planetary Stewardship Events, 2023-2024
For the Planetary Stewardship events in 2023, later adapted and reused for the 2024 and 2025 programs, we developed
an immersive and organic stage environment built on a flexible design strategy that could evolve across venues and event formats. Inspired by the planetary theme and the glass globes created for speakers by artist Josh Simpson, the installation used a modular system of spheres in shades of blues and greens that could be reorganized into new compositions, allowing each iteration to respond
to spatial needs, audience sightlines, and thematic direction. A custom digital backdrop reinforced the visual identity, with each letter
of Planetary Stewardship illustrated to reflect core ideas in sustainability and planetary care. To extend the narrative, the team reshaped discarded plastic bottles into ocean inspired pieces shown at the New England Aquarium and Codman Academy.
Photo courtesy: John Werner Photography