Summit cultivates an elite global community of the world’s leading entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, artists, and leaders through exclusive, invitation-only ideas festivals. For its flagship Los Angeles events, Summit transformed a multi-block campus in downtown LA’s historic theatre district, hosting over 3,000 global luminaries across three days of curated keynotes, performances, art installations, and culinary experiences.
As Lead–and sole–Designer for Summit LA18 and LA19, I architected the overall event brand and visual communication system, scaling the creative vision from initial global marketing to large-scale on-site execution. I designed the holistic guest experience, managing end-to-end wayfinding and architectural signage systems, high-profile brand partnership activations, and spatial lighting environments across the multi-block downtown footprint.
[ INFO ]
[ YEAR ]
2018+2019
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Item description
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Item description
[ TEAM ]
[ ROLE ]
Branding + Visual Identity Design Art Direction Production Design Signage + Wayfinding Lighting+Set Design
The Visual Identity
[ 01—SYSTEM ]
Inspired by the idea of an open sky and the warm, fluctuating gradients of a Southern California sunset, the identity was designed to evoke a sense of beauty and unlimited potential. It served as the cohesive thread for the entire event, bridging digital marketing across the website and social campaigns with physical guest materials, including program guides, custom wristbands, campus maps, and architectural signage.
This aesthetic extended beyond traditional media to directly inform the mainstage lighting and spatial environments. By unifying digital communications, print collateral, and environmental design under one consistent visual system, an immersive sense of place enveloped over 3,000 attendees across the multi-venue campus.
Stage & Lighting Design
[ 02—APPLICATIONS ]
I translated the event’s visual identity into a dynamic stage and environmental environment for main-stage keynotes and performances at the iconic Orpheum and United Artists Theatres. I designed and programmed custom A/V lighting presets that shifted in evolving gradients to mirror the Los Angeles sky in real-time—transitioning from bright daytime skies to vivid sunsets and twilight dusk. Underscored by a kinetic installation of rotating globe bulbs that emulated moving clouds, attendees were immersed in an active brand experience across every facet of the physical environment.
Wayfinding and Signage Design
[ 02—APPLICATIONS ]
The flagship Summit LA events transformed Downtown Los Angeles’ Historic Theatre District into a walkable, open-air campus spread across a seven-venue footprint and multi-block street closures. Instead of relying on a standard convention center, the event activated historic theatres, alleyways, and outdoor plazas for a high-volume, multi-track program of keynotes, performances, culinary experiences, meetups, and installations.
I led, designed, and managed the complete wayfinding and architectural signage system that tied this complex urban footprint together. To handle the scale, I managed a custom content management system to track, map, and deploy every asset from initial concept through production and site-specific installation.
