Tools Used
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QLab
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Premiere Pro
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ChatGPT
Scope
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Portrait animation design
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Media asset development
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QLab system programming
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Projection system troubleshooting
Project Overview
Project Brief
For SIX: Teen Edition, projection design centered on creating bold, celebratory visuals that honored the individuality and power of each queen. A major creative question we faced early on was how to highlight all six performers in a stunning, high-impact moment that felt worthy of the show’s energy and style. Projection needed to feel iconic, glamorous, and instantaneous, reflecting the confidence and strength of each character.
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We developed the idea of a portrait collage that would animate the actresses into a unified formation. This allowed each queen to be individually recognized while still contributing to a larger visual statement. The approach blended theatrical storytelling with graphic motion design, giving the show a powerful visual “reveal” moment that landed with clarity and excitement.
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The final system used a three-projector stitched setup and was programmed through QLab, supporting high-energy transitions and synchronized visual cues that matched the show’s concert-like atmosphere.
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Involvement Throughout the Process
My involvement began during the conceptual phase, when we explored how projection could elevate the identity of each queen while uniting them visually. To test the idea efficiently, I photographed one actress, edited her portrait, and created a prototype animation that demonstrated how the full collage could function. This proof of concept allowed us to validate the idea quickly before committing to full production.
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Once the test was approved, I applied the same visual treatment to all six actresses, producing a polished, high-quality version of the portrait collage. This streamlined the workflow and ensured consistency across all characters while saving valuable time in the production process.
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In parallel, I assisted with programming the projection system in QLab and helped integrate the media into the larger show structure. The system relied on three projectors, and I supported both content delivery and technical operation. Throughout rehearsals, I collaborated closely with the creative team to refine transitions, timing, and visual clarity so that projection felt like a core storytelling element rather than a decorative layer.​
Collage with one actress standing in for all six to help the team understand what alignment is best.
Finished rendering of the queen's collage.
Collage with one actress standing in for all six to help the team understand what alignment is best.
Design Challenges & Adaptation
One of the primary challenges was resolving creative uncertainty efficiently. Instead of over-designing or exploring too many directions, we chose to prototype the concept using a single queen. This allowed us to test the visual language, animation style, and emotional impact before scaling the idea to all six performers. That decision eliminated unnecessary workload and gave the team immediate clarity and confidence in the design direction.
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Another significant challenge came from technical difficulties with QLab and projector connectivity. The system initially faced multiple issues with communication and playback reliability. Rather than becoming stalled, we approached the problem collaboratively and used ChatGPT as a troubleshooting partner to help interpret system behavior, navigate the manual, and identify possible solutions. This dramatically improved our efficiency and helped us resolve issues faster than traditional trial-and-error alone.
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This experience strengthened my problem-solving mindset. It taught me how valuable prototyping is in creative development and how adaptive thinking is essential when technical systems become unpredictable. More importantly, it reinforced that projection design thrives on both creativity and resilience, balancing artistic vision with calm, methodical troubleshooting under pressure.
* This project was created in collaboration with Sigmon Theatrical and is shown for portfolio and educational purposes only. All production content, imagery, and intellectual property remain the property of Sigmon Theatrical. Media displayed is limited to contextual documentation of my role and does not include original show assets, files, or proprietary materials.