Hasta La Ideas

Promotion: London design studio The Unlimited Dream Company created “waves” on stage for a Jorja Smith tour using modular fins that could be rearranged to create a variety of curves.

The Unlimited Dream Company was behind the set design for Smith’s Falling or Flying tour, which included creating elements representing waves, the horizon and the clouds.

The design was informed by the “emotional dichotomies” of Smith’s music. UDC’s team of architects, production designers and film makers are behind high concept creative direction and visuals for live performances.

“UDC’s concept draws inspiration from the emotional dichotomies at the core of Falling or Flying, exploring the delicate balance between opposing states—fear and bravery, failure and success, flying and falling,” said the team. 

“The stage serves as a visual metaphor for these dualities, inviting the audience to embark on a journey through the emotional spectrum that Jorja navigates through her music.”

The various stage elements consist of a series of modular fins that create “waves” behind Smith, floating drapes that symbolise clouds and a linear light at ground level that acts as a “horizon”.

Above, the drape system is suspended above the artist. It was designed to represent “suspension”, reflecting the mixture of highs and lows found in her music. Below, the undulating waves represented the ebbs and flow of emotion.

The wave installation was created using modular fins, which can be reconfigured to fit different spaces and venues.

“A total of 96 modular fins were created in collaboration with Lighting Designer Matt Kemp. The find could be reconfigured by removing two units, allowing the design to adapt to various stage slides while preserving its flow,” said the team.

Lastly, a horizontal lighting element towards the back of the stage acts as the “horizon” or a space of “harmony” for Smith, which she finds when performing on stage.

UDC combined these three feature elements to reflect the emotional journey of Smith’s album, creating a physical representation that concert-goers can connect with during a show.

“Every detail of the design was meticulously crafted to elevate the emotional depth of Jorja’s live shows, offering the audience an intimate, multi-sensory connection to her world,” said the team. 

UDC was founded in 2021 by architect George Thomson and production designer Harrison Smith. Other work by the studio includes set and stage design for artists Olivia Dean and Loyle Carner, among others. 

For more information on the Unlimited Dream Company, visit its website.

The photography is by Karolina Wielocha for the Unlimited Dream Company

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen as part of a partnership with Unlimited Dream Company. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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