by

---

DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

: "Portal" is a light hallway. Led lights made to look like neon beam with acrylic diffuser. Single line that follows architecture.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

: Main focus has been to attract people's attention. I wanted to create flow with motion of lights.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

: I would like to keep doing more public light installations.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

: From the planning stage to the completion it took about 1 year.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

: I was commissioned by a building owner through an organization called Now Art LA. The hallway was originally dark and I was asked to come up with a design that makes the tunnel 'pop!'

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

: I intent to produce myself.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

: First the client came to me to do a projection mapping the hallway. However projectors were not suitable for the location. I also had opportunity to work with entire surface including the floor. That made me come up with this spiral design.

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

: Works of James Turrell has been my influence.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

: All ages, visitors of Little Tokyo Los Angeles.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

: This design is a single continuous line of spiral. Light color is changing throughout day and night. Animation is not a rendered video but generative system that keeps evolving over time.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

: I thought this hallway became a 'Portal' - unexpected tunnel to take you away from the reality.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

: I used Derivative TouchDesigner to control the led pixels. Initial design was made in Autodesk Maya.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

: Viewer can go inside and walk through the hallway. Also the light is moving and changing colors.

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

: VT Pro Design did the install. Harry Souders, he is a led expert made the wiring and technical side of this design.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

: Real time visual software Derivative TouchDesigner. Indivisual addresable led pixel tapes.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

: Using clock system and color theory, I created animations that works for particular time of day considering people's flow.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

: Challenge was to light up the hallway within the limited budget. Initially started with projection idea, realization was to use led pixel tapes with diffuser to maximize the brightness.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

: I thought it is a good thing to try since it is my dream to create light installation internationally.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

: I learned that color of led light is very different from looking at my computer screen. I worked on animating lights at the hallway for about 2 weeks, bringing a table and a chair.