Design - selecting a theme

In this section we'll discuss selecting a theme and how to find some theme ideas.

 A theme is a story with a central "character or element" and supporting cast or resources revealed through "scenes" or sequences of light displays.

The basic "characters or elements" for Christmas are:

• Nativity scene of Jesus
• Santa and co
• Using music to drive a light show based on vocals and/ or instruments
• Other concepts such as using your house roof line, trees/ bushes, fences, etc.

The choice is yours!! If you're stuck for ideas, look at photos/ video clips in GOOGLE (TM) images/ YouTube. It's worthwhile looking at EL Wire product in BASICs page because it's a new, exciting product.

Here's a story I designed and made in 2002. It's made of these sequences:

1. Santa in field 
2. Santa & Reindeer in field
3. Santa hitches reindeer to sleigh
4. Santa puts a tree into sleigh
5. Santa etc fly thought the sky
6. Santa on the roof with presents in a bag
7. Santa next to tree in house
8. Santa on roof with reindeer
9. Santa etc fly thought the sky - turbo mode (Reindeer has flashing red nose)
10. Merry Christmas sign

As you noticed, I reused various parts of light displays in each sequence or scene. The controller was a special device called a PLC and it took a lot of programing. Today, it could be done in 2 hours and the controller will fit into your hand!

So get the creative juices stirred, do research, ask your family for ideas and select your theme!

  

Note: the theme can be developed over a number of years or slightly changed as new lighting products come onto the market.

NEXT >> Developing a story and scenes