The Nether
A play that used a projection-based set to warn of the deadly consequences of a tech-dependent future, while posing provocative moral questions
Projection design Brand design Poster design Custom lettering + illustration
The brand
I designed a poster to suggest the multi-layered, mysterious, technological universe in which the show takes place. The action jumps between scenes in an interrogation room and in a perfectly-rendered-virtual-reality version of the internet, with Victorian decor and a crazy garden. I created the “Welcome to the Hideaway” tagline, nodding to the name for a place in the play’s VR internet land.
The projections
We decided on a projection-based set to mirror the techy/futuristic themes. I executed that vision and incorporated elements from the poster in the different spaces.
The vertical projections are 9 feet tall, and the horizontal one is 8 feet long! I calibrated the brightness so that the stage lights did not wash out the colors.
The process
I started with sketching the basic environments, then I turned those drawings into fractals and also heightened the contrast so the colors would read better when projected under the stage lights. Trees and leaves are an important motif in the show, so I made each space incorporate those elements in some way for consistency. The damask design is even made of leaves!
For the type, I designed sketches using elements I liked from various Victorian typefaces. I loved working with the forms and embellishments!
