The Beginning
DMX controlled video costumes for the Black Eyed Peas' 'The Beginning' tour
Phillips Lighting - 2011
In collaboration with Nancy Tilbury
A collaboration between Philips Lighting’s chief design officer, Rogier Van der Heide, B. Åkerlund, the Black Eyed Peas’ lead costume designer/stylist and wearable technology visionaries Benjamin Males and Nancy Tilbury.
Video costumes were designed and developed for Fergie, Taboo, and apl.de.ap using the latest LED and OLED technology, seamlessly integrated into costumes and all controlled wirelessly through industry standard DMX.
80,000 fans thronged the Stade de France in Paris to kick off The Black Eyed Peas’ “The Beginning” tour and to be the first to see the costumes come to life: colour and light animating completely synchronised to the beat of the music.
Services
Creative Direction - Technical Direction - Live technical support
Benjamin was commissioned by Phillips Lighting to help develop the concepts for the costumes and to lead the technical development in collaboration with Engineer and Designer Marc DeVidts.
Benjamin developed the control electronics for Fergie's OLED dress and integrated an OEM wireless DMX module, developing firmware that allowed the controller board to read the incoming DMX and animate the dress accordingly.
Benjamin went on tour with the band during the UK leg of their tour to provide technical support.