June 3 + Jun 17, 2026, 6 – 9 PM, Berlin Time
2 modules at 3 hours in English language – Live Online via Zoom or as Recordings.
This course is not suited for Beginners!
Build interactive light systems from idea to installation.
In this 2-part workshop, Stephen Bontly shares workflows for TouchDesigner and DMX/Art-Net—centered around the powerful DMX POPs—featuring The Banyan Tree as a real-world case study.
This two-part workshop with production designer and new media artist Stephen Bontly puts the spotlight firmly on DMX POPs and the new generation of workflows they unlock inside TouchDesigner. Designed for artists and creative technologists working with real-time systems, the course explores how these tools enable faster, more flexible, and highly scalable approaches to building interactive light installations.
Across two sessions, participants will develop a strong understanding of the DMX/Art-Net pipeline, with a particular focus on the DMX POP Operator as a central building block for controlling and structuring complex lighting systems. The workshop demonstrates how to leverage and customize preset systems, turning them into adaptable architectures that can evolve from small prototypes to large-scale installations.
Using The Banyan Tree—a festival installation created for The Sixth Sense Festival in Bangalore—as a case study, Stephen walks through the full lifecycle of a project: from early concept and system design to technical implementation and on-site realization. Along the way, he reveals how DMX POP-driven workflows streamline production, simplify iteration, and allow for more dynamic interaction between light, sound, and space.
Through practical examples, project breakdowns, and shared files, participants will gain concrete strategies for building responsive environments that are both technically robust and creatively expressive. The workshop is ideal for those looking to rethink their approach to lighting systems and take full advantage of the speed, clarity, and flexibility that DMX POPs bring to contemporary media installations.
What you will learn
DMX POPs as Core Architecture
Build flexible, scalable lighting systems using next-gen DMX/Art-Net workflows inside TouchDesigner.
From Idea to Realisation
Understand the full lifecycle of an installation—from concept and prototyping to deployment and iteration.
Customizing Preset Systems
Learn how to adapt and extend existing setups into robust, reusable system architectures.
Case Study: The Banyan Tree
Gain real-world insight through a detailed breakdown of a large-scale festival installation.
Designing Responsive Environments
Combine light, sound, and space into cohesive, reactive systems that respond dynamically to audiences.
Requirements
- Intermediate to professional understanding of TouchDesigner.
Beginners please choose the Beginner Class! - A recent PC or MAC Computer (discrete GPU recommended)
- The latest build of TouchDesigner installed
- 3-Button Mouse required
