Rock band U2 has appointed digital design group United Visual Artists to work on its forthcoming world tour, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, designing stage sets and digital backdrops for the group’s concerts.
Though it is still tightly under wraps, the creative strategy for the upcoming U2 tour – which will probably include an American and European leg – is likely to include video-oriented material and sophisticated on-stage LED screens with digital artwork.
UVA has pioneered this live performance design concept based on environmental graphics and innovative digital installations for many events in the past.
The south London-based consultancy, set up in 2002, has led other tours, designing musical software and concert sets for various bands, including producing a video-based tour for Basement Jaxx last year.
It also worked with trip-hop band Massive Attack, designing its seminal 100th Window tour in 2003. It developed a series of LED screens streamed with data and updated in real-time, creating a visual story based on coding that reflected local culture, geography and environment.
The visuals ran throughout live performances and were translated into 34 different languages, including Japanese.
Last year, UVA designed a ‘musically-driven’ digital wall for London nightclub Kabaret’s Prophecy, made from LED pixel blocks, controlled by a nightly visual DJ (DW 10 June 2004).
It is thought to be the first electronic wall of its kind, where graphics and animations are superimposed to create a changing mood ‘tableau’.
UVA was established by creative director Matt Clark, technical director Chris Bird and software engineer Ash Nehru.
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