The production design for the VMAs was conceived by imagining what a world would look like if audio waves ripped through the arena and sculpted the environment. The iconic 35’ tall Moon Person helmet appears as if the power of sound was so intense that it carved its waves into the metal, etching an entirely new version of the distinctive MTV award. The chrome Moon Person’s visor appears to be shaped by equalizer bars frozen in time, creating a central portal from which the celebrity presenters emerged. Arcing over the Moon Person sculpture is a video installation designed to evoke the movement of audio waves through the air, visually connecting the 2 performance stages anchored at opposite ends of the arena. Both performance stages feature LED floors and massive bi-parting LED walls with integrated lighting, intermixing the 2 media as if audio waves left their indelible mark as they flowed through the space.
Art Department Credits:
* Matt Steinbrenner - Production Designer
* Kristen Merlino - Supervising Art Director
* John Zuiker - Performance Art Director
* Ellen Jaworski - Performance Art Director
* Lex Gernon - Assistant Art Director
* Gloria Lamb - Art Director