LA-based lighting designer Chris Werner will be wearing two hats at LDI this year, one in the LDInnovation Conference – where he will also be moderating a series of architectural lighting sessions including his own Fifth Avenue: After Dark as well as Intro to Architectural Lighting Design and That's Architainment; there will be a joint Q&A after the session. His second session discussing careers "off-stage" will be in the Career Fair. Meet Chris Werner in this Q&A with Live Design.
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Live Design: Can you describe yourself in less than 50 words?
Chris Werner: Designer and creative director specializing in lighting and media for themed entertainment. Now building a new studio dedicated to collaboration, storytelling, and exploring big ideas. Passionate about mentorship and education, relentlessly curious, and fueled by optimism. A proud nerd who believes technology and storytelling shine brightest together.
LD: Please give a brief overview of your training/education/career path.
CW: Trained in lighting design at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, where a love for storytelling and technology first collided. Spent time in R&D advancing LED technology before building a career in architecture, themed entertainment, and immersive art – spanning world expos, major retail façades, and large-scale installations – then founded Lunar Telephone Company to explore what’s next.
LD: Please describe your most recent project.
CW: At the time of writing, I’m in the final stretch of the 2025 Saks Fifth Avenue holiday spectacle—complete by the time LDI rolls around. Spanning an entire city block, the installation integrates roughly 200,000 color-mixing pixels into custom-built scenic elements. As production designer, I led the team from Lunar Telephone Company. The installation happens under cover of night along Fifth Avenue, executed by a skilled union crew of electricians and sign hangers. Every cue is timecode-synchronized to a bespoke arrangement of pop and rock classics - creating a seamless blend of technology, design, and seasonal storytelling
LD: What are you teaching at LDI and who is your target audience?
CW: This year at LDI, I’m presenting two sessions.
The first, Fifth Avenue: After Dark, is a deep dive into the design and technical choreography behind the holiday spectacles at Saks Fifth Avenue and Cartier Mansion - two landmark façades that come to life each winter in the heart of New York City. Both projects blend scenic art, lighting, media, and robust networking into city-block-scale experiences. This session is geared toward professionals and tech-minded creatives interested in large-scale integration, system design, and the collaborative chaos of transforming architecture into performance.
The second, Off-Stage: Applying Theater Training Beyond the Proscenium, explores how the discipline and creative process of theatrical design translate into architecture, themed entertainment, and immersive experiences. It’s part storytelling, part case study - aimed at students, early-career designers, and anyone looking to expand their creative vocabulary beyond traditional venues.
LD: What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
CW: The biggest challenge has been maintaining balance in a field that never really turns off. Our work lives in the night - literally and metaphorically - and it’s easy to let creativity consume every hour. Learning to pause, recharge, and make space for life outside of the glow has been essential to sustaining the spark.
I often describe my personal situation as a functional "Work-Life Blend," instead of "Balance."
LD: What is your advice for people just getting into the industry?
CW: Be curious about everything. The best designers aren’t just good at lighting - they’re keen observers of people, architecture, music, and physics.
Say yes to opportunities that scare you a little and ask questions constantly.
After each project, take a moment to evaluate what worked and what could be better.
Meet people and make connections. Stay in touch with the people whose work inspires you.