Sven Ortel is a professor of Practice Immersive and Entertainment Design at Arizona State University. He designs projections and imagery for immersive storytelling events in theater, opera, dance, musicals, and beyond. In the last two decades his collaborations and designs with leading creatives has seen on four continents. Notable projection design works include Thoughts of a Colored Man (Broadway), Parade (Broadway), and Once Upon A One More Time (Broadway). He also provided creative direction for NHWK4220 at New York's Artechouse. His design for Disney's Newsies was nominated for a Tony Award in 2012, followed by Drama Desk Awards nominations for Julie Taymor's Midsummer in 2014 and Thoughts Of A Colored Man in 2021.
At LDI 2025 he will participate in Career Coaching and the Mentoring Meet Up,
Use promo code GUEST for a free Expo Hall Pass for LDI 2025.
Live Design: Can you describe yourself in less than 50 words?
Sven Ortel: Designer and educator with over 25 years of experience in leveraging merging technologies to tell engaging stories to a live audience
LD: Please give a brief overview of your training/education/career path.
SO: Light Jockey
Movie Electrician/ Gaffer
Lighting Designer
Video/Projection Designer
Professor
LD: Please describe your most recent project.
SO: Parade - 2023 Broadway Production (National Tour)
LD: What are you teaching at LDI and who is your target audience?
SO: How to make decisions about career paths and considerations for choosing a degree
LD: What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
SO: Working remotely during COVID
LD: What is your advice for people just getting into the industry?
SO: Choose what you enjoy doing or work with people you enjoy working with.