Paul Johnson has joined Ayrton in the newly created position of Global Install Director. His role will be to open up a unique new area of activity for the company, expanding the use of stage lighting to architectural and large-scale, long-term installations.
Driven by an intense love of music, Johnson has long been fascinated by ways of bringing the creativity of stage lighting into the architectural and built environment in ways that enhance and maximize the experience for both the client and user.
Having spent the past 15 years forging this philosophy with architectural installation and creative companies, while also maintaining an ongoing involvement in stage lighting design, Johnson now brings his eclectic experience to Ayrton where he will focus on bringing together the best of both worlds.
“There is an increasing potential in architectural development to introduce an ‘experience’ into building design through creative lighting,” says Johnson, “and there’s a huge skill set in the world of entertainment lighting which can translate across to fulfill this need.
“I’ve always enjoyed the process of moving my love of stage lighting and music to another location, and Ayrton fits into this perfectly due to the undeniable robustness and longevity of its products, and a willingness in the company to think outside the box. Their range of IP65/IP66 moving head fixtures especially opens up a world of possibilities for long-term projects and installations including the stadia and arena world, and the low maintenance and intelligent technology makes Ayrton fixtures easy for in-house technicians to look after onsite after installation.”
Johnson’s new role will be to share his experiences in encouraging architectural companies and specialist design houses to consider using lighting differently from the outset: “to use techniques from stage lighting and reimagine them elsewhere in large-scale architectural projects; to think creatively of how to use color, animation, tone and light levels as exciting ways of changing perception.”
“It’s a whole new dynamic in the world of architecture and installation,” adds Michael Althaus, Global Sales Director for Ayrton, “and I am genuinely excited that Paul Johnson is joining Ayrton with the view of expanding this idea and to build up a strong team around him. Ayrton is a brand that has spent the last 5-10 years pushing the envelope and has produced an amazing range of IP products with an eye to the future. Johnson is the perfect fit: he is excited by thinking in different ways and sharing his ideas with other designers, just as Ayrton does as a company.”
For more information, visit Ayrton at www.ayrton.eu
