James Simpson

Check out this video showing some of my R&D work on theatre immersive design visualisation using #Hololens and #magicleap technology with the Ovalhouse on their production #Grey. #MixedReality #visualisation @magicleap @HoloLens @Ovalhouse youtu.be/g7Q4PRigK7Q

Where are my cameras?! I swear someone stole them... Oh. Nevermind. It was just a Jawa. They got me again! #StarWars #Jawa

Can Stormtroopers be motion capture actors? Turns out, yes! We put a Stormtrooper in a motion capture system and it actually worked. Maybe they'll be in the next Star Wars movie! #StarWars #MotionCapture

London's skyline was intentionally kept low for centuries. Canary Wharf was built in Docklands to preserve protected views of St. Paul's. #LondonHistory #Architecture

Calculating light is useful, but don't get too hung up on the numbers. Sometimes it's better to trust your instincts and experience. #LightingDesign #DesignTips

London's tall buildings are clustered to preserve protected views of St. Paul's Cathedral from key locations like Hampstead Heath and the Royal Observatory. #LondonArchitecture #StPauls

The beauty of theater lighting: you can always adjust it. But once you bury a cable, you're stuck with it. #lighting #tech

Exploring the facade, there's the central balcony, flat facades, and colonnades. The plan? Light the columns with conventional spotlights for a classic, impactful look. #Architecture #LightingDesign

"The energy you're using is the equivalent to boiling a kettle." That's all it takes sometimes to put things in perspective. Suddenly everyone understands. #Perspective #EnergyUse

Lighting Buckingham Palace with emerging LED tech was a game-changer. Architectural styles met new technology, transforming a significant building. #LEDLighting #BuckinghamPalace

St. Paul's Cathedral keeps popping up in films, unlike Tower Bridge. There's something about the lighting that feels so natural, it becomes part of that world. #FilmLocations #StPauls

Lighting a building from the same direction you're viewing it from will make it look flat. To bring out detail, light it from the side to create shadows and modeling. #LightingDesign #Architecture

Architectural lighting is a blend of the art you see in theater and the science used in conventional architectural design. It's about finding the perfect balance. #LightingDesign #Architecture

The National Theatre's architect, Denys Lasdun, made sure the walkways had a view of St. Paul's. It was something he was thinking about when planning the theatre. #Architecture #History

St. Paul's Cathedral was deliberately made the tallest building in London's restoration, symbolizing the city's resilience after the Great Fire. Its acoustics are incredible. #LondonHistory #Architecture

Communicating a lighting design? Visualization bridges the gap between technical jargon and the client's vision. Show, don't just tell. #LightingDesign #Visualization

Before lighting, it was built in the '70s—a year after Tower Bridge lit up. Both iconic landmarks could be seen in the same vista from Southbank. #LondonLandmarks #TowerBridge

My visualization advantage? Understanding light. I can predict how facades will look better than simulations because I feel the light, not just see numbers. #Visualization #LightingDesign

They didn't just drill holes and hope it looked good. They used a full theatrical lighting system for approval before digging. Usually, it's the other way around! #DesignThinking #Innovation

That bothered them so much because the cathedral is seen by millions visiting London. For a moment, people saw advertising instead of an iconic structure. A bit crass. #London #Iconic

The lighting scheme has been upgraded with new hardware, but the core concept remains. Direction, color, and shadowing still create the same aesthetic. Nice to see my work is still appreciated! #LightingDesign #SetDesign