Okay, something fun for the holiday season. Some people are civil war reenactors on weekends; I get my kicks from
imagining and creating environmental design. We pastors are in the business of creating environments for life change, so I try to bring ideas like these to our services whenever I can. Here are my top 20 sources of creative inspiration from 2007:
1. U2's Elevation Tour in Boston DVD 
Feel like you're on stage with Bono; showmanship at its finest.
2. Two words: Snow Masters
Evaporates before it hits the ground; silent motor.
3. My library of worship environment photos
I've been snagging great photos off pastors' blogs and church websites for the past five years. I believe it's the largest collection of worship environments in the known universe. =)
4. Interactive Design World
My favorite is the Experimental Interaction Design book in the IDN store.
5. Floating Balls of Light
Their most functional use is lighting up construction sites, but these illuminated globes would look posh in your environment.
6. Hard Rock Hotels
They
don't sell a hotel experience; they sell culture. Everything from the
background music to the feel of silverware in your hands is
orchestrated.
7. Church Production Magazine
I
get a mind-blowing idea from one out of every 3 issues. Lots of
standard megachurch stock, but occasionally, they showcase something
truly revolutionary.
8. PiGi Projectors
No
church is using PiGi projection yet; but it's one of the final
frontiers in creative arts in the church ~ washing entire buildings and
interiors with design. ETC in London flaunts their skills all over the
historic buildings of the United Kingdom.
9. Stock Gobos
Designing with light is the easiest way to transform an environment, but I'm surprised at how little it's used in the church. Throw some foliage on those bare walls!
10. Visual Worshipper
Camron Ware of Irving Bible Church shoots outside of the screen to blanket the entire front of the worship center with transcendent imagery.
11. Custom Gobos
Get your logo or any design cut into a custom gobo to spice up your stage design... or for use as signage.
12. David Copperfield's Illusion DVD
Illusions are pretty simplistic and mechanical, but Copperfield wraps them in stories and stage design to take the audience to another place.
13. Live Design Magazine
Formerly Lighting Dimension magazine, this pub now covers the entire art of entertainment design.
14. Atomic Design Stage Props
My hometown of Lititz, Pa is home to some of the biggest concert designers, including Tower Bros, which outfits U2, and this one... Atomic Design
15. The Sounds of Cirque Du Soleil
The genius of Franco Dracone reinvented the circus, and the secret lies in the sounds. This music makes you feel what you're seeing.
16. Celine Dion's A New Day DVD
Cut me some slack here... this is the most successful Vegas show ever produced. It ran 5 years, 700 sold out shows, and played to over 3 million people night after night. Check out the $10 million LED screen - largest one in the world - if for nothing else.
17. U2's SHOW Book
Most inspiring show designs I've ever seen. Circular stage, nuf said. Who else would hang real automobiles from the rafters of arenas with theatrical lights mounted in the headlights?
18. The Opening Ceremony of Any Olympic Games
Simply inspiring.
19. Rob Bell's Everything is Spiritual Tour Stage
This guy masters simple design like nobody else. Attending his DC talk probably had a bigger impact on my sense of design than anything else on this list.
20. House of Worship Book
Church is not a building, but it's refreshing to see church buildings that enhance worship through architecture. We have a simple church, but if we ever build a facility, it will be done with exceptional intentionality toward beauty and intrigue. I never bought into the functional building movement.
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