Claypaky Inspires Next Generation of Business Leaders at Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference

	"Video and lighting were prioritized to create dynamic and unexpected looks for entrances and awards," says Jones.

The Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference (SCDC) was recently held at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit where Claypaky Xtylos Aqua fixtures helped to create an event that participants will long remember.

Michigan DECA is an association of high school students that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs who are pursuing careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. A chapter of the global DECA organization, Michigan DECA has more than 8,000 members in 150 high schools and area career centers across the state. The 2023 SCDC was designed to help members focus on improving leadership and professional skills and compete for a chance to represent Michigan DECA at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando.

"DECA prioritizes empowering new leaders and wanted the lighting array to embody that same principle," says lighting designer Kristin Jones, lighting production manager with NPi Audio Visual Solutions in Cleveland, the lighting, audio and video vendor for the conference. "For the SCDC, tech displays were asked to be both intense and unexpected. Through the use of circle truss, fixture placement and fixture selection -- especially the Claypaky Xtylos Aqua -- we were able to give the attendees something they will remember for years to come."

Xtylos Aqua is a small form factor, IP66-rated fixture powered by Claypaky's RGB laser source. With a wireless DMX system integrated as standard, the Xtylos Aqua offers the same effects and features of the original Xtylos for myriad creative options.

NPi's overall design for the SCDC consisted of discussions with the producing client to cover all the basics -- audio, video, and lighting -- for presenting the needed content while also heightening the in-person experience. "The vibe was futuristic without being cliché and focused on the students and their dreams," Jones explains. "Video and lighting were prioritized to create dynamic and unexpected looks for entrances and awards."

She notes that, "being in a large convention space, we knew that choosing the Xtylos Aquas, and having them layered into the overall rig on circle truss, would provide the most impact from the lighting rig."

The fixtures were positioned around half of a 40' circle suspended over the stage. Two additional Xtylos Aquas were on a house truss shooting back at a 36" mirror ball.

"The Xtylos Aquas performed great," Jones reports. "They held their intensity even with color and prism. With haze in the space, the beam effect you can achieve is unparalleled." She cites key support from Claypaky for the conference and rapid responses to any questions that came up.

Ted VanHyning, vice president of NPI, acted as production manager for the conference and designed the lighting and video plot for the event. Derek Hons is NPi's lighting director.