James Simpson Brings Guerrilla Lighting to the Metaverse
At the IALD Enlighten Europe conference, James Simpson delivered an energetic and thought-provoking session titled Guerillas in the Metaverse. His laptop was connected to the projector, and instead of using his mouse or return button to forward PowerPoint slides, he picked up a controller. Instead of PPT, his presentation was through a video game, Fortnite, and it was fascinating!
He explored how lighting design is expanding beyond the real world into fully virtual spaces.
James began by recalling the origins of guerrilla lighting. Light Collective (Martin Lupton and Sharon Stammers) and its collaborators initiated the idea by illuminating poorly lit buildings with high-powered torches and LEDs. These spontaneous events showed how temporary lighting installations could transform perceptions of architecture and public space. Now, James and his team at Copper Candle are bringing that same spirit of creative experimentation into the metaverse.
Lighting Design Inside Fortnite
Instead of gathering designers on city streets, Simpson now invites them into Fortnite. This platform has over 650 million registered players and is quickly evolving beyond gaming into a leading creative space.
Using Fortnite’s powerful Unreal Engine, Copper Candle can recreate buildings, monuments, and entire worlds as canvases for lighting design. Designers can illuminate any location imaginable—whether it exists today, has long since disappeared, or is purely fictional. For example, teams could light the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or reimagine a modern landmark. In Fortnite, logistical barriers disappear.
Importantly, designers can instantly access 3D models and explore advanced lighting tools. They can even use real manufacturers’ IES files to create hyper-realistic effects.
Accessibility and New Opportunities
Beyond its creative potential, James highlighted how the metaverse makes lighting design more accessible to a broader audience. He shared that many individuals, including himself, experience social anxiety or physical limitations, or even financial limitations that make live events difficult. By moving these experiences into a virtual world, more people can engage, learn, and contribute.
“Imagine if the concert you couldn’t get tickets to became available to you as a virtual experience,” Simpson said. “It’s another opportunity to explore creativity and community.”
Empowering Emerging Artists
Copper Candle is also developing tools to support emerging musicians and designers. Instead of requiring expensive motion capture sessions, they now use AI to transform simple videos into fully animated 3D performances. This approach reduces barriers and brings professional-quality experiences within reach of smaller artists and teams.
A Vision for Seasonal Events
Looking ahead, Simpson shared plans to host seasonal guerrilla lighting competitions in Fortnite. These events will align with Fortnite’s four yearly content seasons. Teams of designers will collaborate to illuminate virtual buildings, showcase their creativity, and engage global audiences.
He closed by emphasizing that the metaverse is what we make of it. “It’s a place where lighting can be anything we imagine—where we can build, share, and inspire,” he said.
James’s talk made it clear: the next frontier for lighting designers isn’t just the city skyline—it’s the limitless digital landscape.
Later that evening, during the reception at La Noche en Blanco, sponsored by LEDFlex, I chatted with lighting designer Clare Blanco. She mentioned that she also teaches a lighting course at Instituto Marangoni, and one of her sessions takes place entirely in the metaverse. In fact, her students even deliver their presentations there.
The first thing I plan to do when I’m back in the States—after recovering from the jet lag—is to recharge my grandkids’ Oculus headset and start exploring lighting in the metaverse myself.
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