Give Kids the World - Mayor Clayton’s WonderLab
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Role: Lead Designer while employed full-time at Visual Terrain, Inc
Client Website: Mayor Clayton's WonderLab | Give Kids The World
Awards:
SoCal Illumination Awards - Award of Merit (Illumination Award for Interior Lighting Design Section Award) from IESLA
Illumination Award for Interior Lighting Design from the Illuminating Engineering Society\
Description: This interactive STEAM Lab is an immersive environment where children explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics through hands-on discovery. The lighting design is integral to this experience, combining artistic expression with mathematical precision to create a space that is both functional and visually engaging.
Carefully planned illumination ensures optimal conditions for learning, with bright, even lighting supporting experiments, art projects, and technology-based activities. Each area is designed for comfort and clarity, allowing students to focus and fully engage with the exhibits.
Beyond functionality, the lighting enhances storytelling throughout the lab. Inspired by themes of Wonder, Imagination, and Possibility, dynamic lighting elements introduce movement, color, and variation. Programmable LED features transform the space, creating an evolving environment that captures attention and sparks curiosity.
Strategically placed lighting highlights key zones and encourages exploration, while also subtly reinforcing STEAM concepts such as pattern, energy, and flow. Sustainable and cost-effective solutions guided the design approach, including retrofitting existing fixtures with LED technology and implementing a customized control system.
The result is a balanced, engaging environment that supports education while inspiring creativity and discovery.
