It was a great honour to be asked to come up with the stage design for the Dalai Lama’s “Engaging Compassion” event at the Yum Center in Louisville. The arena is a huge space and it was important to create a feeling of intimacy for the 14000 people gathered to see the public talk.

On the first day the Dalai Lama addressed a crowd of 14000 people, where he spoke on the topic of secular ethics, compassion and kindness. I felt it was important to create a back drop that gave a feeling of unity, I wanted a strong visual that was purposeful in carrying the Dalai Lama’s message in such a huge space.

The image had to work on a business card and work on a 56x 35 foot back drop. It was a very exciting challenge and I was thrilled with the final result. The logo is an interesting hybrid of three familiar and deeply symbolic images… The Lotus flower – symbolizing peace, the Dharma wheel – a classic symbol from the buddhist tradition – symbolizing the wheel of transformation and the Fleur de Lis – The symbol of the city of Louisville