Said Sawaf, GxU Lighting Design | Patrick Gallegos, GxU Lighting Design
Virtual
Thursday, April 8, 2027
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm ET
Credits TBA
Advanced
MENA is entering a new era of immersive development, with projects growing in ambition, scale and complexity. Yet bringing these environments to life presents distinct challenges. Designers must work across cultures, histories and expectations while coordinating international teams through global design and supply chains.
With studios in the Americas and Middle East, the presenters bring complementary regional perspectives. Through a recently completed 27-hectare theme park in Saudi Arabia, they examine how to take a major immersive project from concept to completion while safeguarding design intent, visual comfort, wayfinding and the guest experience under real-world programme, procurement and stakeholder constraints.
Familiarity with professional lighting-design principles and experience working on complex architectural or immersive projects is recommended.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss lighting-design approaches that create distinct immersive environments while supporting visual comfort for guests.
- Identify strategies for safe circulation, wayfinding and hazard awareness in large-scale, low-light themed environments.
- Evaluate methods for balancing sensory stimulation with human-scale comfort and accessibility in theme-park lighting.
- Apply lighting-design lessons from a 27-hectare theme-park case study to protect guest safety, comfort and orientation through project delivery.
Speakers
Said Sawaf
Principal
GxU Lighting Design
Said Sawaf is an Arab-American entrepreneur with experience across lighting design, manufacturing, distribution and project delivery. He holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management and an MBA from ESADE in Barcelona. Through his leadership at UMAYA Lighting Design, Said has worked with architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors and clients across Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. He brings a broad understanding of the lighting industry and the commercial and coordination challenges involved in translating creative ambition into completed projects.
Patrick Gallegos
Principal
GxU Lighting Design
Patrick Gallegos has over 45 years of experience collaborating with creative teams to create immersive spaces worldwide. His work spans theme parks, immersive environments, resorts, hospitality, science museums and animal habitats. Working with clients and owners across international markets, Patrick brings extensive experience shaping lighting around storytelling and the visitor experience. He is a Founding Member of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), a Past President of its International Board and an active member of its Past Presidents Council.