The challenge was again to create one stage concept that works for both live bands and DJ sets. Sound of the Forest brought acts like Majan, Team Scheisse, Gringo Mayer, Haiyti and Megaloh to the stage. A week later, Circle of Leaves turned the same site at Marbach Reservoir into a techno weekend with artists such as electro pioneer Anthony Rother.

The stage was built as a modular system, so elements can be rearranged, reused and adapted to each festival. I designed every part in Adobe Illustrator and laid the cut pieces out to keep wood waste as low as possible. The design was then transferred onto wood using VR, which let me line up the digital layout directly with the physical build. Because the construction matched the digital template so closely, mapping on site went fast and precisely.

For the visuals, I created a full set of custom fire-themed loops and content. For the band nights, the fire is warm and slow, with glowing embers, flickering light and smoke-like textures that support the performances without taking over. For the DJ sets, the same material becomes faster and more aggressive, with bursts of flame, sparks and hard cuts that follow the energy of the music.

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