• Mirrorballs, Mic Drops, and Molecules: Scottsdale’s Interactive Art Went Full Send

    17 June 2025

    In November 2024, Molecules by Brooklyn-based design studio The Urban Conga transformed the Scottsdale Waterfront into a vibrant, interactive light-scape as part of the Canal Convergence festival.

    Known for their playful, community-driven work, designers Ryan Swanson and Maeghann Coleman delivered an installation that felt both futuristic and deeply human.

    uspended above the canal were five mirrored molecular clusters—each made from ten hydrogen and five oxygen atoms, mimicking the makeup of water. During the day, these polished forms captured and refracted natural light, creating a kaleidoscopic display that shifted with every viewer’s movement. By night, they transformed.

    Embedded LEDs lit up in response to nearby voices, music, and ambient sound, turning the molecules into reactive, glowing orbs. It was part sculpture, part conversation—a responsive experience that encouraged people to speak, sing, and engage directly with the artwork.

    What set Molecules apart was the way it invited people in. It wasn’t there to be observed from a distance—it wanted interaction. Visitors sang to it, laughed with it, whispered into it—and in return, it lit up. It blurred the line between public art and social ritual, giving people a reason to linger, to play, and to connect—with each other and the space around them.

    Whether people were capturing it for Instagram or simply having fun experimenting with the voice-activated lighting, the installation turned a slice of the canal into a mini social arena.

    Beneath the shimmer and novelty was a thoughtful undercurrent. Using the familiar structure of water as a metaphor, Molecules explored how small elements—like atoms, voices, or moments of connection—can ripple outward to spark larger shifts. It prompted quiet reflection alongside joyful play, striking a balance that felt both timely and timeless.

    The Urban Conga’s design ethos centering on community, playfulness, and open interaction, was clearly on display. Molecules wasn’t just art to be seen. It was art to be experienced, co-created and remembered. In a cultural moment that prizes authenticity and shared experiences, it hit the mark.

    It was bold, modern, and unafraid to be a little weird, in all the right ways! And for a generation fluent in both selfies and social change, Molecules hit the sweet spot.

    More Awards & Events
    Hong Kong Interior Design Week 2025 Highlight Event: Urban Reflection Exhibition Grandly Opens at WestK
    A Celebration of Hong Kong’s Interior Design and Manufacturing Talents (June 16, 2025 | Hong Kong) To celebrate the remarkable achievements of Hong Kong’s interior design industry, the Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA) proudly presents the Hong Kong Interior Design Week 2025, with the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and [...]
    AI+ Power 2025: Over 100 AI+ Game Changers Share Cutting-Edge AI Trends
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the game-changing key! Presented by BUSINESS GOVirtual (BGOV), AI+ Power 2025, Hong Kong’s premier AI application exhibition, will take place on June 5-6, 2025, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Showcasing local and Greater Bay Area startups alongside top-tier AI solutions, this event empowers enterprises and SMEs across commerce, finance, [...]
    ATELIER BRÜCKNER designs immersive, multisensory exhibition for UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka
    A nation shaped by deep traditions and visionary ambitions: ATELIER BRÜCKNER has designed the immersive, multisensory exhibition for the 2,013 squate metre United Arab Emirates Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka. The experience invites visitors into a world where cultural heritage and innovation are seamlessly interwoven. Under the theme ’Earth to Ether’, the exhibition celebrates the [...]
    A Celebration of Hong Kong’s Interior Design Talents in Milan
    (April 9, 2025 | Milan) To celebrate the remarkable achievements of Hong Kong’s interior design industry and promote its international reputation, the Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA) proudly presents the third edition of Hong Kong Interior Design Week 2025, with the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the [...]
    ARCHIDEX 2025 Spotlights Sustainable Design and Global Networking
    Malaysia’s leading architecture expo set to break new ground with international participation and the debut of Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week The International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX), the largest architecture exhibition in Malaysia, is set to be the most ambitious yet in 2025. YB Tuan Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government, [...]
    Kai Tak Sports Park Kicks Off Grand Opening Month with Kai Tak Art Week
    (Hong Kong, 17 March, 2025) The Grand Opening of Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) marks the beginning of “Hong Kong Super March”. A series of exciting events will take place throughout the “KTSP Opening Month”, encompassing arts and culture, sports events, and a food carnival, offering an unprecedented and diverse experience for both local residents and visitors. Whether you are an art [...]
    Green Building Award 2025 is Calling for Nominations
    The Green Building Award (GBA), co-organised by the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) and the Professional Green Building Council (PGBC), in its tenth edition this year, is calling for nominations. Themed “Towards Carbon Neutrality ∙ Excellence in Sustainable Built Environment”, the Green Building Award 2025 (GBA 2025) welcomes nominations that showcase your excellence in [...]
    Alexander Wong Architects Wins Big In London
    Alexander Wong Architects just made history by winning World’s Best Interior Design Award at the International Property Awards for the Fourth Time in London. Spiral Sky & Ocean Aria of Regala Skycity Hotel at the Hong Kong International Airport is honoured to have won Three Major Design Awards at this year’s “International Property Awards 2024-25” held at the Savoy Hotel in London [...]
    R+T Asia 2025: The 20th Anniversary Edition Set to Break Records
    Shanghai, China – The much-anticipated 20th edition of R+T Asia, Asia’s leading trade show for the sun shading and door/gate industries, is set to take place from May 26-28, 2025, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. With 95% of the exhibition space already sold out, the event is expected to attract the most influential companies operating in Asia, [...]