Product Design and Engineering student Dean Chapman was one of six Middlesex graduates that teamed up this year to create the clothes and props used by the Brazilian performers in the Olympics Closing Ceremony 2012.
The group illuminated 140 of the costumes by integrating lights and electronics to the majority of the outfits worn in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 handover section of the show, and working on a number of the props. For some of the performers, including the Amazonian warriors, the team created their whole costumes from scratch, ready for the ceremony. The team worked intensely on the tailor made costumes and props (including illuminated headdresses, capes, wheels and 80 drums).
The students had been selected to work on the project after impressing top lighting designer Moritz Waldemeyer, who they had previously worked with on other high profile projects such as an Ellie Goulding music video and a Take That concert.
Dean said: "The project involved a lot of late nights fitting the LEDS, testing them and making sure it was perfect as the world would be watching. However, it was all worth it and I'm proud to have contributed to such a big event, which everyone is talking about it."
After their impressive illuminations, the team were also given the chance to create illuminated banners, which appeared centre stage at the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, as part of the handover of the Paralympics to Rio.
