Case Study | Lucion, MAPP_MTL: When Eco-Design Emerges as a Key Driver of Competitiveness and Attractiveness

Lucion – Les Noks: Turning Environmental Constraints into Creative Opportunities

Lucion is a Montreal-based creative studio specializing in the design of interactive light installations and experiences. By combining art, technology, and storytelling, Lucion transforms public spaces into poetic realms that foster connections between citizens and their environment through playful and meaningful works.

The Project Les Noks was born out of a desire to create a nighttime trail through the forest, which, for now, takes the form of a temporary urban installation. The project invites the public to discover the world of the Noks, where the imagination is used to rethink our connection to nature, matter, and living things.

This experiment sheds light on concepts in environmental science that are little known to the general public. The four disciplines explored are mycology, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

“Les Noks ” does more than simply tell a story: it brings it to life. The installation is based on an eco-design approach, with the aim of creating a cohesive work—in its form, its production, and its message.

This project incorporates alternative bio-based materials, techniques for recycling waste, and practices derived from the circular economy.

By collaborating with researchers at UQAT and rethinking every stage of the design process, Lucion has successfully transformed environmental constraints into opportunities for creativity and storytelling, demonstrating that digital innovation can go hand in hand with environmental responsibility.

MAPP_MTL – La Station de l’avenir: Overcoming Logistical Challenges with Eco-Friendly Solutions

MAPP_MTL is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the art of projection mapping while providing a platform for local talent. It was against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic that the organization, in collaboration with Gentilhomme and Robocut studios, conceived La Station de l’avenir : a traveling installation born from a combination of health restrictions, logistical challenges, and a drive for innovation.

Designed as a mobile creative hub, the Station of the Future runs entirely on solar power in places where a conventional power supply would traditionally have been necessary. This technical solution was not easy to implement—it required a complete overhaul of formats, equipment, and practices.

In fact, the innovation first arose from a logistical challenge: at many screening locations, accessing a stable and secure power source remains difficult, particularly in alleys, parks, public spaces undergoing redevelopment, or on the outskirts of cities.

By becoming energy-independent, the Station makes projection mapping more accessible, making it easier to incorporate into festivals, neighborhoods, and community-scale events. In this way, it helps democratize this art form, which is often associated with large-scale technical productions.

During the day, in a participatory format, the Station welcomes the public, who are invited to create animations and drawings. At nightfall, these community-created works come to life, projected onto the facades of buildings, transforming the urban space into an open-air gallery of light.

This project demonstrates that a logistical challenge can become the driving force behind an eco-friendly solution, paving the way for digital innovation rooted in the principles of eco-design. By rethinking the very conditions under which projection mapping is created and presented, MAPP_MTL has demonstrated that it is possible to combine energy efficiency, cultural accessibility, and technological creativity.

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This text was translated from the original French with the help of DeepL.