This past weekend marked a big milestone for Bright Art Box: we took the show on the road for the very first time! Instead of showcasing our LED backlit light boxes online or in a studio, we packed them up and debuted a pop-up traveling art gallery at a local farmer’s market. It was colorful, a little chaotic, and completely worth it.
Practicing What I Preach
For years I’ve advised fellow business owners of the value of talking directly to your audience, not just posting and hoping. Setting up at the market meant we could listen and learn in real time: seeing which designs caught people’s eyes, hearing which themes they connected to emotionally, and discovering what they wished existed.
Our design team already has a number of new designs in the works from OM-inspired art celebrating our new Hindu friends 🕉️ to sports-themed creations ⚽🏀⚾🏈 that are sure to get big smiles from local fans. Some people lingered to admire the glowing colors, others wanted to know how they were made, and more than a few asked if we could create something custom, everything from their favorite pet to their favorite team. That kind of feedback is gold.
The Unexpected Challenges
Of course, this real-world test also came with real-world surprises.
Within the first hour, the wind picked up and we learned (the hard way) that our lightweight art boxes can be blown over like dominos. A few dramatic rescues later, we had them weighted down, lesson learned.
Then came the midday sun. Under the full glare of summer, some of the boxes began to warp slightly from heat buildup, a kind of greenhouse effect inside the enclosed light boxes. It was a wake-up call: they’re meant to glow under gentle LED light, not bake under direct sunlight for hours.
Innovating for the Road Ahead
The beauty of doing this kind of hands-on market research is that every challenge becomes a design prompt.
Back at the studio, we’ve already started brainstorming new display systems to:
- Add weight and wind resistance to keep the boxes stable outdoors
- Include sunshades or reflective shields to prevent heat buildup
- Create modular shelving stands for faster, more secure setup and teardown
These upgrades will make our traveling gallery more resilient and open the door to bringing Bright Art Box to even more outdoor events, from community festivals to night markets.
Co-Creating With the Community
More than anything, this experience reminded me why I wanted to do this in the first place. Bright Art Box isn’t just about creating glowing art, it’s about creating connection. By showing up in person, we get to see eyes light up when someone spots a design that speaks to them… and hear their stories about what they’d love to see next.
This is just the first stop on the journey and it’s already helping shape how we imagine the future of Bright Art Box.