Willie Williams in conversation with David Johnson on December 12, 2023 at 11:00am ET

This Live event is sponsored by ACT Entertainment. Register now here. 

Car headlights lighting the stage, a giant claw with expanding video screen, and Brian Eno's LED Turntable, these are just a few of the innovations that Willie Williams has brought to U2 tours and performances. 

Join Willie and former LDI and Live Design Managing Director David Johnson in conversation this December 12 and find out more about U2's new show, U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, Williams' approach to technology, and finding inspiration after 40 years in the industry. 

Willie Williams, Designer, Treatment Studio

Willie Williams designs & directs live events and concert tours. His combination of hi-tech media and low-tech eccentricity first received acclaim through his work with U2. The Zoo TV tour (1992-93) introduced multi-screen video imagery to concert touring, whilst the subsequent PopMart tour (1997-98), conceived with architect Mark Fisher, included the creation of the world’s first large-scale LED video screen. Williams’ work with George Michael, David Bowie and R.E.M. has also been highly respected as being both conceptually and technologically groundbreaking. His body of work is regarded as having contributed to laying the foundations of modern rock and pop show design.

David Johnson, Chief Commercial Officer, ACT Entertainment

As chief commercial officer for ACT Entertainment, David Johnson leads sales and marketing efforts across ACT’s many brands, supporting the entire sales team to integrate the multiple disciplines of the company and identify cross-sales opportunities.

Prior to joining ACT, Johnson spent almost six years as associate publisher/editorial director with Prism Business Media where he launched the Live Design franchise in December 2005.  He was subsequently a publisher and managing director at Penton, where he became responsible for all aspects of the Live Design franchise, including the LDI trade show. He later became a managing director at Informa, managing multiple event/digital brands in the entertainment technology market, including the LDI, XLive, and WFX trade shows. Earlier in his career Johnson was editor of Entertainment Design magazine at Primedia.