D8 Group’s ingenuity and INFiLED’s cutting-edge AM8.33 mk2 Transparent LED Screens create Asia’s most unforgettable New Years Eve celebration.

“2024 has been a year heavily dominated by visuals in live music performances, and our stage was designed intentionally to complement this trend. At NEON Countdown, we’ve observed that people’s taste in live music has really evolved by leaps and bounds. It’s no longer just about the music alone. Rather, it’s about enjoying a truly immersive ‘audio-visual’ experience!” exclaims Henry Hari Ram, Founder and CEO of Digital Aid (M) Sdn Bhd (D8 Group) – the driving force behind Asia’s largest countdown music festival – the NEON Countdown.

Established in 2015, the NEON Countdown has been committed to delivering the best in electronic dance music experiences to event-goers across Asia – with over 200,000 attendees spanning more than 20 large-scale events hosting a plethora of world-class global dance music sensations and burgeoning artists. And the D8 Group – a company that has gained global repute for supplying world-class design and comprehensive production services for festival scale events across Southeast Asia – not only holds the reign to the NEON Countdown IP, but also equips every edition of the NEON Countdown with state-of-the-art live event technologies to deliver fresh and bespoke audience experiences that remain etched in memory.

As expected, the 2024 edition was no different; with the iconic event kick-starting on December 30, 2024 at the Wonder World Extreme Park in Bangkok – hosting countless festival-goers from across the globe to experience this electrifying celebration.

“What distinguishes NEON Countdown from any other event is that we put a great deal of effort into curating a wholesome experience for festival-goers. It is never just about having an A-list line-up of artists. The entire journey from the point of purchasing a ticket to leaving the festival is something we constantly think about. We have always been a very décor-intensive festival and this year has been no different. We try to implement fresh décor ideas every year and this year we came up with a lot of fresh décor ideas that really turned heads more than ever before,” shares Henry, as he informs that the company put visuals at the forefront of the festival experience this year through the extensive use of world-class LED displays, while having great sound as a key foundational component, to design and deliver a truly unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration.

The road to achieving this goal wasn’t without its fair share of challenges though, as Henry explains original stage design had to be abandoned just three weeks before the event due to unforeseen supply issues. This meant that a new stage design had to be conceptualized, designed and engineered – all from scratch, and with very little time on hand – which means that team D8 had to call upon every available ounce of dedication and resourcefulness that the company is so famous for.

Keeping all the possible variables in perspective; team D8 this time chose to rely on one of their oldest and most trusted allies in the business – INFiLED, a globally renowned innovative LED display solution manufacturer that prides itself for delivering the highest quality and most reliable equipment available thanks to its advanced production techniques and world-class components.

“Henry and our entire team at D8 share an amazing personal equation with the INFiLED team, and we knew we could rely on them to serve this urgent need. Thanks to their swift service and prompt action – we were able to deliver the show with the kind of mesmerising visual spectacle that we’d originally envisioned. We purchased over 800sqm of INFiLED’s spectacular AM mk2 Series transparent LED tiles specifically for the NEON Countdown, and we’re proud to say that we’re the first to deploy it. The INFiLED shipment arrived 5 days before the show; and our team of technical geniuses were able to rig and test the screens within a matter of just 12 hours,” explains Pantakarn Pannasuriyaporn, CEO of D8 Projects Co. Ltd (Thailand), the local arm of the D8 Group.

Breathing life into the mesmerising NEON Countdown visual spectacle was the AM8.33 mk2 transparent LED screen—a masterpiece of INFiLED’s engineering that was expertly deployed by team D8 to redefine the visual experience for the countless festival-goers. Henry explains the reasons behind this choice, as he notes, “The INFiLED AM8.33mk2 transparent LED screens were the ideal choice as they efficiently addressed critical challenges associated with large LED wall structures. With a remarkable 70% transparency ratio, these screens significantly reduced cumulative wind load on the LED structure, which in turn minimised the need for excess counterweights and decreased the overall footprint of the supporting scaffold structure. Their lightweight and modular design, combined with fast angle locks for curvature adjustments between -15° and 10°, facilitated quick, versatile and reliable installation; while features like front-and-rear IP65 waterproof ratings, flame retardant compliance (UL94 V0), and surface-protected LED beads allowed us to rest assure when it came to safety and durability. Plus, the dedicated dolly cart streamlined transportation and logistics, which made deployment as easy as one could possibly imagine.”

Furthermore, he lauds the efforts of D8’s team of technical experts and engineers, whose incredible dedication and expertise proved to be crucial in seamlessly managing this complex endeavour. Working closely with the technical support team from INFiLED who flew down specially for the event, the team methodically covered each step with careful precision – from installation guidance and colour calibration to testing and commissioning – that culminated in an outstanding result and a visually breathtaking experience for every ardent NEON Countdown fan to savour for years to come.

Susan Hoe, INFiLED’s Regional Director for Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, underlined the significance of the long-standing partnership between INFiLED and D8 Group, commenting, “It was an absolute honour for INFiLED to be part of this magnificent celebration, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the entire team at the D8 Group. Our collaboration with D8 has been a journey of shared vision and excellence – a fact that was evident with the NEON Countdown 2024 event where our team worked dedicatedly to ensure swift delivery and seamless integration of our LED high-performance display technologies to meet the high expectations of this iconic event. It’s partnerships like these that highlight our dedication to supporting our clients with industry-leading solutions; and we are truly grateful for D8’s consistent commitment to innovation and unshakable faith in INFiLED. We’re looking forward to achieving even greater milestones together in the future!”