Held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt’s Seaport Ballroom, the audience members for the Her Universe Fashion Show experienced a Wicked-themed immersive lobby featuring pop ups such as a KISS nail booth, photo ops, film props and costumes, and LEGO big builds. From elaborate couture fashion and musical performances to a technology enhanced magical runway entrance by Eckstein herself, the event was designed to captivate and inspire. 

The runway serves as the stage for a group of selected designers who created and showcased their designs—some of which were inspired by the Wicked fandom—during the 2025 Her Universe Fashion Show. At the end of the night, Lynleigh Sato and Caitlin Beards were chosen by both the audience and an expert panel of judges as the winning designers. They were awarded a cash prize of $2,000 USD each and have been offered the opportunity to design a fashion collection with Her Universe.

Central to this vision was the transformation of the stage into the World of Oz, a feat made possible by ALTRD Projections and Barco’s state-of-the-art projectors.

Delivering Impactful Visuals

This year’s production presented a unique spatial and creative challenge: how to deliver high-impact visuals across four separate projection surfaces. The team needed a solution that delivered consistent brightness, sharp resolution, and vibrant color across each of the four side screens—two on each side of the stage—while maintaining visual cohesion with the central LED display. For the immersive experience of the show, it was critical to attain seamless integration and high performance across all of these distinct surfaces.

Four high-performance Barco UDX-4K40 projectors, known for their unmatched brightness, 4K resolution, and color fidelity, were instrumental in creating a cohesive, large-scale projection canvas of the four side screens that framed the runway. The UDX’ ability to deliver consistent, vibrant imagery across wide surfaces allowed the creative team at ALTRD Projections to design and execute a fully immersive runway backdrop. The visuals were crisp, dynamic, and emotionally resonant, bringing the magical world of Oz to life. 

The projectors handled complex motion graphics and color-rich content with ease, ensuring that every detail was rendered with cinematic precision. Barco’s technology didn’t just support the show’s visuals, it elevated them, enabling a level of storytelling and spectacle that matched the ambition of the designers and performers. The result was a flawless fusion of fashion and technology.

The visuals created by the Barco projectors were meant to provide a wickedly memorable evening for attendees by elevating the entire production and immersing the audience in a fantastical experience that matched the creativity of the designs on the runway. The show drew record attendance and rave reviews, with fans and judges alike praising the visual storytelling and technical excellence. By blending creativity and innovation, Barco was a committed technology partner enabling Her Universe to push the boundaries of fashion and fandom once again.

The Her Universe Fashion Show, now in its 11th year, has become a cornerstone of San Diego Comic-Con, celebrating fandom through fashion. Presented by Universal and hosted by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein, the 2025 edition was themed “Defying Fashion: Fashion That Defies Expectations” inspired by the popular Wicked franchise. This year’s show reached new heights in creativity, inclusivity, and visual spectacle.

For more information: 

Barco 

UDX-4K40 FLEX

Her Universe

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