Paul England is a senior director of design solutions with SNA Displays. He works with artists, designers, architects, consultants, and content creators on a variety of initiatives, including technology training and project design. A veteran in the AV and digital signage industries, Paul is a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and a master-level Certified Professional Training Management (CPTM) specialist. He also holds a private pilot certificate and is a 2d Lt. in the Civil Air Patrol in addition to being an MU1 in the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Every year, there are a handful of events I look forward to because they remind me why I love working in a role that combines design, architecture, technology, public art, and so much more. For me, CODAsummit is at the top of that list.
This September, I’ll be in Santa Fe for CODAsummit 2026! I’m excited to reconnect with longtime collaborators and meet new creative partners, but I’m really thrilled to welcome five students who will attend the conference through SNA Displays’ Big Ideas Student Scholarship.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
- Gregory Adjei Darteh – University of Arkansas
- London Fox – School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Kerry Hugins – City of Austin Professional Public Art Practices Course
- Elysia Escobedo – Institute of American Indian Arts
- Tasha Deschenie – Institute of American Indian Arts
Supporting students is definitely among the most rewarding things we do!
Why CODAworx Matters
CODAworx is an organization dedicated to connecting artists, architects, designers, fabricators, technology companies, and commissioners who create meaningful public art. Through project showcases, networking opportunities, educational resources, and commissioned work, CODAworx has become one of the most valuable communities for creative collaboration.
That spirit of collaboration comes to life every year at CODAsummit.
This year’s theme—Art, Technology, and Place—is especially fitting as the conference heads to Santa Fe from September 29 through October 1, a city whose artistic heritage makes it an inspiring backdrop for conversations about creativity and placemaking.
For me, what makes the event special isn’t simply the programming, it’s the people. Every conversation has the potential to become a new partnership, a fresh perspective, the beginning of an incredible project, or just plain interesting.
Investing in Tomorrow’s Creative Leaders
The Big Ideas Student Scholarship provides complimentary registration and a travel stipend, making it possible for emerging artists and designers to experience CODAsummit firsthand. Students studying everything from fine art and architecture to digital media and experiential design are encouraged to apply because great public art depends on many different creative disciplines working together.
I firmly believe that exposure to this community early in a career can be transformative. Students don’t simply attend presentations—they meet the people designing groundbreaking public installations, learn how ambitious projects come together, and begin building relationships that can influence their careers for years to come.
As someone who has attended CODAsummit many times, I’ve found that every year leaves me energized with new ideas and a renewed appreciation for what’s possible when artists and technology professionals collaborate. It’s exactly that experience we hope these students will have as they begin building their own careers.
The Digital Canvas
We often talk about LED video technology as a digital canvas. While SNA Displays largely manufactures video systems, the most memorable projects happen when creative vision leads the conversation.
That’s why supporting students through the Big Ideas Student Scholarship aligns so naturally with who we are. Many of tomorrow’s public artists will incorporate digital media into their work, but even those who don’t will benefit from understanding how technology, fabrication, architecture, engineering, and artistic expression increasingly intersect in today’s public spaces.
By helping students attend CODAsummit, SNA is investing in future collaborators, future innovators, and future leaders who will shape the next generation of immersive public experiences.
If you’re attending CODAsummit this year, I hope our paths cross. And if you’re a student with a passion for art, architecture, technology, or placemaking, I encourage you to consider applying for next year’s Big Ideas Student Scholarship.
You never know where one conference, or even one conversation, might lead.
What They’re Saying
“Attending CODAsummit 2026 in Santa Fe will broaden my understanding of how design and technology integrate to shape meaningful experiences of well-being within public spaces. My research and forthcoming thesis would explore how immersive and multisensory design can influence emotional and cognitive states, and this summit offers a critical opportunity to learn how such ideas are applied at the scale of public art and placemaking.” – Gregory Darteh
“I’m really excited to be in a space where I could be a vessel for the way people perceive permanence, and to explore the intersection of design, ecology, and social systems, and to better understand how conceptual ideas like decay and material irony can translate into real-world impact.” – London Fox
“I hope to make connections and collaborate ideas for future public space art projects. I would also like to get a gauge for what the art scene will look like by the time I graduate in 2027.” – Elysia Escobedo
“I hope to gain exposure to innovative art processes and people seeking collaboration within the arts, design, and environment. I also am interested in seeing examples of creative thinking that involves technology, and how other people are bringing their ideas into fruition.” – Tasha Deschenie