Meet Yuri Stranyov

From large-scale car launches to immersive installations and global live events, Yuri Stranyov has built a career defined by curiosity, persistence, and a deep passion for live experiences.

Now working as a Disguise operator, Yuri has spent the last 15 years in the industry – eight of those dedicated to mastering Disguise. What began as a career in live events and video production has evolved into work on some of the industry’s most technically ambitious productions, with the last eight years dedicated to mastering Disguise systems.

Where it all began

Although Yuri grew up in Russia, much of his career has been shaped by the fast-moving live events scene in the Middle East. In 2018, he joined multimedia production studio Silva Sveta, where he began specialising in Disguise systems and large-scale live productions. He later relocated to Dubai in 2022 to work with PRG, before transitioning into freelance work across international events, concerts, and immersive experiences.

At Silva Sveta he was hired to be the Disguise operator. Back then, he only knew the basics of video production, and laughed: “My knowledge at the time was that I could tell the difference between HDMI and VGA.”

Without formal training, Yuri learned on the job. With guidance from a colleague early on, he quickly began building his skills independently – experimenting, problem-solving, and immersing himself in the software.

“It wasn’t easy at the start,” he explains. “The interface was very different back then, and you had to dig through multiple layers to get where you needed. But once you understand it, there’s no going back.”

A major part of that learning process came from the wider Disguise community, a network of programmers and operators who continue to share knowledge and support each other.

“That’s the best thing about Disguise,” Yuri says. “The community. People help each other, exchange ideas, and solve problems together.”

Stepping up: the first solo project

As his confidence grew, so did the scale of his responsibilities.

Yuri’s first independent Disguise project took him to Vladivostok in Russia’s far east, his first time leading programming on his own. The exhibition involved interactive elements and early tracking systems, marking a turning point in his career.

“That was the moment I realised I could handle projects on my own,” he says. From there, opportunities expanded quickly.

From car launches to concert stages

Over the past eight years, Yuri has worked across a wide range of live formats, each bringing new technical challenges and creative demands.

His portfolio includes high-end automotive launches such as the Lamborghini Huracán Evo and Lexus LX, as well as large-scale concert productions, including shows for Russian pop star Polina Gagarina.

“We worked on a concert with cross-projected nets and Notch-based visuals,” he recalls. “It was technically complex, but a really exciting project to bring together.”

Alongside live events, Yuri has also delivered fixed installations, including work at Indonesia’s Trans Studio Theme Park, and large-scale international productions such as the opening ceremony for the “Games of the Future” in Abu Dhabi.

Trans Studio Theme Park Cibubur (2019) - Image credits: Sila Sveta 

Pushing boundaries with immersive experiences

One project that stands out is IN TO, an interactive installation created with Silva Sveta. Debuting in Perm, the experience featured a 400-square-metre projection floor that reacted to visitors in real time. It built on markerless tracking techniques Yuri and the Silva Sveta team had first explored on a project in Perm, scaling that approach into a larger immersive environment.

“The scale of the project made it especially exciting,” Yuri explains. “We combined markerless tracking with Notch content and stage design to create a fully interactive environment that responded to visitors in real time.”

The result was an experience that blurred the line between audience and environment, something that continues to inspire his work today.

IN TO (2020) - Image credits: Sila Sveta 

Scaling up: high-pressure, high-impact events

Yuri has also worked on some of the industry’s most technically demanding productions.

While collaborating with PRG, he worked on the Joy Awards in Riyadh which is one of the region’s most high-profile events.

“There were 142 projectors across the building,” he says. “We used seven Disguise machines to run everything. It was a really cool project.”

Projects like these demand not just technical expertise, but precision, organisation, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, skills Yuri has refined over years in the field.

The reality of life in live events

Behind the scale and spectacle, Yuri is candid about the realities of working in the industry.

“It can be tough,” he admits. “Sometimes you’re working 20 or 30 days in a row leading up to a show. It’s mentally challenging.”

But for Yuri, the rewards outweigh the challenges.

“When the event goes live and everything works, you get this feeling: ‘wow, we did it.’ You were part of something amazing.”

That sense of completion takes different forms depending on the project.

“With live events, it’s that immediate moment when the show happens. With installations, it’s different, you can come back later, bring people, and say, ‘look, we built this.’ Both are special in their own way.”

A full-circle moment

One of Yuri’s most memorable milestones came in 2025, when he worked on the Formula 1 after-race concerts in Abu Dhabi, featuring global artists including Metallica.

“Thirteen years ago, I was sitting in a cinema in my hometown, watching a Metallica concert film,” he says. “And then suddenly, I’m there, working on a live show connected to them. It was a ‘pinch me’ moment.”

It was a reflection of how far he had come and a reminder of what’s possible through persistence and passion.

Structure, mindset, and making it work

When it comes to working on complex productions, Yuri emphasises one key principle: structure.

“I always try to organise everything clearly: naming, mapping, content structure,” he explains. “When you’re dealing with hundreds of outputs or projectors, that organisation helps you find and fix problems quickly.”

It’s a simple discipline, but one that becomes critical at scale.

Looking ahead

“You never know what’s coming next,” he says. “That’s what makes this industry exciting.”

What matters most is continuing to enjoy the process.

“As long as you enjoy what you’re doing, you keep going. There will be good projects and difficult ones, but you should just enjoy the journey.”

Advice for the next generation

For those starting out, Yuri’s advice is refreshingly simple: “Feel the vibe. If you love it, it will give something back to you.”

In an industry that demands long hours, constant adaptation, and deep commitment, that passion isn’t optional. And it’s exactly what has carried him from his first project to some of the world’s biggest stages.