4 Ways Environmental Designers Support Creative Event Production

Event design draws us out of our everyday environments. Dynamic displays, scenic builds and dramatic stages capture the audience’s attention. Customized spaces come together thanks to the behind-the-scenes talents of environmental designers. These solution-oriented event production experts believe great event design shouldn’t just look incredible. Thoughtful design elements open minds and promote interaction.

Here are four ways environmental designers blend artistry and engineering to accomplish audacious spaces.

1. Large Live Event Branding Installations

Hosting a massive, branded event? Environmental designers dream up ideas that make a major impression, and collaborate to ensure cohesion throughout the venue. Even stretching exceptional brand experiences across multiple sites.

From the initial proposal through installation, environmental designers turn a vision into a tangible experience. 3D renderings provide an illustrated depiction of the event space. Numerous floor plans depict every square inch of the venue with additional plans for lighting, rigging and scenic production. All the design components come together on screen before technical production specialists work their magic.

“Digitizing everything within the environment helps the event team understand the flow of attendees and what can be put in the space,” says Chaz Pattillo, an environmental design expert with decades of experience.

He starts with research to deeply understand the brand voice and positioning. Then, Chaz dives into the client’s criteria. He understands the non-negotiables, like seating requirements, AV needs and accessibility before beginning to sketch ideas. Chaz encourages brand teams to embrace white space, prioritizing attendee needs instead of packing too much into a space. This helps attendees make valuable connections.

HOW: We use environmental design to promote natural networking. At Autodesk’s annual conference, the Connect Center became the heart of their event. We thoughtfully curated the space for downtime, then expanded it into a popular relax-and-recharge destination. Attendees lingered, enveloped in furniture and decor that reflected Autodesk’s distinct brand.

2. Custom Scenic Builds and Sets

Live events, hybrid productions and virtual experiences can all benefit from head-turning custom pieces. In immersive events, oversized objects become a focal point. And an organic “selfie spot”. For broadcasts, branded pop-up “studios” add dimension and professional polish. Whether hosting a trade show or participating as vendor, standout booths draw people in.

When The Home Depot needed highly visible demo space, we helped the brand stand out. Our environmental designers transformed a shipping container in the retailer’s instantly recognizable orange,
topped with a larger-than-life logo. Anchored in the middle of a food festival, grill experts could show off their sizzle from this vibrant and dynamic stage. Mirrors, screens and space for camera crews helped expand the reach of demonstrations, delivering authentic content to an online audience.

HOW: We bring event energy back to the office. Positive event energy strengthens organizational culture. We loved seeing a broadcast studio desk built especially for a corporate event and vibrant mural made on site go on display at the organization’s headquarters. When sculptural set pieces from an annual summit become permanent fixtures, they remind employees of memorable moments.

3. Unique Main Stage Setups

Conference keynotes and closing event concerts benefit from spectacular stages, immersive lighting and unique screen setups. Environmental designers work across varied venues, transforming arenas and designing one-of-a-kind outdoor amphitheaters. We’ve worked with Grammy-winning music acts to create artistic staging on par with their superstar status.

When the agenda transitions from business to leisure, we quickly transform the stage from keynote speaker to headlining performer. At an Adobe anniversary event, the crowd roared as a Grammy winner made a surprise appearance. We surrounded the singer with a mushroom-filled fantasyland that took cues from the brand’s bold colors.

HOW: We make every attendee feel like they scored a front-row seat. Angled LED screen arrays and thrust stages help speakers maintain audience sightlines. And hold their attention. High-flying action can also up the fun-factor. We choreographed dancers suspended from heavy construction equipment at one memorable groundbreaking event.

4. Venue maximizing trade-show exhibits

Environmental design experts project “out of the box” ideas onto featureless exhibition halls and warehouses. This turns a product walk or trade show into a journey of discovery. We partner to execute fully customized turnkey enterprise shows, building bespoke booths and exhibits tailored to specific product demonstration needs. Themed zones and thoughtfully designed wayfinding signage help with navigation.

HOW: We help sponsors feel seen. Focusing on experiential design and live event production, San Francisco Travel Association dazzled difficult-to-impress hospitality experts. We showcased the best of the city throughout a four-day conference. More than 3,000 attendees wound their way through dual warehouses inspired by San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods. Sponsorship booths tied to themed activations enhanced the experience for all guests. For instance, the hot sauce bar sponsorship in The Mission neighborhood included logo impressions, signage opportunities, tickets and more.

See more examples of how our environmental designers encourage corporate event attendees to infuse brand identity.