The feeling and attitude in general of this year’s 2012 addition of the EXHIBITOR show was positive.  Walking in the hall your eye immediately focused UP!  And to me that feels like we are closer to being ”back” then we have been in the last several years.  Now mind you the booth size remained around the 20’ x 20’, 20’ x 30’ rather then the monster booths of the olden days BUT, the height returned.  Look up! Headers, integrated walls continued into ceilings (a trend) and over the top soffits and signage dominated the space.

Now I am speaking primarily about the Exhibit Houses – Additionally in the houses, full concepts – Experiences if you will, dominate – Telling a story, Branding a brand. And of course the use of technology was everywhere!

Now again, my observations tell me that everyone is “catching up” to these concepts – creating full concept environments that include dynamic visuals, technology, well trained staff etc.  And as this catch up happens, I am not so sure that everyone is really aware of what they are “really” doing, especially the technology area.  I imagine there is much rearranging, reorganizing and outsourcing of this work.  Let’s call it collaboration.

Common themes:

Overhead or ceiling treatments morphing into walls

Colors: white and orange / white and green, / red, white and black

Multiple screens for content traveling over all of them (creating very large digital media areas, in both touch screen and traditional)

Fabric, Fabric everywhere! Pop-ups, extrusion, and classic round tube construction. Primarily printed

Extrusion – I mentioned it in the fabric area but this is out of control everywhere!  And the beat goes on with each group pushing the next to create different profiles for a variety of uses.

Technology – It is everywhere yet, some understand it and are doing amazing work, others are showing it because it is in.

Blue Telescope is outstanding with their innovative work.

Blue Pony appeared as content and app providers

QuickMobile – Iphone and Ipad apps

V3touch – Vision3Creative.com – incredible 3d software on large touch screens and applications for live use.

NMR – Tech, production, content – stepping out of their typical comfort zone and looking great!

Favorites:

EEI Global – My Favorite! Elegant, classy, sleek while a nod to Detroit through some grittier elements

GES – won best large booth – Turning your thinking upside down!

Elements won best small booth – also a favorite – and very clever. 4 – 10’ x 10’ booths spread over the show – Water, Fire, Earth and Air. Great concept executed well!

Moss was a stand out with the curvilinear form in classic round tubing with a REFRESH theme and a re-skin from last years successful stand.

MG Design also had a REFRESH theme that was clean and well…refreshing – sorbet anyone?

MC2 and 3D Exhibits featured the “thought bubble” – makes you think doesn’t it?

Kubik – simple paper booth – loved the giveaway napkin sketchbook!

New Materials

More sustainable materials are making it into the marketplace at better price points and quality

SmartBoard by SMARTFORMS - Honeycomb paper product that can be

Printing – Pictura brings sustainable printing to the surface

Behind closed doors, I experienced the interesting and unusual paper products of Procedes Chenel.  Also Boothster – a sustainable booth builder.

Abex – reappeared after years of hiatus with an adorable booth – an airplane experience complete with their Abex stewardess.  Their Mod awards were delivered at the Hard Rock Café just before the infamous Exhibit City News Party.

And that infamous Exhibit City News party at the Hard Rock was great fun with sponsors that included Willwork and Moss providing specialty drinks such as The Grove and the Experience. The Spazmatics played to a dancing crowd and I must admit they are a very fun and talented music group disguised as some 70’s geeks!

Women in Exhibitions met with 40 women, mixing and speaking about “your personal brand”. Breaking out into tables of 10 we all learned from each other. The fact that we each have a personal brand whether you know it or not was a key first takeaway.  Pat Friedlander and I hosted the session. Thanks Pat! And if you are a Women in Exhibitions join our LinkedIn group!

The EDPA crowd was in full force; the FIT and Bemidji State University students were available on the show floor for meetings to see their portfolio’s.  Jump in if you need a design intern!  The EDPA international breakfast brought together exhibitors from around the world. The group discussion led by Marco Alvarez made us to realize that even though the USA has advanced our trade show habits, the rest of the world is still in crash and burn mode about creating and disposing their trade show booths. One reason for this is the high cost of storage in many places.

The social media channel was hot for those that DO participate.  Tweetups, checkins, and QR codes through BoothTag  all added to the value, info and fun.  I was personally excited to meet Ian McGonnigal (@iandavmcg ) a high level strategist from Jack Morton in real life (IRL) for the first time – and “old” favorites John Lindsey (@JohnDLindsey) from Moss, Melissa Skipworth from EFI (@EFIInc ) Exhibit Fair International and Eric Lukazewski (@EricLukazewski) from Echelon Exhibits were all tweeting away!

All in all this was another great year at Exhibitor.  The tradeshow floor was buzzing and the education was excellent.  I do attend a lot of events, conferences and trades show and I want to thank Lee Knight and his entire team for what they do for the Exhibit industry.  They have raised the bar on education, they care and train their instructors, something that is different from many education providers.  The Opening Night Party with drink tickets is open to anyone that comes to the trade show.  This party is always well attended and a great place to meet all the who’s who in the exhibit world.  All in all EXHIBITOR is a very well attended event and a must go for anyone in the exhibits industry!

Side bar:  Coincidently the TSEA has dissolved during this time.  The remains have been “given” to EACA and Jim Worm for dissection.

<table width=”458″ border=”0″>

Round Tables You Ask?

Ok – Here we are 2012, are we talking Knights of the Round Table a la King Arthur?

Or perhaps Dorothy Parker and The Algonquin Round Table?

Well no this time around it is ISES in the Round!

And I specifically want to talk to you about the POWER of Round Tables!

Round Tables as a proven Education and Networking Tool

In today’s digital age, communications flow at such a fast pace, our senses are on overload and traditional education is lost on our fast paced, inquisitive, self-focused minds.

Round Tables fast track and focus education and networking. In a short time one can gain valuable knowledge and connections with fellow Round Tablers and get / give information specific towards ones goal.  These activities lead to fast connections!

The Power of Connections!

I am chapter president this year and when I ask you, the constituents what you “want” you tell me connections? These high level members are WHO you want to MEET! Members and non members alike Round Tables give you the chance to be up close and personal with the best in the biz.

Will I see you there?  I am counting on you!

Tuesday February 21, ISES NYC Round Tables at a great new space: SOLO Event Space

Hosted by ISES NYC Board Members – Seasoned Event Professionals, Adam Sloyer (Sequence Events), Paul Neuman (Neuman’s Catering), Ellie Winkleman (SL Green Realty Corp), Mark Shearon (Proscenium), Morgan Steele Connacher (FourthWall Events) and me – Debra Roth (Pink Powered by Moss)

Leaders will host HOT Topics in their own expertise.

In addition Adam Levy – (@AlcoholProfessr) will taste test spirits as well as provide an open bar!

Food by Neuman’s Catering

support:

Solo Event Space

Broadway Party Rentals

Kevin McCormick Photography

The Special Event 2011 “Powerstation” – January – Phoenix, AZ

For our first Special Event as Pink Powered by Moss we wanted to showcase our new capabilities. The result was the Powerstation – a singular form that sweeps across the 20′ x 30′ booth creating an intimate interior space as well as an eye-catching exterior form. We were flattered to receive the “Best Overall Appearance” award at TSE and the Powerstation also went on to eventually win us an IFAI Outstanding Achievement Award for Interior Display!

The Special Event 2011 “JuiceBar” – February – Phoenix, Arizona

The “Powerstation” was not the only new form that debuted at The Special Event. We also introduced several new products such as the Portico and Satelights. The product that really helped us out throughout all of the trade-shows however, was the Juicebar. This charging station is hooked in with several different phone adapters as well as a power strip,  much to the relief of everybody in attendance. The Juicebar was ultimately went on to win “Best Rental Product” at the ISES Big Apple Awards!

Macy’s Flower Show “Tower of Flowers” – March – Chicago, Illinois

Macy’s in Chicago had initially purchased a series of Daisies from us to create a giant bouquet for their Glamorama event in August 2010. A few months later we received a request from them to build them a tower for their annual Flower Show.  To honor the Chicago skyline, we built a 5-story replica of the famed Hancock Building, that was whimsically wrapped in a translucent floral fabric and included shelves for live flowers on the exterior. An archway was cut at the base so people could walk through this massive structure and when looking up you could see our Daisies suspended from above;  we can’t wait to see how they use them next!

California Academy of Science – April – San Francisco, California

We were honored to be contacted by the California Academy of Science to create a shelter and backdrop for their “Snakes & Lizards: The Slither of Summer” exhibit this year.  We used a modified version of our Stargate, Mod Tunnel, and Cove to create an immersive educational experience. A Continental Divide was also ordered in the same green fabric as a backdrop to fill in one of the central spaces of the beautiful new museum in the center of  San Fran’s Golden Gate Park.

Gravity Free Conference – May – San Francisco, California

Another very fun and exciting project we had in San Francisco this year was providing the decor for Gravity Free - a multi-day multi-disciplinary design conference located at the Yerba Buena Center for Arts.  A jagged fabric tunnel marked the entrance of the space and you couldn’t miss our printed signage of all of the presenters as you walked through the hallway. For the luncheon and discussion room, several sheer fabrics were suspended above and pulled from several points giving the appearance of ghosts floating above.  It was great working with Group Delphi for this project which saw the introduction of several new forms and concepts that we have been developing.

ABC, Telemundo, & Oxygen Upfronts – June – New York, New York

During television’s annual upfront season, when networks typically release their lineups for the coming year, we had out hands full! First came the Oxygen Upfront event at Gotham Hall, where we installed a tiered Circle Surround as well as Flexi Tunnel that was modified to match the curve of the building. Shortly after, we found ourselves installing over 440′ of White Out Walls and Flexi Tunnels at the American Museum of Natural History for the Telemundo Upfront. We were also busy putting up a 66′ wide by 18′ tall projection Screen at the Avery Fisher Hall for ABC‘s annual event.

Zumba Conference – July – Orlando, Florida

For Zumba’s 10th Anniversary, they wanted to throw an event like they never had before. The celebration came to be at their annual Instructor’s Convention, which was held at the Peabody Hotel and the Orange County Convention Center. Brightly colored Turning Birds were scattered throughout both venues, forming archways at the Peabody and flying overhead at the OCCC to direct people to their respective classes. Over 6,500 people were in attendance for the conference, but it was hard to miss our presence!

MTV Video Music  Awards – August – Los Angeles, California

After receiving so much attention (and awards!) for building the stage set for MTV’s  Video Music Awards in 2010, we were once again requested to build the stage for this years edition, held at the Nokia Theatre.  This massive clam-shell like structure was just as striking and featured several archways surrounding the walkway for all of the performers and stars. It was great to see our structures in the spotlight once again!

Big Apple Awards – September – New York, New York

For the 2011 Big Apple Awards, held at the Times Center, we provided a fabric structures for both the stage set and the main lobby. We showcased our Ribbonesque tunnels for this event, rearranging them to redirect traffic throughout the evening. The stage set consisted of Continental Divides, Wave Walls, and Pillars. We were also honored to take home a few awards from the ceremony!

Bring to Light Festival – October –  Brooklyn, New York

Nuit Blanche has been a growing phenomenon throughout the world and this October; the 2nd annual Bring to Light was held in conjunction with other all-night art festivals throughout the world. For this one-night event, that took over several sites in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, we teamed up with artist Chakaia Booker for an interactive installation featuring three walls of textured fabrics and a series of projectors casting vivid shadows on the rear side. We also participated in the Mad Mappers Workshop the week before, where we contributed several fabric structures from our Pinkometry series, that were used for projection mapping demonstrations.

BizBash NY – November – New York, New York

For the 2011 edition of the New York BizBash Expo & Awards, held annually at the Javits Center,  we stacked together 15′ Ribbonesque frames to create a back wall that was then dressed with Circle Surrounds showing our portfolio. We wanted to demonstrate new ways of using some of our popular rental items to produce entirely different looks; something you can expect a lot more of in 2012!

LDI Conference – December -Orlando, Florida

This year we returned to the LDI Show, which was at the Orange County Convention Center. We debuted yet another new structure at this show – the Waveform (see more pictures of the Waveform as a Stage Set at the EDPA Show in Las Vegas). This structure is a 6-faced box-like form with an undulating front surface and it works great with lights on the interior. It can also be rearranged to make several different walls and columns – keep an eye out for this structure in the coming year. With 2011 coming to a close, we can look back and say that we’re very proud and honored to have completed such great work. Be sure to browse through our blog to get a more in depth look at all of these projects as well as those that we did not include. A special thanks to everybody who has worked with us and we look forward to what’s in store for 2012!

BizBash NYC takes place Wed. the 19th and I want to detail for you all the ways we are involved and I want to remind you to VOTE for me and other event professionals in our community!

BizBash NYC is this coming Wednesday the 19th of October at the Javits Center.  Pink Powered by Moss is in booth # 341.  Click here for a discounted Planner Pass! And of course you can Power UP! At our JuiceBar!

OK, so here is the skinny on where you can find me outside of our BOOTH!

• Tuesday Night October 18, 6 – 8 pm I am part of the group hosting the Social Media Soiree.  Come on down and network and have some fun at this pre-party at the 300 Club at Chelsea Piers.

• Wednesday the 19th – 11am Expo Floor opens!

• 12-2 You can find me in and out of the Social Media Lounge! Talking Twitter or whatever platform you would like to discuss or learn about!

• 12:30-1:30 – HOT TOPICS LUNCHEON – I will be hosting a table as ISES NYC President with my President Elect Paul Neuman

• a quicky 10 minutes at 4:05 on the show floor with ELI (Event Leadership Institute) and my topic is Boosting Your Creative IQ! (something we all can use!)

• I will float around the ISES booth # 354 where members that JOIN on site get headshots on the spot! (thank you Fifth Avenue Digital!)

• Event Style Awards – 5:00

• Pink Powered by Moss is a Finalist for our JuiceBar Charging Station in the category of Best New Product!

• ISES NYC is up for Best Corporate or Association Event Concept for the Chapter’s Sustainability Forum and Marketplace!

OK, OK – Here is the big one!  I am up for Event Designer of the Year in the BizBash Readers’ Choice Awards!  This means you have to go vote for me! Go VOTE now!  And do it again tomorrow,  and the next day and…..

Other ISES colleagues and board members are nominated and take a look!

- Association/Nonprofit Event Planner: Ann Dean,

- Corporate Event Planner: Ellie Winkleman, Caterer: Paul Neuman,

- Event Designer: Jes Gordon, Debra Roth

- Entertainment Act: The Three Waiters, Brad Wilson

- Event Producer: Reed Baker, Morgan Steele Connacher

- Venue Manager: Jessica Rothstein Berman

• After we catch our breath we will be at the Post-Expo Cocktail Reception from 6-8PM at the Sir Stage37 – 508 West 37th Street right by Javits!

Wow! We are really doing a lot at BizBash! So come on out and see us and the entire NYC events community!

This is a smaller conference (no trade show portion) and this creates a more intimate event which means you really get to meet new professionals and deepen the connections and relationships that you already have.

Our host city, St. Louis was HOT! It was also very humid!  Wow it was quite a summer.  Our host hotel, the Union Station Marriott is a beautiful old train station building.  I have enclosed some photo’s as it is just BEAUTIFUL! I loved the pool! And this hotel hosted us well.

We began with ISES Leadership Training – Many of you know, this year I am the ISES NY Metro Chapter President. So I have learned more about the societies rules and regs.  Actually before I became a board member who knew that we had a gavel and we motion and second the motion in our board meetings!

I especially liked sharing and problem solving with other board members, especially the other presidents and regional VP’s. It is a great way to get ideas and broaden the idea of what ISES is and what we can accomplish in our year.

The International Special Event Society is an association that connects peers, educates, and promotes best practices in the industry. Membership can bring you contacts, for both buyers and sellers, a job perhaps or a job candidate, knowledge and new information, and ISES is a place to make sure our EVENTS industry can be the best that it can be!

That said – One of my favorite parts of the event was The Spirit of Excellence. The award show the hard work and the camaraderie of ISES. ISES NYC is very excited to be awarded the Spirit of Excellence for Special Projects – the Sustainability Forum.  And our chapter member Morgan Steele Connocher was awarded Excellence in Member Recruitment.

The Esprit Awards finished off the 2011 ISES EventWorld with a beautiful room, a slew of wonderful awards and a bunch of partying events professionals.  A little steam was let off and FUN was had by all!

ISES – St Louis – August 2011

OK so – you may not know this, or maybe it is a case of I really don’t know it but to a lot of people in the Events industry I am FAMOUS!

I am regarded as the person responsible for bringing stretch fabric decor into this industry.

Ok I’ll take it!  You know it was a group effort and to that end I am going to post a brief history….but that is later….

Back to the facts.  Many years ago I was indeed an instrumental figure in introducing and sticking with Tension Fabric Structures entering into the event design decor market.

In this space I, with my company Pink Inc. and now more recently with Pink Powered by Moss have continued to innovate great product, for you to use in your events.  We have taken our products and designed stage sets, entry ways, full room decor and fully branded environments.

The class I taught with Sally Webb and Richard Foulkes proved to me that people enjoy hearing about this history and are excited to meet me and the group.

The session was about designing your corporation. Sally spoke from the corporate planning side, Richard from the Event Marketing side of it and I spoke from the artist /entrepreneur,  supplier / partner side.

What I heard from the audience members were things like:

•  We were genuine.   •  You admitted you were an artist and had no apologies about it!  •  They were impressed by an artist making it in industry.  •  They loved seeing my beginnings and where we are now. (many of these folks have followed Pink Inc. and are aware of our contributions to the industry.•  I showed a photo of my daughter and again people loved seeing that I was “real” (my greatest creation!)

The diverse perspectives allowed the information amount to more then each part. Everyone had a great learning experience!

The High Line is one of my favorite spots in Manhattan.  It is just such a unique park and it is fun to see and be there.  I often walk out of my way to walk it.  I love the look and the smell!

Since the High Line opened I have taken pictures on my walks and I wanted to share them with you!

For the winners of the Spotlight Awards you can check the Event Solutions site here!

The past few years Event Solutions relationship with Catersource has made this show a very vibrant place for Caterers and the food industry.  The tradeshow floor continues to show us lots of food, food service and a small area for non-food Event oriented product. The surprising part about that is that the dozen events participants I spoke with all were having a fantastic show. So go figure…

7 Trends seen on the Event Solutions trade show floor!

• Green Service is HUGE – I saw it over and over again

Here are three to view – more natural service utensils, plates etc. Verterra • Bamboo Studio • PackNWood

• Inflatable Decor

Inflate‘s inflatable Décor elements have been around for some time although they are new to the events industry

• Lounge Furniture continues to be hot hot hot

Including CORT who won Best Rental Company of the Year 2010

• LED lighting continues to push into the events industry

Wire-freeLED debuted the Caterlight at this show, a totally revolutionary product, a decorative wireless catering light!

• Photo Booths

Such as – Fifth Avenue Digital YouBooth

• Cupcakes, cake pops, mini cakes etc with parts and props to go with it

Roundabouts cupcake sleeves had an adorable booth concept – the wall was alive with chefs hands demonstrating the product (take a look below)

• ice free ice skating! Ice skating on synthetic ice!

The BH Skating Parks people really have there stuff together! Ice Skating anywhere! You and your guests just love the excitement of live ice skating!

Also take a look at some of the Table Top Designs on the trade show floor.

EventCamp National Conference #ecnc

There are a group of Event Professionals #eventprofs that are like mind and we come together to discover and discuss where events and technology/social media meet!

The 2011 National edition has left my head full of ideas and info on this concept. For me there is a feeling of the Future is Now and We Really have NO idea of what is going to happen especially with technology. In my opinion we ain’t seen nothing yet!

MY HIGHLIGHTS:

Hank Wasiak @hankwasiak – Asset-based Thinking – Hank was a real MadMan and he continues to work in several mediums including advertising. It was exciting to hear him proclaim that this IS the most interesting time in history in relation to technology.

• @LizStrauss @ChrisBrogan and others presented

• Gaming is a hot topic to engage your audience

• #eventprofs meeting f2f is still very exciting and many relationships are deepening and time marches on

• New faces have joined the eventcamp community and they are welcome with open arms.

• This great community is think tank for the future of events! Great resource!

There are SEVERAL Blog Posts that I would like to link here – So take a look below these pictures!!!

Here are the several Blog Posts and I encourage you to read all about it! I will also make sure to add to the list so come on back!

What I loved about Event Camp! Tahira Endean @tahiracreates #ECNC

85 Takeaways in 140 Characters or Less Liz King Events – @lizkingevents  #ECNC Part 1

85 Takeaways in 140 Characters or Less #ECNC Part 2 Liz King Events – @lizkingevents

Commentary: EventCamp Must Keep Evolving Mitchell Beer    in Corporate meetings and Incentives

Liz Strauss’ story about the fabric that only goes to those who love it!

Event Camp National Conference 2011 Highlights Social Media for Events Heidi Thorne @heidithorne Promo with a Purpose TODAY

What are you searching for (on Twitter)? Christina Stallings @MsStallings    light bulb moments

Everybody is a Champ at EventCamp! KiKi L’Italian  @kikilitalien    Acronym Soup

5 Reasons Why EventCamp Community Rocks My World Michael McCurry    @michaelmccurry    McCurry’s Corner

Lessons from Weekend Camp: EventCamp Deirdre Reid    Avectra Insights from Deirdre

Jessica Levin wrote: EventCamp’s Social Gaming Contest

Virtual Event Logs and Glenn Thayer, the EventCamp Virtual Event Host   @glennthayer

EventCamp Slide Share – lots of decks! Take a look!

Moving towards the #MPI European Meetings & Events Conference that also took place last week…

EMEC and EventCamp and Event Experiments oh my!! Midori Connonly   @greenA_V    Pulse Staging

The Visual Shift | Solution Room Experiment Ruud Janssen  @RuudWJanssen   TNOC – The New Objective Collective

Using Design as a Tool

Posted on January 10, 2011 by EventCampEC

During this session, participants shared their knowledge—as well as the gaps in knowledge—of how design can shape the effectiveness and success of events, especially trade shows. While a couple of participants said design was their forte, others had more limited knowledge.

Debra Roth (@pinkdeb), who led the session, asked that it be run as a dialogue, focusing first on how style affects events, and why first impressions matter. One participant said he was not very creative; he asked how to approach hiring professional designers, and what information they would need from him to build an effective show design.

Another participant added that while it can be easy to look at something and judge it, it can be more challenging to offer more detailed and useful feedback. The participant said she hoped to gain a better knowledge of the issues involved in design decisions.

Packaging all aspects of the event with a coordinated design gives the impression of a cohesive unit. When every aspect of the event looks coordinated, from pre-event mailings to the display on the convention floor, each piece’s design builds upon the last one. By the time a participant walks into the conference, they’re already familiar with the ideas and theme being conveyed.

Participants agreed on the need to achieve this by bringing a designer into the process very early, even during preliminary planning sessions. One participant said it is impossible to learn how to do everything involved with designing an event. So if design is not a company’s in-house specialty, someone must be found who can drive the event’s creative elements.

While most people do not think much about visuals, they are an important component of effectively conveying a message. People “don’t believe it’s going to affect the dollars,” a participant said. But smart use of design can enable a planner to engage people, so that they remember the event, and “look really smart when their nametag matches the poster on the wall.”

A participant offered an analogy: “When you sit down to eat and the plate doesn’t look appetizing, I don’t care how good it tastes, you’re not going to want to take that first bite. People aren’t going to want to listen to the message if it doesn’t look good.”

Another participant, who had more of a design background, expressed the need for dominant, subdominant, and subordinate or tertiary backgrounds. One element must be strong enough to become a focal point: this can be an attention-grabbing photo, outstanding typography, or any design element. However, if all the elements are dominant, the message becomes less effective.

“It’s kind of like Las Vegas, where everything has ‘oomph’ to it,” the participant said. “If you look at Vegas from a distance it all looks the same, and if you put one brick building there, it would probably stand out.”

“Our minds are really full,” another participant said. “Everything wants attention, but few things receive it, so really, less is more.” Different colors stimulate different chemicals in the brain, and can evoke certain feelings. Reading something at eye-level can deliver the message straight to the conscious mind, but messages read below eye-level can have a more “subconscious” effect.

The emotional response to color means that it can be most effective to show clients early drafts of logos or other artwork in black and white. This enables them to make the choice from a business perspective, because the lack of color helps clients narrow down their decisions.

A crowded display is not as effective as a simpler one. In print material, a common mistake is to fail to allow enough of a margin, enough space between letters in a heading, or breathing room around pictures. This idea applies to websites, as well as presentations. If participants can get all of their information from a screen, they have no reason to listen to the speaker, and essentially no reason to show up in the first place.  Planning presentations, then, means knowing the audience. “It’s important to establish in the beginning, ‘This is what we’re trying to communicate,’” one participant said. “Throughout the process, you have to go back and check [that you're focusing on that].” By knowing the audience’s objectives, and how they like their information, presenters can make their material more intuitive, and thus more effective. This means considering why people are attending a conference or event: is it for purely educational purposes, for entertainment, or to make a social connection?

Three-dimensional planning is just as important as 2-D aspects like web and print. For example, seating arrangements can drastically alter an event’s environment. Three-dimensional design is also a significant part of creating an “experiential” event. While events may claim to be experiential, many do not live up to this assertion. Participants discussed how to transcend that; the goal is to have attendees leave the conference thinking, “That was so great, you have to come with me next year.”

Participants discussed the use of lounges, debating whether they help or inhibit conversation. Many said that conversations can become static, and mingling can be inhibited by lounges; however, at the same time, lounges can offer a sense of comfort that can encourage conversation. If a conference does not offer lounges, some participants said they might be more inclined to go somewhere to sit down and network comfortably.

The group discussed how to maximize interaction at tradeshows, noting that free space can be utilized by scattering random seating around booths, which are arranged in a circle. Placing food in the middle of a circle and drawing people there takes much of pressure out of the environment, since people can see everything. This is key for vendors too—if attendees can stand in the middle of the room and see everything, it creates energy.

“What we often do is almost like spokes coming out of a wheel,” she said. “We’ve often scrapped what a traditional trade show looks like completely, but sometimes you have to do that when you’re redesigning.”

Session summaries produced by The Conference Publishers, the world’s leading specialists in capturing and repackaging conference content.