We just got news that we won IFAI’s (Industrial Fabrics Association International) Outstanding Achievement Award for Interior Display for our Powerstation booth! This booth made it’s first appearance at The Special Event in Phoenix, AZ before being re-branded for the Exhibitor show in Las Vegas, NV. You can read more about the booth in our blog posts from each trade show. We’d also like to congratulate our team for bringing in an Award of Excellence for the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards in the same category!

Below is a copy of the press release from IFAI (Click here to download release as PDF):

Pink Powered by Moss wins IFAI 2011 International Achievement Award

(Roseville, MN – Oct. 26, 2011) Pink Powered by Moss, New York, NY, was recognized with the 2011 International Achievement Award (IAA) for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications. The ceremony took place at the IFAI Expo Americas 2011 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md. on October 25.

Pink Powered by Moss received an Outstanding Achievement Award for its Powerstation project. The project was recognized in the competition’s Interior Display category.

The annual IFAI Expo Americas is the largest specialty fabrics trade show in the Americas, and for more than six decades, IAA has recognized excellence in design and innovation, highlighting truly spectacular work in the specialty fabrics industry.

Entrants were encouraged to submit projects and compete in 35 categories in this 64^th competition. In all, IFAI received 385 entries from 16 countries. Entries were judged by industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals, who were selected for their knowledge in a particular field of study or product area. Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function.

IFAI encourages specialty fabric projects of all sizes and type. The goal of IAA is to promote awareness of the specialty fabrics used in thousands of products and applications. All entries receive prominent recognition at IFAI Expo Americas. Entrants receive additional publicity through coverage in IFAI magazines, as well as press releases distributed to media professionals.

The International Achievement Awards competition is sponsored by IFAI, a not-for-profit trade association whose 2,000 member companies represent the international specialty fabrics marketplace.

Photos and detailed project descriptions of the winners are available at ifaipublications.com/iaa/.

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!

We are very proud to say that last night we were awarded the “B” award at the BizBash West Event Style Awards. We won this prize in the category of Best Staging and Set Design for the stage set we helped create for the MTV Video Music Awards last September. Congratulations to the entire team for this great accomplishment!

We were also instrumental in another award winner in the category of Best Overall Event Décor (Budget Under $50,000) which went to Warner Brothers Studios for the 2010 Warner Brothers International Television Distribution L.A. Screenings. For this event; our Money Trees were a major element; bringing color and flair to the garden-themed event.

Congratulations to the rest of the award winners as well! More to come from the BizBash West Expo soon . . .

This is my first night back from EDPA where we flew into JAX – Jacksonville, Florida and drove down to Sawgrass – Ponte Verde Beach.  Now the first day I arrived was before the activities started and I did make it to the beach. I hope some of you others did while we were there! I have just laid out the wonderfully different shells that I scooped up on my walk in the beautiful afternoon.

WOMEN IN EXHIBITIONS

My first activity was the Women in Exhibitions group where we meet at industry trade events. This edition 15 of us showed! A good turn out for EDPA we did kind of a freeform discussion and cover user generated questions and issues.  Since it was early in the event we all got to intro ourselves and continue the discussion over the next few days. (join our LInkedIn Women in Exhibitions group!)

Opening Trade Show cocktails – the room had a light and airy feel which was nice for mingling in a professional lounge. Moss had a booth with a new product introducing – it was fun to watch a positive response.

The Keynotes were good however not the dynamic motivational speakers of past EDPA’s. The were all Gems within our own industry that were allowed to shine in this environment. Each of them addressed Change from the point of view of Design which I of course loved!

EDUCATION

Education covered from social media to the latest tech gadgets and The Challenge of Producing Outdoors. Groups gathered through out the event at group breakfasts and Lunches and each night there were cocktail activities.

GALA
I always love The Presidents Ball and silent auction to watch the crowd dressed up. And this year as usual I was not disappointed. I guess I just like people watching, industry talk and formal dinner. Award winners and this year was not an exception.

And the awards went to:

The Hazel Hays Award ecognizes an individual for outstanding contribution to the exhibit industry and is open to members and non-members of EDPA. Jack McEntee was awarded the EDPA’s highest honor. An EACA Hall of Fame member, he founded I&D (now Nth Degree) in 1979, the company largely responsible for the creation and refinement of  the I&D labor contractor service category for trade shows.

The Ambassador Award recognizes an EDPA member for outstanding service to the organization. Don Svehla, publisher of Exhibit City News, was recognized for his long-standing support of EDPA, in particular his sponsorship of the Golden Ham Awards at EDPA ACCESS.

The Designer of the Year Award recognizes an individual for his or her contribution to enhancing the professional standards of exhibit designers. Errol Ahearn  of Global Experience Specialists (GES) took the prize.

The Chapter of the Year Award recognizes an EDPA chapter for its excellence and efforts in recruiting, events, fundraising, education and other activities. The Las Vegas Chapter won the prize.

The Eddie Award is the premier awards program recognizing exhibit firms, agencies and suppliers for marketing excellence. 3D Exhibits, an exhibit and event design, fabrication and management agency, earned the first place Eddie Award for the second consecutive year in the large trade show exhibit category. 3D Exhibits won for “EVOLVE,” the integrated trade show marketing program it created and implemented at EXHIBITOR2010. First place for online programs went to Derse, while first place for printed matter was awarded to ProExhibits.

The new EDPA president is Rob Cohen of DS&L, who replaces John Rose.

Event Solutions Spotlight Awards VOTING

Welcome – It is that time of year again –  the 2011 Spotlight Awards where you can view all the profiles for this year’s finalists and cast your votes to help determine this year’s recipients of these prestigious awards.
First you click here - then simply enter your email address and click submit. This will take you to the category page where you can view all the finalists and their profiles. To vote simply choose one finalist in each category and click submit. It’s that simple.

The 2011 Spotlight Awards are open for voting. These prestigious event industry awards are given out at the Event Solutions in Las Vegas February 28^th 2011.

These awards are a Readers Choice award as YOU vote for your favorite industry Designer Creative Director of the Year, Event Producer of the Year and Rising Star Male or Female.  Also company awards such as Event Company of the Year, Event Site of the Year or the one Pink Inc. won in 2010 Event Supplier of the Year.

DETAILED APPLICATION

What I do NOT think you realize is that these awards are very detailed to apply so that on the voting site our “application” are information rich Portraits of the industry through its individuals and companies. So although Pink Powered by Moss are contenders in these awards I URGE you to not just pick your friends but actually spend some time and look at these detailed profiles!

THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY

It is a great opportunity to learn about our industry from the BEST players. All of these professionals were nominated and were selected as FINALISTS. So take the time, and to look and learn about special events! Some of the excellent #EVENTPROFS include: AOO Events own David Merrell, Diane J. Butner from MGM Resorts Events, SLK Creative – Shari Lynn Rothstein, and Margarita Heinzel from The MeetingHouse Companies.

You MUST Look at the profiles and after you do, VOTE!

DreamWorld Backdrops, Grosh Scenic Rentals, Neuman’s and of course us – Pink Powered by Moss are all represented in the company categories.

TAKE A LOOK at the amazing information and then VOTE!

I love this industry and to that end I support all of the companies and individuals that are a part of the Event Solutions Spotlight Awards.  I will be posting a list of each of the Finalists here with their websites. I will continue this over the next days!

Proctor and Gamble Beauty Full Circle

In October 2009, P&G engaged Mark Addison’s EVENTSTYLE to create an event that was a brand new way of presenting a press conference. This event was to feature five distinct brands at one time rather then the traditional one event for each brand. Mark Addison’s EVENTSTYLE turned to Pink Inc. to partner with on the BEAUTY FULL CIRCLE design and décor.

The concept: Five P&G beauty brands: Hair – Pantene, Hair Color – Clairol, Skin care – Olay, Personal Care – Venus, and Make-up – CoverGirl would all be presented under one roof for an in depth trend forecast. This was done to promote a renewed awareness for new and current products within the Proctor & Gamble family.  The attendees, editors and beauty executives, would come together for a strategic mix of valuable information in an organized session that maximized the guests’ time by providing an encompassing spectrum of worthwhile content in a desirable, all-inclusive setting, creating a memorable experience!

The venue selected for Beauty Full Circle, was Skyline Studios and Gallery as it was a newly renovated event destination in the heart of located steps from Midtown, the Javits Center, Chelsea’s Gallery District and the latest, must-see site – High Line Park.

Guests entered through a dimensional, semi-circle gateway – Pink Inc.’s Flexi-Tunnel that created an engaging, psychological transition upon arrival. Pools of colored light and beauty projections emphasized the transformation as visitors emerge from the gateway entering into the Beauty Full Circle experience.

Greeted by a branded 12’ Circle, and a refreshing cocktail of pleasing fragrances the visitors entered the inspiration installations triggering positive associations for influential attendees. Each area surrounded with circular forms creating a dramatic environmental design encompassing you in the brand. Lounge seating made the stage a comfortable area for drinking in knowledge.

Upstairs in the Brand Experience Showrooms deconstructed cylinders interlock, and interlaced passageways allow for creative progression between expositions. Branded circular fabric forms adorn each room and upon entering each unique environment shows off its own individual brand concept and statement.

Each brand held mini-seminars within each individual brand experience. Guest lecturers ranging from celebrity aestheticians and renowned makeup artists to product scientists and brand ambassadors demonstrated the products and answered questions.

Food, drink, visual experience, brand engagements and of course a GREAT goody bag completed this P & G brand Press Conference/Brand Revitalization creating Beauty Full Circle!

What were the main goals/objectives of your event?

The main goals and objectives of this event were for P&G Beauty to achieve winning outcomes when brand forces combine to capture the attention of the North American Beauty Media, and products garner increased media interest by correlating specific attributes to cutting-edge trends and best-in-class data, revealed to attendees during a collaborative event.

On top of that this Press Conference/Brand Revitalization was to be unique as it was featuring five distinct brands at one time rather then the traditional one event for each brand. P&G engaged Mark Addison’s EVENTSTYLE to create this event that was a brand new way of presenting a press conference and in this case a brand revitalization. Five P&G beauty brands were presented under one roof.

Proctor and Gamble wanted to make sure through education their attendees would learn about the brands and be reinvigorated by the new product offerings.  In informal meetings and main stage discussions, the gallery floor became a comfortable lounge for mixing and mingling as well as information gathering.  Areas of discovery, trend vignettes, presentations and food/beverage service also helped our attendees relax into the environment to be ready to take in the new product information, demonstrations and actually experiencing some of the products.

The experience design and layout of this event was chosen to get the beauty editors and executives comfortable quickly so as to rediscover the P&G brands. Each floor had unique areas for both group and self-exploration. Brand Ambassadors were available through out the venue to demonstrate product and answer any questions, however they were not pushing product but subtly available as observers to respond based on need.

Each area visually tied back to the complete concept – Beauty Full Circle.  Each of the objects selected reflected the concept. Keeping the 5 brands unique yet on target for objective was challenging. In response, we brought in different designers to interpret each of the brands while sticking to the event goals and objectives.

Overall, Beauty Full Circle truly was a beautiful circle for our client P&G and all the beauty experts. The circular décor completed the concept as the knowledge gracefully was transferred creating a very successful Beauty Full Circle!

The methods utilized to achieve the event’s objectives

Many methods were utilized to achieve the Beauty Full Circle event.  From the selection of the venue to the choice of food everything fed back into the Beauty Full Circle concept.

The venue selected for Beauty Full Circle, was Skyline Studios because of its loft-like gallery, which was newly renovated. The availability of different floors enabled us to create the Tunnel Entry and Inspiration Installation on the ground floor gallery. It also allowed us to use a different floor with the Brand Experience Showrooms and another floor that served as our lunch and food service stations.  These distinct areas enabled us to create an atmosphere and flow for our beauty specialists.

Beautiful design and a carefully planned program taking into account the beauty editors and executives time constraints truly made this event successful. The attendee’s time was well planned out.  They were offered a morning or an afternoon session. Either session included a refreshing lunch.

The Inspiration Installation had both individual discovery areas and group education discussions.  Décor elements softened the space and made a relaxing environment. Lighting, scents, sounds and refreshments all added into the feeling we created for the experts to experience. Beauty editors, writers and high level executives all enjoyed the visual experience and thoughtful information.

As the guest entered through the Flexi Tunnel, their field of visions was completely taken over by the projections and the 12’ branded Moon used to “cap” off the tunnel. Once through, the room sprang to life, with many Moons of varying sizes covering the ceiling and leading the attendees to the staging area. A half circle stage led into a half circle fabric backdrop, creating a Beautiful Circle. Mimicking the Moon at the entry was a smaller branded Moon with the name of the event. The stage was then finished off with a stunning Circle Surround half-column, which used Moons in the Event’s colors, interspersed with circles with the Event Logo, and “empty” Moons, to make for an eye-catching stage.

The Brand Experience Showrooms all highlighted the products both visually and educationally, allowing our attendees full access to the brands and allowing a good interaction with people and products. Through spokesperson announcements and mini-seminars within each brand experience, guest lecturers that included celebrity aestheticians and renowned makeup artists, as well as product scientists and brand ambassadors demonstrated the products and answered questions, bringing the idea of Beauty Full Circle to the minds of each attendee.

We were successfully able to introduce new brands, and rediscover Olay, Clairol, Venus, CoverGirl and Pantene.

“The GARDEN” Pink Inc.’s new GREEN product line

Pink Inc. has developed a series of GARDEN structures that are sustainable.  Created from recycled polyester fabrics and aluminum tube frames, this visually stunning grouping creates flora indoors.  Both playful and decorative, these structures are meant to work together to create lush environments.  Some of the products are reworked from stock and others have been developed brand new. Take a look at how we made our GARDEN grow!

What did the client request? What was the purpose of this project?

In this case, we designed our own product for a new series of works that create a lush GARDEN environment.  The products can be used individually, although as by nature, the concept is to have groupings.  While working on the green concept we wanted to have sustainable and affordable, visually appealing products.  We created a mix to keep the price points lower when needed, but also when the budget allows, all structures together create a fantastic presentation.

The first new products we developed are simple shapes that go on Easy-Ups – a lightweight pipe and base system that we developed for this product.  Spears and Vines attach easily to the Easy-Ups and become the structure for the fabric forms.  Rigging is always another possibility.  Our DNA product transformed in shades of green and brown tones to become the stems and tree trunks to our various flowers.  The Daisy and Lily attach easily to the Easy-Ups for a tall decorative appeal.

The Coves, clad in greens, create giant leaf-like shelters. They add a large element for focus of the environment, a product placement or a lounge.  The MoneyTree was created from our Tornado stock shape with a Circle Surround leafy pattern overhanging, creating a feeling of a weeping willow.

Original new Performance Sculptures were developed for this series – The Giant Butterfly, Petal Pushers and Grass Hoppers complete the scene.

The Giant Butterfly on stilts is a very large image – 12’ tall and 10’ wide, these wings with LED flat light panel technology are truly HUGE and completely enhance the image. Created in collaboration with ACROBACK, these creatures are truly magnificent!

Petal Pushers – Beautiful flower petals and stamen sculptural costumes – watch them open and close, spin and blow in the wind. Petal Pushers are staged with nature sounds from speakers individually wired to each figure. These floral forms of color and shape continue to advance The GARDEN vision.

In which city, state and country was the project installed or used

San Diego – Convention Center

What is unique or complex about the project (this helps the judges understand you r challenges and solutions for the project

For the IFAI AAI awards I will focus on the fabric structure in the Giant Butterfly.  In this structure we employed flat panel LED sheets that were inset into the fabric.  Wiring and batteries sit on a harness close to the performer.  The harness was another tricky part of this costume.  The large wings had to travel small yet be sturdy and light for ultimate use. The wingspan of 12’ wide and 10’ tall was challenging to balance on the performers back.  To further complicate matters, we then added stilts to the costume!  We created 2 Giant Butterfly consutmers that can be on stilts or on the ground. These effective costumes mesmerized the crowd and continue to go out to events around the country and beyond!

The Space Station is another project that I would include in our GARDEN series – with our Mango Slope walls – this structure is an all-in-one table and backdrop with cost effective branding. It is effective as a tasting station, a 10’ x 10’ booth or information stand.  Colors and printing can be easily switched out for maximum usage.

What were the results of the project   client satisfaction, continued business?

We have continued to use these structures at trade show booths and events and we are showing and monitoring the results as we go.

Our efforts are paying off with the structures continually going out.

Is there any other relevant information?

This is a mix and match look that has been successful looking at it from a variety of angles.  Our $2009 Summer Special is the GARDEN so we shall see How our Garden Grows!

The NY Metro Chapter of ISES held it’s Big Apple Awards on June 30th 2010, the last day of the fiscal year. Our Pink company had a lot to celebrate with the new Pink Powered by Moss and we won several awards!

Our Three, count them Three Big Apple Awards for:

P&G Beauty Full Circle – with Mark Addision, EVENTSTYLE: ISES Collaboration

Best New Rental Product: The Garden Series for the Architectural Digest Home Show – Merchandise Mart

The Twitter Lounge – with Elizabeth Beskin, Fifth Avenue Digital: Best use of Social Media at BizBash NYC

I am thrilled to be Inducted into the ISES NY Metro chapter – HALL OF LEGENDS!

(Of course – since I am an event designer I am wondering where is this Hall of Legends and do I get to do the décor? Ok, ok so – what does it looks like? I imagine it as the long hall of photos or perhaps statues)

Hall of Legends - ISES NY Metro

The 2010 Hall of Legends four honorees are:

Walter Rauscher, currently vice president of Ark Restaurants, he spent much of his career at Tavern on the Green. Walter was introduced by Event industry strategist and business growth consultant  Howard Givner

Marcy Blum of Marcy Blum & Associates - founder and president Marcy Blum is an acclaimed event planner and entertaining expert. Marcy was introduced by premiere event designer Preston Bailey

Francis Tedesco CEO of Academy Bus was recognized for his companies’ extensive experience in special event and convention transportation. His introduction was by event and destination management expert Jaclyn Bernstein of Empire Force Events

Debra Roth  – and ME! Formerly CEO and creative director of Pink Inc. I am now Director of Design & Creative Events for Pink Powered by Moss. I was introduced by my friend and colleague Elizabeth Beskin of Fifth Avenue Digital and the Album Boutique

The Induction into the HALL OF LEGENDS occurred at the ISES Big Apple Awards event at The Edison Ballroom. It was a full night of festivities and awards and it was truly a stellar evening!

I know you are all dying to read my acceptance speech so here you go!

You can also read my history that Elizabeth Beskin referred to in her introduction of me. Read it Below!

And also take a read of our ISES NY Metro 2010 President – Howard Givner’s speech on the State of the Industry from the induction night.

“It’s an honor to be here tonight

I have been working for a long time and thank you Elizabeth for the brief history of my
career.

I am one of the pioneers of Fabric Structures as an event medium.
In the last few years I have watched this design form become more and
more known–as Pink Inc has been pushing fabric into the industry and we have expanded our
marketing and now with the help of the internet and modern technology – we all
have many more educated consumers to bring Fabric décor to their events worldwide!

All of that said – I really do want to thank you – the event producers, the event designers,
the exhibit builders and architects that are utilizing fabric architecture in their fields. I
take this as an acknowledgment that you all realize the wonderful qualities of tension
fabric and the limitless design possibilities achieved with this fabric medium.
I also want to thank my staff – whom there have been many over this 30 year period –
as you all know – events is a team sport and I never could have accomplished any of this
without my team.

I wanted to especially thank my staff right now as many of you know that we are going
through a transition. My company Pink Inc.’s inventory and trade name have recently
been acquired by Moss – our largest competitors and we are all now happy to be a part of
the Moss family. I now have my dream job!
There is a table of Moss folk here and I would like to thank them and ask them to stand as
you will be seeing more of us around!

And at that table is also my parents – who of course put up with me and years of my
working on a lot of crazy creative stuff. I really do appreciate them always encouraging
me to follow my dreams! And also my good friend Gina – who has watched Pink Inc,
from day 1!

Well, to my folks, staff, producers, clients and my new work family I am honored and
flattered to be recognized into the NY chapter ISES Hall of Legends….”

—-

We have known each other a long time – back in Spandex at NYH&R
I went to Art School in Boston – School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston or SMFA for short!
I studied Fine Arts – Sculpture and Performance Art.

I fell into fabric –
I fell into Pink Inc.
It was collaboration with another now well known fabric provider. (Cindy Thompson)
We were still in CollegeAs I sometimes say –
Fabric picked me and so did business

Back in the day – our first opportunities were Museum of fine Arts Boston,
Our performance art was sculptural form moving through space – We soon built
environments for the animated figures, lighting and sound was added to complete the
scene. We grew out of the opportunities, vision and desire.

Moving to NYC (in 1984) I continued to work on Pink Inc and we toured all over USA
and the world – Pink Inc.’s Live Art, Puppetry, Installations kept developing for events
and environments. In 1990 we took our first NYC loft in Soho and in 1998 when we
moved to 23rd street we really buckled down into the event business

Décor rental was the thing – our first special event conferences were in 1993 and
1994 and we continued to morph while we were developing décor. We were also
developing FabricAction and creating large scale installations while we were building
and developing our own brand of event design with Fabric structures

By 1990 my ex-partner had now developed Transformit and we both were gaining power
in the Special Events Industry – In fact in those days Cindy was good friends with Bill
Moss and had cemented a relationship – I had met him during that time as well…

Which brings me to today – I am going to fast forward where Debra and Pink Inc are moving
onto a larger playing field with much opportunity for growth and great career achievements.”