Thinking Outside The Box
A highly sought-after interior designer once shared how his inspiration for designing a home is to know the client as “part of the family”. This is more than just a sit-down meeting; it’s the effort of taking part in their life, connecting with them on a personal level, and developing a style that accentuates who they are. The same can be said of events at all levels. Yes, there’s always a new trend and the current year’s favorite colors. However, if event professionals aren’t careful to know their client, they will end up with a year of replicated events. No one wants to cruise around social media and see their event’s “special design” repurposed again and again all because the event team has lost its creativity and settled in the valley of boring!
How do you bust out of the box and find the perfect fit for your event?
Let’s be smart and determine your budget. Do you really have capacity for a step-and-repeat backdrop and all the added costs, or should you lean towards a less expensive yet distinctive statement for photo ops?
Once you know the parameters of your budget, the second recommendation is to turn your design research into an explorative journey and get those creative juices flowing. Dig past the first few pages of the most viewed pictures on Google and Pinterest. Research when and where the design originated to establish its familiarity in your region. If you’re in the USA, you may enjoy exploring European or Asian visuals, styles, and techniques. This will have you out of your routine in no time!
Thirdly, for teams managing an annual event and wanting a refresh, consider a brainstorm session with the goal of reimagining your event from start to finish. Some questions and ideas to pitch at the beginning stages of event planning could be the following:
Consider a new table selection and room schematics instead of the repurposed layout from last year.
From your design research, what new color scheme or design elements could be implemented in the lighting, graphics, or tablescape opportunities?
Reimagine the stage performances or keynote speakers with video enhancements. Maybe even contemplate an upgrade in entertainment. Viewpoints from staff or board members who aren’t always in the planning sessions may bring significant ideas to the table.
When was the last time your marketing team rebranded the event or gave a facelift to the logo, promotional online content or event merchandise? Ideally, this should happen every year to differentiate the event in the attendee’s mind.
Explore ways to add personality to your event that will grab the audience’s attention. Maybe that means having fun with walk-on music or effective visuals on screen. Perhaps, bring some fun to the cocktail hour by revamping into a speakeasy vibe or change up the entertainment with some new vibrant cultural sounds. Possibilities are endless!
The last piece of advice is to trust your A-Team vendors who have the reputation of cutting-edge quality and heed their opinion when they suggest something new. If they cringe when you’re considering the same boxwood wall from last year, there’s a reason for that. A good guess is they are exhausted from the countless events where that same boxwood wall has been requested!
At River Media, we thrive on creating events that fit our clients’ needs as well as style, all while exploring new opportunities to elevate each one into a unique event. Contact our team for a consultation, and share feedback or questions on how you can inspire your team to “Think Outside the Box”. We’re here to help you achieve your best event yet!