As anyone with a business can tell you, event design takes a lot of hard work, but it’s more than worth the effort. Businesses and organizations need the expertise of event designers to retain, celebrate or entice customers and patrons with parties, celebrations, conventions and more. Check out the following event design tips to make your next one unforgettable.
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What is Event Design?
While the event planner typically handles the logistics of the event, such as securing a venue or hiring caterers, an event designer takes care of the creative decisions. Event design covers everything from the material of your tablecloths to the color of the frosting on a cake. The right design can make a fun event unforgettable, giving your own business more exposure via social media and word-of-mouth. Learning some tips and tricks can make it much easier to find the killer design that makes your event a smash hit.
Event Design Tips & Decoration Ideas
Whether you are a seasoned event designer or a novice, here are some tips for designing an event to remember.
1. Location, Location, Location
Just like in real estate, location is king when it comes to event design. You’ll have to make certain design choices to take full advantage of what the venue has to offer. If your event is outside on a golf course, you’ll naturally make different design choices than if it was in a chic, glassy atrium. You could create an amazing atmosphere for your fete, yet if it doesn’t work with the venue, guests may leave early and won’t rave about it afterward.
2. Set the Stage
Make sure your furniture pieces match the event. A cocktail party doesn’t need round tables for 10. Instead choose pieces that will encourage mingling, like taller, round tables for standing. For a formal presentation or awards ceremony, have banquet tables in the main area with some areas for mingling off to the side. The furniture you choose will exert a constant, subtle influence on interactions throughout the event.
3. Color Changes The Emotion
The colors in a room can dramatically change the feelings it evokes. Dark colors create a somber and quiet atmosphere, while bright, vibrant colors encourage mingling and talking. Colorful signage can draw attention to a company logo and can be useful for introducing corporate sponsors.
4. #Mood
To help your clients create a memorable event for their guests, you’ll need to set the mood with the right music and lighting. Are your clients interested in a raucous party? Decorate the party area with disco balls and play some fun dance music. If an event is geared toward corporate training or team building, make sure there is adequate lighting for taking notes and empowering or inspiring entrance music.
5. Encourage Participation
For a truly memorable event, utilize the power of social media. Have signage directing guests how to best share their experience with hashtags or posting guidelines. Encourage people to geotag themselves at your event to share their location with their friends, families, and business colleagues. Create dynamic spaces using large printed banners for guests to take pictures to share across social media platforms. This increases exposure for your client’s business and your own event design skills.
6. Put Yourself in Your Guests’ Shoes
This tip requires that you really think about all the great events that you’ve ever been invited to. What did you like most about them? What was the volume of the music or the brightness of the lighting? Was there a schedule of events clearly printed for all to see? Perhaps guests would like directions to the restroom facilities, especially in a large, confusing venue. Will guests know where cellphone usage or smoking is allowed? Make the event easy to navigate for the guests.
7. Serve Food Consistently, But Not Too Much
The best events serve their guests a delicious array of foods. But unless it is a sit-down dinner, be sure to space out the serving of food so as not to overwhelm your guests. Guests who eat too much, too fast tend to leave events early. Make sure to be consistent in your serving of food, but don’t stuff your guests.
8. Create a Grand Entrance
Everyone likes to be a guest at an exciting or innovative event. Even if your client wants a basic setup, make sure there is something special and breathtaking about your welcome space. Even something as simple as a large backdrop or floor graphics can create the perfect entrance area. A jaw-dropping welcome is something that guests will remember and talk about.
9. Create an Exit Strategy
Although a welcoming entrance is important to defining your event, it’s also important to guide event-goers to the exits safely and efficiently. You could make announcements about how to retrieve cars or find the parking areas, but these might be too intrusive to your event. Instead, utilize creative signage that can help guests navigate their way around, and out of, the event venue.
10. What is the Brand?
Branding is by far the most important aesthetic consideration of any event for the client. This gathering, though designed and executed by you, actually represents the client and their vision. Whether this event is meant to attract customers or thank employees, it needs to be “on-brand” for the client. Use printed signage and decor that uses the same fonts as colors as your client to create a space that truly represents their aesthetic.
Now that you have a few tips on successful designing, you are well on your way to creating dynamic, memorable events. By focusing on aiding the client to create their perfect event, you will garner a reputation for helping people strengthen their brand. That will in turn help your business to continue to thrive.