Table Setup

September 14, 2017

Diffa Chicago’s Dining by Design

At Diffa Dining by Design at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart in November 2015, doodling was encouraged at the table designed by Allsteel and Henricksen. The design incorporated pages plucked from adult coloring books, and centerpieces held crayons and colored pencils.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash

Guests sipped cucumber-basil drinks with gin-infused compressed watermelon bites during a mid-day break. Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa provided the cocktails and cuisine for the conference.

Photo: Rebecca Davidson

MGM set-up an extensive candy bar in the theater, along with a late-night food station of pizza, soft pretzels, hot dogs, crab-cake sliders, and grilled cheese.

Photo: Sardari Group

Chocolate and cheese dessert stations from Occasions Caterers fostered engagement and networking among guests who were not seated together during dinner. The chocolate station featured pave au chocolat, dark chocolate yuzu bonbons, seven textures chocolate cakes, lace lollipops, and more. The cheese station came with a mix of sweet and savory accompaniments like dried fruit, toasted walnuts, and jams to pair with the four cheeses.

Photo: Courtesy of CSI Washington, DC

Glowing Centerpieces

In a nod to its exhibit on bioluminescent organisms, the American Museum of Natural History's junior benefit in 2012 featured bright lighting and glowing decor. Illuminated spheres and LED neon-colored wires decorated the dinner tabletops.

Photo: Denis Finnin/American Museum of Natural History

A fortune-teller from sponsor American Express sat at each place setting. They were meant as conversation-starters, with questions like "If you could give your 21-year-old self a heads up about something, what would it be?"

Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Girlboss

David Stark and his team designed the sixth annual Brooklyn Museum's Artists Ball, which took place in April 2016 at the New York museum. Inspired by Constantin Brancusi’s sculptures, particularly the “Endless Column,” Stark transformed the space with towering totems made from stacked rolls of household and industrial paper goods. They rose from the dining tables in varying heights, up to a soaring 21 feet.

Photo: Susie Montagna

For the National Geographic Society’s June 2013 anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C., Syzygy Events International used custom glacier ice sculptures as on-theme centerpieces.

Photo: Robert Isacson

At Diffa Chicago’s Dining by Design in November 2013, the Coalesse table, designed by Gensler, had subtle twinkle lights and a wishbone pattern swirling on its walls. The table's centerpiece was a dense arrangement of wishbones, laid over a row of softly glowing electric candles.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash