Unique Conference Ideas

At this year's TED, the world-famous conference known for its 18-minute talks, Target hosted a social space called "A Mind for Design," which had seating inspired by brain waves. The reactive space changed colors as guests interacted with it, and it had a live Twitter stream that showcased real-time Tweets from conference attendees.

The edgy conference, which focuses on creativity and commerce, had its first run at Montreal's New City Gas building last May. Communal seating areas let guests perch on swings hanging from an arty canopy. Around the space, couches flanked with lamp-lit end tables lent a cozy, residential atmosphere.

Based in California, Shelter Co supplies luxury tents—and can coordinate planning details—for corporate meetings and retreats. The European-style tents can be filled with couches, tables, and decorative rooms to create intimate gathering spaces.

Centerpieces were instructed to make eye contact with guests, and communicate only nonverbally.

Yellin embedded his blocks with cloudy forms and cut-out images of people to convey the sky, memories, and detritus.

David Stark used 6,000 pounds of recycled paper to create topiary centerpieces, oversize chandeliers, and a podium backdrop.

Chicago caterer Entertaining Company can deliver its stacked sandwiches wrapped in paper branded with a company’s logo. The caterer’s Italian Deli Rama sandwich (pictured) is made with mortadella, Genoa salami, Buffalo mozzarella, basil pesto, roasted red peppers, artichokes, and handmade foccacia.

The first night's dinner was catered by Peter Callahan Catering, which served guests miniature pizzas in Sonos boxes during cocktail hour.

Guests were encouraged to take photos in the rooms to post to Instagram with the hashtag #SonosPlay. The tagged images were then projected onto blank canvases that hung on the walls.

Project Interior's table was one of the most interactive. Guests grabbed a pair of large golden scissors to snip affirmative statements written on small pieces of paper from an overhead canopy. The statements included phrases such as "Act With Love" and the Matisse quotation "Creativity Takes Courage."

Kaufman Segal's quirky setting for Oscar Isberian Rugs Inc. had wooden hands, roses sprouting out of teacups, and more small cacti plants.

Samsung Mobile went on a high-profile launch event tour for its new Galaxy Note II. For the West Coast event in late October, hosted at the Beverly Hills home of interior designer Kelly Wearstler, Tony Schubert and Event Eleven built a 80- by 40-foot tent on the home’s tennis court, where four custom-built activation pods allowed guests to interact with the new device.

The Linux Foundation creates comfortable spaces where conference attendees can meet and collaborate.

"From atop a 20-foot-tall viewing platform, guests viewed a giant optical illusion ‘street’ drawing created by chalk artist Michael Macaulay as well as many other radical art installations, sculptures, performances, and video art pieces." —David Stark

French artist Antonin Fourneau practices water light graffiti, a process that involves using a damp sponge brush to draw on an installation made from thousands of small LED lights that light up when touched by water. Fourneau’s interactive performances are customizable, allowing audience members to try their hand at the art form. Having performed for brands including Grohe and the Syfy channel, Fourneau is available for travel; pricing is available on request.

Toronto-based street painter David Johnston uses chalk to make realistic trompe l’oeil images at live events for brands such as 20th Century Fox, Canon, and Loblaws. He creates the seemingly 3-D scenes and objects on flat surfaces such as cement or canvas. Johnston is available for travel throughout the United States and Canada; pricing is available on request.

New York artist Charlene Lanzel creates images in sand on a light table. As she works, a camera projects her progress onto a screen so the audience can watch. Her standard performance is a 25-minute set of original designs, but clients can also request logos and other custom images. Fees range from $1,200 to $5,000.

“We wanted to bring the Reidel brand to life organically with this centerpiece chandelier of 125 champagne flutes, each filled with a tinted resin and a ‘foam’ of micro glass beads.” —Andrew Stevens

The Wedding Co. is hoping to collect 5,000 origami cranes, which will be used to create a chandelier for the 2010 show.

Groups can brainstorm while working on artistic projects or tinkering with games.