Inspiration

In the new networking area at Sapphire Now in June in Orlando, guests could choose from seating options such as wooden pallets, leather cubes, and cadrboard cubes, which were strong enough to sit on but light and easy to move.
 

At Social Media Week London in September, shipping crates became “Skypepods.” Each unit was equipped with Microsoft products and enabled with Skype so attendees could get work done or chat with colleagues online.

Pallet chairs from Dublin company This Is What We Do were one of the seating options in the Media Village at Web Summit in November 2014.

On Web Summit’s Pitch stages—site of the event’s start-up competitions—organizers used upcycled chairs made from chipboard.

At C2 Montréal in May, organizers used custom furniture pieces that were designed to facilitate conversations. Overall there were fewer chairs than people to encourage mingling.

TEDxKalamata hosted its event in Greece’s ancient Theatre of Messini, taking advantage of the amphitheater’s unique atmosphere and seating.

At Cisco Live in San Francisco in May, attendees reclined on beanbag gaming chairs in the halls of the Moscone Center to watch keynotes, do work, and take breaks. Organizers said they chose this style chair as an "edgier but still functional" alternative to traditional beanbags.

Guests had two options for lunch at Cisco Live: they could sit outside in the Yerba Buena Gardens on Cisco-branded blankets or at round tables, or they could eat inside the Moscone Center where organizers used picnic tables and Astroturf to create a park-like feel.

At the WWD Beauty C.E.O. Summit in 2012 at the Breakers Palm Beach in Florida, the apothecary-inspired registration desk held different-sized jars filled with colored liquids, cotton balls, and Q-tips. Pink peonies in white vases, bright-colored towels, diffusers, and WWD magazine issues also adorned the desk.

Fairchild Fashion Media's Kristen Wildman worked with XA to create the modern design of the WWD C.E.O. Summit inside the Plaza in New York in 2013. A color scheme of bright yellow against white was used throughout, including in the registration desk, giving the decor a clean, uniform look.

Shiraz Events designed the registration desk at the FN C.E.O. Summit in Miami Beach in 2013. The bold blue and yellow table featured a grid behind it featuring the summit logo, and it held flowers and candy jars with white treats.

This past weekend was the 15th annual New Yorker Festival, three days of panels, Q&A sessions, performances, and excursions related to literature, entertainment, and politics. An Acura activation at one festival venue included photo ops inspired by New Yorker cartoons.

Held on September 30 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's annual benefit was dubbed “A Celebration of John Williams: Opening Night Gala Concert.” As a tribute to the film composer, who scored the Star Wars trilogy, stormtrooper and Darth Vader characters greeted guests at the post-concert dinner.

To celebrate the first nonstop flight from Dallas's Love Field to Orlando International Airport on October 13, Southwest Airlines had the Dapper Dans—a barbershop quartet that performs regularly at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom—harmonize for passengers mid-flight.

From our roundup of unique culinary combinations, Chicago's Entertaining Company makes Indian bruschetta with crispy poppadums with paneer, topped with red and yellow tomato chutney, tamarind syrup, and cilantro.

Mattel, a new sponsor this year, created its "Crazy Combinations Lounge" based on its board game Apples to Apples with a red and green color scheme and games on every table. The company offered free apple cider to visitors, as well as a photo booth with silly oversize props and a charging station. Comedians such as Nikki Glaser and Amy Schumer stopped by the lounge to hang out and play games.

As part of Ben & Jerry's "Thumbs Up for Fair Trade" campaign, attendees could stamp their thumbprint onto a mural promoting the three pillars of fair trade. Afterward, they could sample the brand's Bonnaroo-inspired Coffee Caramel Buzz ice cream flavor.

The Pageant of the Cosmos offered carnival games with an Adult Swim–inspired twist. For "Balloonicorn in Space," participants donned a unicorn hat and had to pop as many ceiling balloons as they could.

Staying hydrated was important during the four-day festival in the heat and sun. Ten water-filling stations were spread through the grounds, providing filtered water from the farm's 22 wells.

The 20-foot lighted fountain, known informally as the "mushroom," provided a cool break from the heat of the day, as well as a place to shower. There was also a Ferris wheel that offered attendees a fun ride and great views.