Art

The “Don’t Explore Without It” room, designed by Clandestinos, offered a fantasy aesthetic with whimsical sculptures and animals.

For the culinary room, artists Troublesome Troy and SmugUgly designed a noodle-theme vignette inspired by their recent trip to Japan. Guests could pose in a life-size bowl of “ramen” with "noodles" that hung from oversize chopsticks.

The “Don’t Be Entertained Without It” room, created by artist Mediah, provided a timed, kaleidoscope-like 4K mirrored experience that had changing animations.

The beach-theme “Don’t Summer Break Without It” room showcased colors and textures inspired by Miami. Design and decor elements included a hammock, a purple palm tree illustration, and a multi-color “pool.” The room was created by Francis Pratt and Mango Peeler.

Attendees could literally slide into the final room, “Don’t Have Fun Without It,” created by artist Duro The Third. Riffing off the popular ball pit trend, the room featured a foam cube pit. Wooden lighting bolts were installed in the ceiling.

This year's step-and-repeat served a dual purpose: print photographers were positioned on one side while video media conducted interviews on the other. "It was very bold and graphic and a nod to the pop colors which tied back to the artists [Alexander] Calder and [Henri] Matisse," said Stefan Beckman, who returned as the Awards' creative director. "The light was incredible in the atrium." At the entrance, there was also a site-specific Swarovski sculpture made from sheet metal and covered with crystallized dust. The graphic black and white arrivals carpet, created by Aquafil and Ege Carpets, was woven with what was once waste from oceans and landfills.