Bumble's Empowering Connections
The dating and networking app’s sprawling SXSW space was split into three sections reflective of the different uses. Each had its own corresponding color theme, but were united by honeycomb details and sleek fonts, built out by design company Preacher. Production company Pen and Prue Productions produced the event.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury for BizBash
Photo ops included a giant picture frame decorated with flowers.
Photo: Zack Whitford/BFA.com
The 21st edition of the Knot Gala—held in New York in October and designed by Dallas-based Emily Clarke Events—took on a dark woodlands fantasy theme inspired by Shakespeare. Unique touches included floral statue entertainers from Scarlett Entertainment who greeted attendees at the entrance and posed for photos.
Photo: Hechler Photographers
Best Floral Design for an Event or Meeting
Winner: Neutrogena x Kerry Washington In-Store Event
Submitted by B Floral
For this Neutrogena in-store event with actress Kerry Washington, which was held at Ulta Beauty on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York-based floral design company B Floral created a branded ombré floral wall backdrop constructed entirely out of fresh flowers, including various shades of roses, calla lilies, and orchids. The floral colors were inspired by the makeup color palette.
Submitted by B Floral
For this Neutrogena in-store event with actress Kerry Washington, which was held at Ulta Beauty on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York-based floral design company B Floral created a branded ombré floral wall backdrop constructed entirely out of fresh flowers, including various shades of roses, calla lilies, and orchids. The floral colors were inspired by the makeup color palette.
Photo: Courtesy of B Floral
Best Interactive Technology for Events
Winner: Indeed Interactive Worldwide 2018
Submitted by VIVA Creative
During Indeed Interactive Worldwide 2018, held in Austin in May, VIVA Creative designed a custom 30-foot-wide kinetic touch wall that incorporated projection mapping, sound, and kinetic paint. Interactive content showcased Indeed’s brand story and also helped attendees choose which expo booths to visit first, therefore enhancing guest flow throughout the event. Overall, the touch wall gained 8,000 onsite interactions and thousands of social media impressions.
Submitted by VIVA Creative
During Indeed Interactive Worldwide 2018, held in Austin in May, VIVA Creative designed a custom 30-foot-wide kinetic touch wall that incorporated projection mapping, sound, and kinetic paint. Interactive content showcased Indeed’s brand story and also helped attendees choose which expo booths to visit first, therefore enhancing guest flow throughout the event. Overall, the touch wall gained 8,000 onsite interactions and thousands of social media impressions.
Photo: Raymond McCarthy Bergeron
At the #Pose4Love activation, guests could watch messages of positivity recorded by cast members. They could also write positive messages of their own and post them on the wall; the messages will be shared with members of L.G.B.T.Q. organizations.
Photo: Sean Smith
The event also had a photo booth that invited guests to pose with giant glow sticks.
Photo: Andrew Toth/Getty Images for FX Networks
During the 118th U.S. Open Championship, which took place at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, in June, U.S.G.A. partner American Express built its first-ever American Express Card Member Club on site. Located at the 10th hole green, the club offered card members and fans lounge seating, along with food and beverage items for purchase. The space was an extension of the brand’s marketing campaign called “Powerful Backing: Don’t Do Business / Don’t Live Life Without It;” some of the clubhouse's wall decor featured the messaging with the words “live life” spelled out in golf tees.
Photo: Michele Laufik/BizBash
Inside the club, guests were able to grab essentials like binoculars and radios, play Golden Tee arcade games, and sign golf balls, which were included in an ever-evolving wall display.
Photo: Michele Laufik/BizBash
During the 67th N.B.A. All-Star Game weekend in February, N.B.A. partner Kia hosted a public activation at Hudson Loft in downtown Los Angeles. The space, which had athlete appearances throughout the weekend, was decorated with roughly 700 basketballs that were later donated to the Girls Inc. Center.
Photo: Courtesy of Kia
Best Product Launch
Winner: Moxy Hotels, Times Square Grand Opening
Submitted by IMG Live
Moxy Times Square had its grand opening in October 2017, with a launch event produced by Made, a division of IMG Fashion, that turned part of the hotel into an adult playground. Targeted toward millennials, the Instagrammable event featured a variety of neon signage, a black-light basketball court dance floor, tire swings, and a pink ball pit. The event also had a puppy playpen where guests could adopt dogs. One of the event’s entertainment highlights was a live double dutch routine.
Submitted by IMG Live
Moxy Times Square had its grand opening in October 2017, with a launch event produced by Made, a division of IMG Fashion, that turned part of the hotel into an adult playground. Targeted toward millennials, the Instagrammable event featured a variety of neon signage, a black-light basketball court dance floor, tire swings, and a pink ball pit. The event also had a puppy playpen where guests could adopt dogs. One of the event’s entertainment highlights was a live double dutch routine.
Photo: Samantha Nandez/BFA.com
Best Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Program
Winner: The Experience by Dell Technologies at SXSW 2018
Submitted by Lacy Maxwell Experiential
Dell’s experience at South by Southwest in March aimed to highlight the brand’s closed-loop recycling process—and to promote its Legacy of Good campaign. Produced by Lacy Maxwell Experiential, the activation featured installations, including a photo booth created by photographer Benjamin Von Wong with what many would consider rejected scraps, a fish sculpture created with ocean plastic, and a ceiling installation featuring Nikki Reed’s line of repurposed metallic jewelry. The activation also hosted political forums, influencer events, and panels about corporate social responsibility in the tech industry.
Submitted by Lacy Maxwell Experiential
Dell’s experience at South by Southwest in March aimed to highlight the brand’s closed-loop recycling process—and to promote its Legacy of Good campaign. Produced by Lacy Maxwell Experiential, the activation featured installations, including a photo booth created by photographer Benjamin Von Wong with what many would consider rejected scraps, a fish sculpture created with ocean plastic, and a ceiling installation featuring Nikki Reed’s line of repurposed metallic jewelry. The activation also hosted political forums, influencer events, and panels about corporate social responsibility in the tech industry.
Photo: Courtesy of Lacy Maxwell Experiential
The Instagram-friendly experience includes neon signs with positive messages, including "Always Smile."
Photo: Vikram Valluri/BFA.com
The organization's name also was displayed on a red surfboard, placed next to Andy Warhol-inspired graffiti "tomato spray" paint cans.
Photo: Vikram Valluri/BFA.com
This year's on-theme step and repeat took on a more freestyle garden look as compared to the more manicured designs in years past. The event was made possible by support from Carolina Herrera.
Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash
A colorful hallway was inspired by Nickelodeon’s Double Dare—complete with green slime and a giant nose that proved a popular spot for photo ops.
Photo: E. Geno Frazier/Langley Avenue
Shoes were also displayed on a couch that threw back to ‘90s TV show SNICK.
Photo: E. Geno Frazier/Langley Avenue
Family Matters star Jaleel White also took advantage of the photo op.
Photo: E. Geno Frazier/Langley Avenue
Sephora Tent
Riffing off a popular meme on social media, a sign invited guests to pose with their new festival hairdos.
Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash
Love, Tito’s Activation
At this year’s festival, Tito’s Handmade Vodka debuted its Love, Tito’s Festival Experience. Produced by New York-based experiential and digital agency the Participation Agency, the activation featured a digital time capsule where festivalgoers could make a video pledge for change that will be emailed to them a year from now. They could also learn about the brand’s charity initiative, which includes highlighting a different charity at each festival the brand attends throughout the year.
Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash
Based on attendee feedback, organizers learned that attendees wanted more chances to connect. That concept was on display in the popular 29 Questions room, where guests were paired up with strangers to answer a series of intimate questions. Signage outside the space asked guests to put away their phones and "Try our social experiment and tap into the joy of shared humanity."
Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Refinery29
