You Are Here: Pretty Wayfinding Maps
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
Did you know there s a whole field of study about how to help people get around? It s called Wayfinding . There are agencies that specialize in it, and it seems like one of those fields that you ve never heard of but when you think about it, of course it exists and of course it s necessary. How do people find their way around buildings and interior commercial spaces? Malls? Subways and airports? What do they need to know to get where they re going? When and where should signage be placed? The several times that we ve organized the National Book Festival, attended by over 100,000 people, it was vital that we clearly informed people how to get to the tents they wanted to get to, and we have garnered a special appreciation for nice You Are Here maps.
With Wayfinding, design must first give way to clarity. Something can be clear and ugly, but it must be clear. Obviously, the best projects are both beautiful and clear. Check out this collection of a few of the pretty and thought-provoking wayfinding projects from Behance:
Skyrim Riften Map, Chelsea Butts
Bless the gaming community and their endless enthusiasm. This exceptionally clear top-down 2d map was made of a fictional district from the video game, Skyrim.
Subic Map, Jo Malinis and Raxenne Maniquiz
Another lovely 2D creation, and a bit more complex than the first example, this area map was created for the 2014 Ad Summit.
Reynolds Performing Arts Center, Robert Eugene Sidwell
This one is lovely because its so adult. Designed in a slight perspective and using a lovely soft palette against a computer-generated-level-design feel.
Norwegian School of Creative Studies Wayfinding System, 4 Collaborators
An interesting approach to the use of 3D renderings that draw a realistic sense of space in the viewer s mind.
Suburban Map, Anna Giulia Spagnulo
Ooh! Look at the great illustration on this one. This map walks a great line between beauty and clarity, without falling back on Swiss design.
Festival Map, Estel Martinez
A faux-3D illustrated map concept, showing each unique festival space individually. Larger-than-life extruded objects focus the eye on the important bits.
Five Fabulous, Creative Ways to Serve Fresh Fruit
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
With the season winding to a close, help your guests catch the last tastes of the summer fruit bounty. We selected five simple and unique ways to serve flavorful fruit, all of which are easy to make in large party serving sizes.
Skewer It: Fruit Bouquets
Those Edible-Arrangements-style fruit flower bouquets are much easier to create than they look, offer a healthy dessert option while doing double-duty as table decor, and everyone loves them. All you really need is some melons, some sticks, and some cookie cutters (a melon baller and some chocolate, too, if you re feeling fancy). You can liven things up with grapes or chunks of apple, strawberry or pineapple as well. Watch the video recipe.
Stuff It: Stuffed Figs
It s always such a score when you run across one of those foods that s both decadent and simple. Fresh stuffed figs taste like a Roman orgy is happening in your mouth, are easy to eat and even easier to make. They are not, however, incredibly cheap unless you or your food service vendor has access to fresh figs in bulk, and they don t keep for long periods of time, so they must be made day-of. See the delish.com recipe
Roll it: Fruit Sushi
Fruit sushi (yup, someone already combined those words into frushi ) has all the hallmarks of an outstanding party dessert. Sweet, unique, lovely to look at, and it makes great finger food. There s no one way to do fruit sushi some recipes use a marshmallow base for the rice, some recipes plop the fruit on top, some put it in a roll, some make real sushi and simply add fruit to it the possibilities are numerous, so we ll provide a few different links here.
- Food Network: Fun Fruit Sushi Recipe
- Pinterest: Fruit Sushi Recipe Listing
- How to Make Gorgeous Fruit Sushi for Dessert
Photo from Jamie Oliver
Jelly It: Fruit Jellies
Clear fruit jellies are one of those desserts that look so stylin , you think you need a PhD in Culinary Arts to approach them at all. Truth is, they only have a couple of ingredients (so they re cheap!), they can be made in advance (so they re convenient!) and they take very little time to make (so they re easy!). Most recipes call for a dash of Prosecco to be added to the gelatine mix for that neat bubble effect and a touch of flavor. They can also be made in small individual servings, or as one big, gorgeous fruit gelatin. Here are a few different recipes:
- Summer Fruit, Elderflower and Prosecco Jelly
- Elderflower and Raspberry Jelly
- Summer Berry and Lime Jellies
- Prosecco and Summer Fruit Terrine
Grill It: Grilled Bananas and Pineapples
Already doing burgers or fajitas? Save a corner of that grill for the fruit. Grilled fruit particularly pineapples and bananas are suffused with a smoky, grown-up flavor. They also dry out a bit as they cook, making them easier on the fork (and on the front of the shirt). Here are a couple of neat recipes:
Mobile Media Tour Inspiration: Great Vehicle Wraps and Mobile Billboards
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
Vehicle wrapping is an artform. At its most basic, we re talking printing out a billboard on removable vinyl and cutting it to the shape of your bus, food truck, SUV, etc. Highly customized and creative work involves thinking with the shape and outline of the vehicle and using those shapes to create optical illusions or other attention-grabbing advertisements (Need something done? Give us a shout, we can wrap anything).
We re loving the stark, manly modernity of this Bacon Bacon food truck wrap, printed by Wraps1.com.
Hats off to the minds at YKCR / Y&R Advertising Agency, who came up with this genius wrap for a local Irish Music Festival. Using the natural structure of the vehicle as a canvas, YKCR created a natural accordion with articulated buses.
Printed at Australia s Graphic Art Mart, this clever mobile ad makes it appear as though the bus has backed into a street sign a sure way to attract attention.
This super eye-catching wrap concept was never actually printed, but was submitted to the (now defunct) 2007-2008 Rhino Rolling mobile ad awards.
Created by the vehicle-wrapping Einsteins at Vector Media, this whale bus isn t just wrapped on the outside: the inside was also painted pink like the inside of a whale s mouth, and the dangling passenger handle grips were shaped like whale teeth.
Nice Ice: 6 Functional and Unique Ice Sculptures
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
Just when you thought the whole Princess Elsa thing was over, we dug up these awesome indoor ice sculptures sure to give you chills. Oh man. Sorry. Puns are the WORST.
PLAYSTATION Ice Sculpture from Jack Whiteley on Vimeo.
This video, produced by Jack Whitley, is an inside look into the process of creating a giant Playstation gaming controller ice sculpture. The sculpture was created by the talented folks at Glacial Art, based in Liverpool, one of the leading ice sculpture companies in the UK.
Carvers extraordinaire Brice and Brice from Alaska the use a lathe they custom-designed themselves to carve martini glasses out of ice.
LA Ice Art created this awesome paddle wheel boat that was later filled with ta da appetizer shrimp. Great creativity.
Something about this table-top biking ice sculpture by Indiana Ice Studio struck us as unique. It s well-crafted and clear, but the angles and style feel modern and almost abstract. Who says ice sculptures are outdated?
Hooey, these guys are awesome: based in Baltimore, MD, Icelab does some industry-topping work. Above, a picture of one of their creations: a series of faceted ice gems mounted on strings to create a beaded ice curtain.
Neat idea by Las Vegas Ice Studio: Japanese temple ice-carving sushi server!
A/V Inspiration: 5 Amazing Video and Light Art Installations
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
If you re familiar with some of our audio-visual work, you ll know Decibel has done some interesting projects in the past on projection / facade mapping, and we frequently draw inspiration from cross-disciplinary visual artists. These five videos are stunning examples of using light and video to create brilliant and artistic spaces. May they inspire you in the creation of a unique visual environment at your next event.
BASE Video Installation
Set up in 2006, this psychadelic video installation from Lima, Peru, plays with the viewer s perception of space, its dimensions and limits. It will not just be the physical space where he stands, but also of his condition as a reflection of society. The video illustrates how the effect was achieved, using mirrors and videos projected onto the floor.
320 LICHT | SPATIAL EXPERIENCE from URBANSCREEN on Vimeo.
320 Degrees Licht Spatial Experience
Created by German installation large scale projection design group URBANSCREEN, the 320 Degrees Licht Installation uses the cathedral-like beauty of the Gasometer Oberhausen as the starting point for a fascinating game with shapes and light. Within a radius of 320 degrees graphic patterns grow and change on the 100-metre high inside wall of the Gasometer.
The observer experiences the interplay between real and virtual space, in which the Gasometer seems to dissolve into its own, filigree structures and yet finally always reverts to its clear shape.
LIGHT CANVAS 2 from Joanie Lemercier on Vimeo.
Light Canvas 2 by Joanie Lemercier
This exceptional work is more than an installation: it s like a gallery and an installation combined into a light-augmented environment. Light Canvas, by artist Joanie Lemercier, is a series of paintings enhanced by cleverly projected light. The results are magnificent and endlessly inspiring.
Vanishing Point from United Visual Artists on Vimeo.
Vanishing Point
Created by United Visual Artists: Vanishing Point employs perspective as both tool and visual outcome to reshape, redefine and represent a space. Inspired by sketches of Leon Battista Alberti, Leonardo DaVinci and Albrecht D rer, UVA sends lines into space from an arbitrary vanishing point, creating different volumes, divisions and rooms to be explored by the audience.
advection | robert seidel | projection on a water fountain | lichtsicht biennale 2013/2014 from Robert Seidel on Vimeo.
Advection
Holy moley we love this idea. Artist Robert Seidel created a projection over the mist of a water fountain, pairing it with intense audio. Maybe a bit heavy-handed for a fundraising soiree, but the idea of projecting light visual on water is very enticing.
Event Design Inspiration: Gorgeous Place Settings to Inspire You
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
Sometimes you just gotta look at beautiful things to get the ol synapses firing. Here s a selection of some gorgeous settings from Flickr Creative Commons.
East Coast Beach
Umber Earth Tones
High Contrast Ceramics
Presidential
Country Gypsy
Rustic Nautical
Image Sources: East Coast Beachy, Umber Earth Tones, High Contrast Ceramics, Presidentia, Country Gypsy,Rustic Nautical
Hot Event Planning Trends: Interactive Food Experience Inspiration
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
When specialevents.com interviewed some of the industry s top catering pros, asking what event catering trends they expected to take off in 2014, our ears perked up. One of the most interesting answers? Buffets are out. Interactive Food Experiences are in.
And what do they mean by interactive food experience , exactly? asked my husband, Like an omelette bar? . Yeah, basically. An omelette bar counts. If I had to explain the term, I d say it means, in essence, that event attendees want a little more say, a little more customization, a little more input into what goes on their plates. They get out a little more than they put in more options, more DIY, more mix-and-match you give your guests the opportunity to make their dinner become more than the sum of its parts.
Try these on for size:
Decorate-Your-Own Cupcake Bar
Kit this table out with a selection of vanilla, chocolate, and other single-flavor cupcakes, no toppings. Next, the frosting don t skimp. And finally, the sprinkles. All kinds of sprinkles. Dragees, rainbow, M&M s and let your guests creativity take over, allowing the food itself to become an active, rather than passive, part of the festivities.
Taco Station
Another nice thing about a build-your-own dinner like this is that not only do you account for varied taste and flavor preferences, you ve got your dietary restrictions covered as well. You cover the vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-intolerant. The only people that won t like this are people that don t like tacos. And since I ve never heard a genuine human being say they don t like tacos, the taco station does double-duty as a weeder-outer of alien sleeper agents. (Shoot first. Ask questions later.)
Sangria Bar
Here s a super cute idea from Pinterest user Goldi Locks. There are as many types of sangria as there are people who love to drink it. White- or red-wine based, cinnamon-spiced, all peached-up, limey, apples, pears, raisins go nuts.
5 Holiday Season Event Ideas
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION, TIPS & TRICKS
As winter reaches out, American event organizers are heading into the final stretch before the holiday season kicks in. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even Kwanzaa are festive musts. And very much like in the fashion industry, holiday trends sweep the events world every year. Our friends at BizBash have done an overview of these very trends so none of your attendees could possibly accuse you of hosting an unfashionable event.
Go All Out On The Food
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While catering is always of paramount importance, this is doubly true during the holidays. The popularity of cooking shows, coupled with the mating call of ovens left untouched over the summer, have made guests increasingly demanding about the spreads they are served.
Presentation, Presentation, Presentation
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As appreciated as formal sit-down dinners are during the year, the holiday period calls for a touch of pizzazz. Having chefs front and center concocting treats in front of guests, having waiters decked out to match a number of food themes or laying out a wide range of self-service stations are just a few ideas that will resonate particularly well.
Events in the Office
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The recession bit deep for many events companies as well as their clients. Budgets for lavish venues were scaled back but this also led to a rise in ingenious and affordable solutions. While holding a conference in a company s office would once have been frowned upon, an entire new sub-section of the event organizing world has sprung up to to offer to just that.
Full Bars, not Open Bars
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We understand the dismay of going to an open bar at an event and finding they only have Gordon s Gin. As such, as discerning customers know what they want, the time of the fully-stocked bar has returned. The popularity of shows such as Boardwalk Empire have also made Prohibition-era themes a hot favorite for this holiday season.
Teambuilding, YAY
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While every professional conference organizer can have a Pavlovian reaction triggered by the mention of certain teambuilding memories, there is no denying the return to form of this old favorite. This becomes especially true around the holidays. Are you strapped for ideas. Fear not: you can check out Decibel Management s suggestions for teambuilding activities here.
10 Ghoulish Halloween Catering Ideas
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
Halloween is a holiday sadly saddled with misconceptions. Often dismissed as being exclusively for children, it is also ridiculed for being a corporate holiday . Well, what s wrong with that? Can corporate events not also enjoy a touch of the spooky? We think so.
While the vast majority of Halloween decorations or event themes are aimed at younger generations, catering is one area where a touch of ingenuity can be warmly-received around Halloween. While allowing professional corporate event organizers to maintain the vibe they want for an event, the dishes below will provide a dose of levity and a break from the catering norm, pleasing to both the eye and the palate.
Provide these ideas to your catering supplier and see what wonders they can whip up.
White Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Original image | Get the recipe
Brew-Ha-Ha Punch
Original image | Get the recipe
Goblin Dip With Bone Cracker
Original image | Get the recipe
Monster Meatball Sandwiches
Original image | Get the recipe
Weiner Worms
Original image | Get the recipe
Jack-O -Lantern Cheeseburger Pie
Original image | Get the recipe
Mummy Dogs
Get the recipe
Original image | Get the recipe
Chocolate Ghost Cakes
Original image | Get the recipe
Stuffed Pumpkin with Cranberry-Raisin Bread Pudding
Original image | Get the recipe
Southern-Style Caramel Apples
4 Original Fundraising Event Ideas
EVENT PRODUCTION INSPIRATION
Fundraising has become a necessity for many companies, and particularly smaller start-ups, and thanks to popular crowd-sourcing websites, asking for money to fund your campaign or project has lost much of the stigma it once had. These unique fundraising ideas make great add-ons to any larger event.
Sponsored Karaoke
Not everyone can run a 5k, but everyone can belt out a bad rendition of Suzie Q. Even those who hate getting up in front of a crowd may be convinced to throw their dignity to the wind for a good cause. You can either have attendees sponsor each other at the event itself, or ask attendees to raise sponsorship money in advance. Big spenders choose the songs, of course!
Once-in-a-Lifetime-Experience Groupon Auctions
Nowadays, it s easy to buy online coupons for original experiences, from hang-gliding and weekend retreats to a day training with the Cirque du Soleil. Start the bidding at the Groupon price, set a minimum number of opt-ins, and if you can get enough takers, any money over the listed price is yours. If you don t, no harm, no foul.
Speed Dating for Dollars
This one s a cinch to organize. All you need to set up speed dating are some tables, some chairs and a station to collect entrance fees. Bonus: any singles that might normally feel too embarrassed to participate in speed dating
can chalk it up to supporting a good cause.
Making Casual Classy
Organizing a black tie event for a client with a sense of humor? Consider mixing it up by allowing attendees that pre-pledge to donate over a certain amount dress down or wear sneakers. Whoever said Chucks-n-tux wasn t a good look?
