Surprising stage designs that thrilled the audience

satis&fy is a full-service partner in event production. They design stages, build sets, provide lighting, video and sound equipment, take care of storage and reuse of customer inventory and are involved in the spatial design and routing of an event. From creative concept development to technical implementation: everything is done in-house. This approach ensures short lines and seamless cooperation between designers and executers. What sets them apart? They approach every project from one strong vision. Whether you ask them for a single component or want to have the complete experience created.

What does that service look like? We take you along five completely different stage designs that satis&fy developed for the large-scale international event Money20/20. This event took place in early June in RAI Amsterdam and satis&fy was part of it for the fifth year in a row.

The entrance feature may not have been a stage design, but it is definitely worth mentioning. satis&fy designed a colorful installation that felt like a gateway to another world. “That first moment is all-defining,” says Thijs. “We didn’t want to create an entrance, but a transition.” Visitors entered an atmosphere that immediately made it clear: this was not going to be a standard event. Light, design, and sound came together here in an installation that responded to the movement of visitors. It provided a dynamic welcome and was immediately a popular selfie spot that was shared a lot on social media. And then they still had to enter the first hall!

“We are looking for a raw space that is partly closed off, so that visitors are triggered to go inside.” What would you do if you got a briefing like that? Thijs knew what to do and ordered 124 steel Gitter boxes that were aligned with minuscule precision to form a raw steel partition that looked very stylish! Extra special; super sustainable, because after the show they get a second life as storage boxes in the warehouse. “In this way we created a space that invited people to peek in between. When you scale an idea like this up, it becomes a trade fair-worthy space with a warehouse look and feel.” Cleverly thought out, with the sticker on each box as an extra creative touch. We like!

With the Summits Stage, satis&fy showed their sharpness in creativity. “There was a limited budget left for the stage, because a lot was needed for the AV-equipment. Then you could fall back on a simple back wall, but that would be beneath our honor.” The solution: standard stand construction frames that you stack in such a way that it suddenly gets a 3D effect. Ingeniously conceived, especially because they had even thought about offering the possibility to quickly replace a fabric of such a frame with one with the name of the sponsor on it during certain sponsored sessions on the stage. This was a super practical and affordable stage, with a lot of impact!

The most sensory stage was undoubtedly the Na.I.ture stage. A space where artificial intelligence and natural elements were fused into an organic, almost meditative decor. Curves, moss, light that reacted to voice sounds: it looked more like a modern art installation than a conference set-up. “We wanted to give AI a face. Not digital, but tangible. And above all: human,” says Thijs. This area was not a gimmick, but an experience. A place that was not only visited, but remembered. To be honest; it’s because we had to go on for another appointment, but we would have liked to have stayed at this stage longer. Why? The details! From the concealed cable path through the air to the clever use of color and from the trees and plants personally selected in the greenhouses in collaboration with the supplier to the strong finish of even the front of house. Wow, just wow!

What do all these areas have in common? They feel self-evident, but are designed in detail. That is the power of satis&fy. They do not think from a technical or creative perspective, but from the total picture. “With us, the designers and engineers sit at the same table. Literally,” Thijs concludes. And you notice that. Do you want to make a difference as an organizer with a setting that enhances the content instead of distracting? And where large budgets are extra fun, but certainly do not have to be the norm… then satis&fy is exactly the partner you want to call before you start designing. Because an event without strong stage design is just a chat with coffee. Speaking of coffee; feel free to visit the office in Hilversum. Guaranteed that you will get back in the car with a lot of inspiration!

Published by www.eventinspiration.nl

Translated from Dutch. Original text: Bas Veldkamp

Video: Sven Bierwirt

Photos: Kevin Verkruijssen