If you are, like most people, responsible for planning a professional event, frantically trying to pull together cool but not tacky event ideas for your corporate event, then I am here to help. With the many Tik Tok and Instagram event decor posts, there are a plethora of trendy options to select from. It is easy to get pulled into the sparkle, decadence and the d-i-y projects. You might be wondering, “Isn’t planning a corporate event as simple as finding a handful of fun ideas and adding your company colors?” Unfortunately, it is not.
Before we move into the top 5 2023 trends in US corporate event design, let’s quickly cover a few important rules. First, elevated event design depends upon a healthy level of color theory and interior design with a dash of branding. Timeless design is always better than a splashy, trendy experience especially when it comes to corporate events. When you add trendy elements, the intention is for guests to be “wowed” by a few interesting pieces that clearly tie into the event’s theme, purpose and your company’s identity. You do not want guests to leave overwhelmed by too many elements or focused on the trendy touches rather than the purpose of the event. For instance, I recently attended a team engagement event. Within 10 hours, the company ushered us to ice skating, bowling, a gift exchange, an award show, a dinner and a casino experience. While the thought and budget were clearly there, guests were exhausted and overwhelmed by the trendy activities. After the experience, there were more complaints about exhaustion and sensory overload than the clear team appreciation the company was showing. Scaling back in activities would have allowed guests to be “wowed” by the surprise elements, comfortable throughout the experience and happy to engage the team for the shorter event run time.
Second, when you select your trends make sure your budget has room for the line item so major event elements are not missing. One of my biggest “gripes” is when companies throw away a large portion of their budget on a big name for the sake of having a big name celebrity or influencer. Guests often leave those events thinking about the star and not the purpose of the event. I can recall many engagements I’ve attended with A-list celebrities, yet I’m fuzzy on who held the event and why. The goal of hosting corporate events is to boost your brand recognition, trust and sales, not the celebrities’. Using this logic, make sure your core event needs are met before “blowing the budget” on a trendy design element. Design elements are to add value to the foundation of the event, not to replace them.
Third, trendy event elements can look dated after 5 years.This is the rule of thumb for interior design and it carries over into the event world. If photos and references of this event are to hold up against the test of time, you should be mindful of how many trendy elements you incorporate and how they balance with traditional design theory. This is important because we often do not know what will look “old fashioned” down the line. I often browse my office’s event planning library. While many tips hold the test of time, many more photos from those events do not. Typically the combination of the color palette, fabrics and props create a look that feels old and cringe. However, when the event was thrown, those elements created the trendiest and cooliest event design of the time.
Without any further adieu, let’s delve into the top 5 2023 corporate event trends and thoughtful ways to employ them.
- Disco Balls. To me this trend stems from Beyonce’s Renaissance album rollout and tour, which pays homage to the 1970’s disco in addition to the traditional queer music scene. In this theme of fun, funky, extravagance, designers are layering disco balls in their tabletop designs. In addition, they are not hanging just one disco ball, instead they are hanging varying size disco balls in patterns above the dance floor and dining space.
2. Paper ceiling tassels. While I tend to stay away from paper decor, this trend is colorful, creative and eye-catching. With the summer here, many people are opting to choose vibrant colors like neon pink and orange. Many corporate team engagements and summer picnics will use this trend as a cost-effective but transformative event design element. They’ll opt to use paper tassels that are in their brand colors rather than traditional summer palettes.
3. Backdrop arches. Simple step-and-repeats are feeling very pre-pandemic. It is all about the arches, the architectural design and the influence of upscale interior design and subtle branding. For press pictures, there are ways to elevate the step-and-repeat so that it is no longer a plastic backdrop with a repeated pattern of logos. However, events of 2023 call for focal points and those focal points include wooden or foam arches.
4. Oversized organic balloon arches. Honestly, organic balloon arches have been a trend since the pandemic, and they are here to stay. Balloon arches are one of my favorite additions to event focal points that have bolder event designs. Since many of the balloons are double stuffed to create nuanced balloon shades, there are a lot of balloons used to create these balloon designs. With climate change, we want to be mindful of our impact on our greater world. I implore you to be mindful and use best practices when breaking down the balloon arches and to opt to use air instead of helium.
5. Brightly patterned flatware. One trend that I absolutely adore, when done correctly, is the 2023 trend of pattern china. For so long planning committees and organizations have feared color and design when it comes to their flatware. Ivory china was pushing the limits for many. However, there has been a rise in affordable designer flatware and higher quality disposable flatware. This paired with the current trend in interior design to add texture and patterns has emboldened planning groups to lean into the fanciful flatware designs. As an event designer, I love this because adding variety to the initial table impression helps an event create a long term impression on guests’ minds. Creating long lasting memories with each engagement is always the goal.
As you go forth and plan, remember: trendy elements should add to the story your event is telling about your company, your 2023 focus and your call to action. I hope these 5 trendy corporate event design options help you as you design your 2023 corporate events. For more event planning and event design support, contact Rielle Events.
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