Event Design for the 2024 Technology Business Management Conference

Event Design for the TBM Council’s flagship conference hosting Technology and IT professionals.

 
 
 

The Challenge


The TBM Conference has always been an event where professionals gather to learn and share their strategies for planning and managing their technology spend, but the events team wanted to create a conference where attendees could also network, have fun, and create memories.

 

The Solution

I collaborated closely with the events team, designers, and videographers to create a vibrant event that combined the flavor of the San Diego location with the themes of the conference.

 
 
 
 


My team and I sat down with the events team to brainstorm a central theme for the conference. As San Diego was the event’s location city, we decided to use the idea of surfing as our core concept. Technology and IT professionals are constantly faced with rapid waves of change, and Technology Business Management enables professionals to ride those waves to value.

 
 
 
 


Horizontal and vertical logo lockups were created for the conference that combine the different areas of the conference with a subtle wave shape in the “24”.

 
 
 
 


A vivid color palette was created based around the colors of San Diego’s world renowned beaches.

 
 
 
 


A “wave art” visual was designed that combined the shape of a wave with the concept of changing and evolving technologies.

 
 
 
 


A suite of designs was created to promote the conference across various social media platforms.

 
 
 
 


Custom banners and directional signs were created for the conference venue. These banners and signs surrounded attendees with the brand and created a vibrant learning environment.

 
 
 
 


A lighted registration desk was designed as the initial point-of-contact for event attendees. The desk also functioned as a central hub to share directions and answer questions.

 
 
 
 


A color coding system was designed for the attendee badges. This allowed the event staff to quickly identify the different types of attendees at the conference and assist them as needed.

 
 
 
 


For the event staff t-shirts, my team and I took inspiration from vintage surf shop designs. We wanted the designs to celebrate the surfing/beach culture concept in a colorful way that stood out, and felt approachable.

 
 
 
 


A main stage was created that brought the event’s branding to life using architecture, color, and animation.

 
 
 
 


The expo hall was brought to life with a beach boardwalk theme. We also celebrated the event’s sponsors by creating fun “boardwalk attraction” posters for each sponsoring company.

 
 
 
 


Inside the expo hall, between the booths, we set up boardwalk games. This turned the expo hall into a place where attendees could hang out between sessions and have fun.

 
 
 
 


The team brought in two sand sculptors to create a large sand sculpture during the event. Attendees enjoyed watching the sculpture come to life as the event progressed. And the sculpture became a favorite photo-op location once it was completed.

 
 
 
 


The vintage surf shop inspiration was carried into the SWAG designs for the conference. Attendees were given a suite of fun items including a cartoon surfboard t-shirt, a hat, stickers and a beach tote to carry it all.

 
 
 
 


As a finishing touch on the surf shop inspiration, my team and I designed an actual surf shop in the expo hall. This surf shop functioned as a central place where attendees could go and pick up all the fun SWAG items

 
 
 
 


Daily event recap videos were created for the social team as a way to highlight the conference for anyone not in attendance, as well as drive interest for next year’s event.