Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

And yes, I admit it, during the second day of my vacation while enjoying the harmonies I hear, I’m jolted to think about religious meeting design…. Religious services are thought to be around 300,000 years old — by far the oldest form of organized meeting that humans have created.

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Meeting Design Meeting Speakers Conference 61

Conferences that Work

JULY 2, 2018

Recently, a client asked for help designing a new conference. Thirty minutes of discussion with three stakeholders revealed they hadn’t yet settled on the event’s specific purpose, scope, and format. Great — a client who doesn’t know what they want! From my perspective this is actually a great problem to have.

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Meeting Design Logistics Conference Design Consulting 76

Conferences that Work

NOVEMBER 25, 2019

Because good event design is about how a conference works. Participant-driven and participation-rich meeting designs incorporate a braindate’s purpose — one-to-one or small group connection around relevant content — organically into every session.

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Conference Trends Event Design Meeting Design 107

The MICE Blog

JULY 27, 2022

One of the presentations that highly inspired me to think differently about event design took place in 2019 at the MICE Forum at ITB Berlin (Organised by VDVO ). According to Felix, the term ‘participant experience design’ is a work in progress.

Events 147

Events Speakers Conference Event Design 147

Conferences that Work

JANUARY 10, 2022

For too long, we’ve equated a meeting’s “success” with its size. ” But if we concentrate on increasing attendance, we overlook getting the meeting design right. Improving an event’s design makes the meeting better for all the stakeholders: meeting owners, sponsors, and participants.

Meeting 132

Meeting Meeting Design Online Sponsors 132

Stova

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

A virtual component offers the possibility of opening up to a much larger audience with new and/or geographically dispersed markets not easily available at a F2F event. There may not be enough space to hold large events at venues due to reduced occupancy from onsite physical distancing guidelines.

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Remote Audience Events Meeting Design 111

Endless Events

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

An entrepreneur since he was only 18 years old, Maarten has over 35 years of experience in meeting design. Ready to hear all about the ground-breaking magic of multi-hub meetings? Don’t miss a beat, it’s Event Tech Podcast time! The Path To Multi-Hub Meetings. Event Tech: What’s Good & What’s New.

Meeting 176

Meeting Speakers Regulations Meeting Design 176

Conferences that Work

DECEMBER 16, 2024

If you are serious about improving your conferences, my meeting design workshop can be the game-changer your organization needs. My meeting design workshops equip event professionals with the tools and techniques to create truly participatory and impactful experiences. Here’s a peek behind the curtain!

Meeting Design 62

Meeting Design Conference Meeting Proposal 62

Conferences that Work

AUGUST 16, 2021

And it made me think about meeting design. And, me being me, I thought about what Marcy had just said in the context of meeting design. And meetings are no exception. The art and craft of the meeting designer. It’s a meeting designer’s job to create these contextual layers.

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Rehearsal Meeting Design Conference Planner 126

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

Finally, as a meeting designer I’m convinced that using meeting formats that facilitate and support sharing amongst peers of relevant information is one of the most powerful ways to improve the effectiveness of meetings. Share information; don’t hoard it.

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Consulting Meeting Design Benefits Training 145

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Presentation versus interaction at meetings. But our meeting designs, in large part, haven’t changed to reflect this shift in cultural awareness. It has remained in first place ever since. Society, as reflected by books in English, now talks about interaction about twice as often as presentation.

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Meeting Publishing Meeting Design Booking 120

Conferences that Work

JUNE 14, 2021

When the leading candidate for the Mayor of New York City has this take on how people learn, perhaps it’s not so surprising that we’re still sitting through endless broadcast-style sessions at meetings and conferences. Learning researchers and our best teachers and meeting designers have known this for a long time.

Meeting 126

Meeting Remote Meeting Design Conference 126

Conferences that Work

APRIL 18, 2022

But in my judgment, the value of creating a less rushed event in the bounded space of a single day is worth it. Want to read my other posts on hybrid meetings? I believe we’ve barely started to explore the capabilities of hybrid meeting designs. Conclusion. You’ll find them here.].

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Meeting Online Conference Booking 164

Conferences that Work

APRIL 25, 2022

Ask Adrian Anything: using a fishbowl sandwich to facilitate group discussion on meeting design and facilitation. Creating the right program. Consolidating learning. Facilitating individual and community growth. This workshop is limited to 100 attendees, so register now !

Online 116

Online Registration Meeting Design Conference 116

Conferences that Work

JUNE 28, 2021

Don’t just read about these formats, but experience them at a well-designed, well-facilitated/moderated event to truly learn how great a meeting can be. We covered a lot in a short time, but there’s much more to learn about Powerful panels and good meeting design!

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Panel Meeting Design Conference Audience 124

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

When the attendees are the owners, meeting designs that build and support community are the obvious way to go. Such owners, whether they be individuals or for-profit or non-profit entities, rarely have the same objectives for the event as the attendees. But, all too often, attendees are not the conference owners.

Audience 83

Audience Meeting Manufacturing Meeting Design 83

Conferences that Work

OCTOBER 11, 2021

All meeting design needs to recognize this reality. And simple workshops that support connection (which may be emotional) between participants around relevant content provide better learning experiences. Emotions run us; our rationality comes in a distant second. Institutions. The things we do reflect our culture.

Meeting 115

Meeting Technology Technology Manufacturing 115

Conferences that Work

JULY 19, 2021

If you want maximum learning, interaction, and connection at a meeting, small meetings are better than large meetings. Increased learning, interaction, and connection.

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Meeting Online Remote Conference 132

Social Tables

OCTOBER 6, 2018

But when it comes to trends, where should meeting industry professionals put their focus? While the shifts are plentiful, there are five that stand out from the fold when it comes to modern event design. Here are five meeting industry trends that are changing the game. Millennials are the decision makers now.

Trends 157

Trends Meeting Trade Show Events 157

Conferences that Work

JUNE 12, 2017

I love my meeting design clients, but there is one mistake I see them making over and over again. Clients invariably ask me to help design their meeting after they’ve chosen a venue! Here’s why they do it, and why it’s a mistake. Read the full article at Conferences That Work.

Venue 84

Venue Meeting Conference Design Meeting Design 84

Social Tables

OCTOBER 6, 2018

While the shifts are plentiful, there are five that stand out from the fold when it comes to modern event design. Here’s how the meetings industry is changing the game. But where should industry professionals put their focus, and what are the forces driving this rapid evolution? Millennials are the decision makers now.

Meeting 158

Meeting Trade Show Events Social Media 158

Conferences that Work

MAY 11, 2020

In person meetings have vanished overnight. It’s time to implement what we’ve learned about great face-to-face meeting design and process into online meetings. Meetings will never be the same. So I won’t repeat myself here; read them for full details!

Online 150

Online Conference Platform Publishing 150

Endless Events

JUNE 15, 2018

We all know the stress of creating event sponsorship packages for each event we plan. It’s time to start forging event partnerships that go beyond one-off events. On top of that, I’m sure you want to hit a positive event ROI for your events to go with that new partnership.

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Registration Events Sponsors Event Marketing 258

Conferences that Work

JUNE 7, 2021

Why am I writing about social learning on a blog that’s (mainly) about meeting design? Which means, to create the best meetings we need to maximize the social learning that takes place. [Hint: We’re not more intelligent than other species.]

Booking 113

Booking Conference Meeting Design Online 113

Conferences that Work

APRIL 11, 2022

First, you need to understand before the meeting what your practitioners and suppliers want, need, and expect. As a meeting designer, if a meeting is going to include both practitioners and suppliers I always ask my clients about the relationship between these groups and their wants and needs.

Meeting 118

Meeting Vendor Sponsors Attendee 118

Conferences that Work

APRIL 1, 2019

I was an amateur in the meeting industry, and that led to some mistakes, but it also gave me a fresh perspective at a time when meeting design wasn’t really a “thing.” I discovered that people love the format, and that led to writing the book 10 years ago.

Booking 97

Booking Conference Speakers Meeting Design 97

Conferences that Work

JUNE 13, 2016

Why mention this on an event design blog? Well, the most effective aspect of China’s online censorship regime illustrates what happens when you don’t incorporate covenants into your meetings. The Chinese government runs a massive online censorship program. Tech In Asia explains: “Imagine being near a steep cliff.

Meeting 63

Meeting Online Conference Government 63

Conferences that Work

JULY 31, 2017

Although I have good reasons to champion meeting designs where the participants get to choose what they want and need to discuss and learn rather than a program committee , there is invariably a place for some predetermined presentations at conferences. Read the full article at Conferences That Work.

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Meeting Conference Booking Meeting Design 78

Conferences that Work

JANUARY 11, 2021

These events made a profound impression on pretty much everyone who participated. Since 2016, I’ve been participating in the annual, invitation-only Meeting Design Practicum conferences that have been held all over Europe. A rotating crew of two or three volunteers organize these wonderful events.

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Conference Human Resources Meeting Production 136

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

So, if you’re one of the thousands of people who have purchased my books or the hundreds of clients who have benefited from my meeting design and facilitation services, please don’t keep me a secret! That’s my job, and I have a great track record. Get in touch , and I’ll make your conference better!

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Sponsors Registration Conference Attendee 80

Conferences that Work

MARCH 13, 2017

Every time I find myself wishing for an external event, I realize that I’m way better off focusing on something I can control instead. This is all very well, but it begs the question: what can meeting designers do to make it easier for attendees to participate more at meetings? Seth Godin, What Would Happen.

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Attendee Education Booking Meeting Design 80

Conferences that Work

JUNE 3, 2019

At the time, I had no idea that what I instinctively put together for a gathering of people who barely knew each other would lead to: a global design and facilitation consulting practice; over 500 posts on this blog, which has now become, to the best of my knowledge, the most-visited website on meeting design and facilitation; three books (almost!)

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Conference Consulting Meeting Design Website 68

Endless Events

JULY 27, 2018

Event networking can be both a fun and confusing experience. Today’s favorites are all about how to make event networking better. While people love making new friends, it can be awkward at times, especially if there’s no specific venue and time to network.

Networking 200

Networking Attendee Registration Events 200

Conferences that Work

MAY 24, 2021

This occurred during the first Meeting Design Practicum in Utrecht, The Netherlands: more details here ). In 2016, I experienced my first escape room. Two teams competed to escape two identical rooms. Both teams included people I hardly knew.

Online 118

Online Meeting Conference Consulting 118

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

A freewheeling Ask Me Anything about meeting design that delivers optimal learning, connection, engagement, and action outcomes? Rather, we’ll discuss beforehand what you and your students want and need. A session on a specific syllabus topic you choose?

Hospitality 75

Hospitality Online Education Events 75

Conferences that Work

MARCH 21, 2022

This coming June will mark my 30th year of designing and facilitating participant-driven and participation-rich meetings. So I designed the workshop as an “ Ask Adrian Anything ” about meeting design and facilitation. I’ve shared the why? and the details of how I typically run this format here.

Online 139

Online Platform Communications Communications 139

Conferences that Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2021

At a traditional meeting, however, perceived status roles rarely change significantly during the event. This leads to a number of problems, which I described in my first meeting design book: Conferences That Work.

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Meeting Conference Speakers Booking 129