From a creativity standpoint, the staging and set design industry has benefited from the current state of business; where every aspect and expense of live meetings and events are scrutinized for value and return on investment.  Today, there is little demand for cumbersome, labor intensive, non-reusable hammer and nail sets of the past.   Set designers have to think smarter to stay in the game.

This new thinking marries the best practices of experiential marketing and the latest advancements in

The opening ceremony for Super Bowl XL, “A Detroit Salute,” was a black-tie celebration of Detroit’s automotive heritage, sports history and music legacy. ABC/ESPN broadcaster Mike Tirico led guests on a journey to celebrate Detroit as well as Super Bowls of the past and present. The evening included a presentation from the CEOs of General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and DaimlerChrysler Corporation, live performances by great Motor City entertainers such as Kem and the Four Tops and recognition of the 40 moments that define Detroit Sports. Some of the sports legends in attendance were Joe Dumars, Al Kline, Barry Sanders, Bo Schembechler, Lloyd Carr, Desmond Howard, Scotty Bowman, and Jim Brandstater. Our team, in partnership with Roger Penske and The Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee continued the tradition that Jim Nantz began with this gala celebration of Detroit at the spectacular Fox Theatre. Steven Simmons was awarded the prestigious Global Paragon Award from Meeting Planners International for excellence in planning “A Detroit Salute.”

The International Auto Show featured more than 50 vehicle debuts; with over 30 of those being worldwide introductions. Nearly 5,500 journalists attended from nearly 50 countries (nearly 30 percent of the journalists were international, thus helping to spread automotive news made at The International Auto Show to the world). More than 650,000 visitors passed through the doors during public days. The Auto Show is uniquely positioned to be four shows in one – a media preview, an industry preview, a charity preview and a public show with a 9-day run.  As a creative extension provider for TVS Communication Solutions, OPTICS’ Modular Cyber Ice provided the versatility needed to support various programs on the shows main stage including a ribbon cutting, Car of the Year presentation, awards program and a series of programming featuring Automotive CEOs.

Every year, Allstate’s top performers are recognized at their Sales Summit.  The Sales Summit is a multi-faceted program that includes a General Session for over 600 attendees, a Keynote Presentation Forum and Awards Segment.  OPTICS was tasked with designing a business theatre that was both reverent enough to celebrate the top performers’ accomplishments and financially accountable to the current economic situation.  The solution was a set build that featured the pre-existing Cyber Ice Set.  With the press of a button on the lighting board, we were able to customize separate design looks that accommodated and distinguished all segments of the program.  This design, coupled with a 9 foot circular screen that solely featured company branded materials, made the environment uniquely Allstate.