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Green Thinking
Reuse, Reconfigure and Repurpose
Organizations spend a lot of resources creating meaningful and compelling experiences and environments to wow their audiences at meetings and conferences. Ever think about what happens to all those banners and stages after the event is over? We did.
We were astonished and dismayed to see how quickly the materials were transported to the dumpster and began thinking about ways to save precious resources — both in materials used and money spent. Here are two solutions that solve the problem and save the planet.
Project 1: Banners to bags: Meeting the needs of the environment and helping others
Services: Conference branding, signage design, product design
One of the by-products of nearly every large-scale event are the hanging banners essential to promoting the organization’s presence at the arena,
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convention center, hotel or outdoor setting. Because they are often “one-offs,” they are the first things headed for the landfill after the event.
Recognizing that the materials are costly—and feeling responsible for our part in creating this waste—we researched ways to repurpose the vinyl banners. We discovered a non-profit group, called Urban Samaritan, that takes used banners and turns them into high-quality tote bags appropriate for sales in museum shops or other retailers.
We approached our client, AJC (American Jewish Committee), with the idea of turning their used banners into branded giveaways for their members, donors and employees. They were thrilled with this innovative approach that broadens their existing environmental initiatives. They jumped on this idea that extends the reach of their brand, helps the needy and saves the planet.
Project 2: One-size-fits-all “staging system” for a variety of events and locations
Services: Stage design, event branding, large-scale graphic design
Developing a portable “staging system” that could be reused, reconfigured and resized according to the scale of the event was an important solution for our client, AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). Although headquartered in Washington, D.C., they have numerous regional offices that host several events each year, from intimate single-speaker meetings to ballroom-sized, sit-down banquets.
Our solution was an off-the-shelf modular exhibit structure with interchangeable fabric skins in a variety of designs. By rearranging the modules and changing the skins, the stage can be easily customized on-site in a multitude of ways. All seven of the modules can be used to create a dynamic stage for larger events, while fewer modules work well for smaller gatherings.
To enhance the brand experience for attendees we also designed on-site materials coordinated with each stage design, including podium fronts, easel signs and name badges.
The relatively inexpensive skins enabled the client to purchase multiple designs for each system. The pillowcase-like skins are printed on wrinkle-free fabric. The structure and skins fit into compact, lightweight containers—saving on shipping and setup time.