Interactions by Design
We all hate this feeling: Hmmm. this event could have been an email.
Your guests have invested their time, energy, and dollars to make it to your in-person event. What’s the best way to be sure that it feels like a huge win for them? Make INTERACTIONS a big part of your plan.
Reality check: Sitting still and watching/listening to presentations from the stage is NOT interactive. While we love a well-scripted, well-produced stage show (truly!), Auditory and Visual are only two modes out of the twelve modes of human learning.
To reach the other learning styles, your best investment is to present your mission in an interactive format.
So, what is an INTERACTION? Read on for some great examples, and we hope these inspire you to build at least one meaningful interaction into your next event.
Always popular for our fundraising events - interactions that help your guests learn about your mission!
We’re so delighted when we see creative games that guests can play during your event to learn more about what your org does! Talk about time well spent. Here are some recent highlights of engaging, fun stations that do THE MOST:
Jump-starting conversations between guests
Providing memorable experiences that are enjoyable for introverted and extroverted personality types
Giving guests something to “focus on” at the party
Reminding your guests of the purpose of your event
Giving organization staff a purposeful way to share their expertise
Photo credits, clockwise from top left: DIWAS Photography, Hailey Aitkins, Chloe Collyer, White Moth Studio.
Some great examples from recent events, clockwise from top left:
Food Lifeline invited their guests at Dress Down Hunger to play “Park the Truck” and win prizes.
Economic Opportunity Institute created interactive games for the guests at their Changemakers Dinner, to highlight current policy initiatives and issues.
At the API Chaya Gala, guests write the names of loved ones on ribbons to adorn a beautiful tree.
And at Tuxes and Trains - The Art of Mobility, Transportation Choices guests were invited to a hands-on art experience creating beautiful batik pennants.
What do we love most about these? They are truly unique. Not generic, but thematic and custom-created to help attendees fully understand (and feel connected to) the organization’s work.
Additionally, there are interactions that simply bring people together in unexpected ways. We’re having a lot of fun making hands-on art with event attendees this year.
Photo by DIWAS Photography
Photo by DIWAS Photography
Our sensory art activity has received a ton of attention and positive feedback, and highlighted the Synchronicity approach to event planning that takes all five senses into account and leverages our knowledge of the human nervous system to create joyful experiences and interpersonal connections.
Attendees love spending a moment regulating their minds and nervous systems with a gentle, joyful hands-on experience, natural materials, and friendly conversation (or silence). We’ve presented this experience at the International Live Events Association (ILEA) conference last summer, and at Event Fresh Seattle in December.
So, as you make plans for your next event, make sure that you don’t sideline interactions … they are your best opportunity to make your event meaningful.
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