Design. Copy. & Others.
2011. Arabal Conference hosted by Sohar Aluminium.
This contains select design elements and will follow its linear sequence of events.
Introduction
Exhibition
Conference
Themed Event
Sohar Aluminium hosted the 2011 ARABAL or Arab International Aluminium Conference, held on 14 to 16 November 2011, at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. Aluminium industries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and other international aluminium-related businesses attended the conference. A series of events at the three-day conference were organised sponsored by the leading aluminium industries in the GCC attended by VIPs: Omani royalty, ministers and industry executives.
Registration. Concept. Registration, day one.1 - 3<>
I wanted to reduce the size of the registration but I've been told that there will be a few people manning the area and they might be a bit crowded if it was smaller. Notice the clearance of the chandelier on the back of my registration booth.
The Brief. Design collateral for 3-day conference that included a welcome reception, conference, exhibition opening, gala dinner, and as a grand finale for the conference, a themed event with different sponsors per event whilst retaining the overall look.
Challenges. (1) Adapt original designs on a different venue. New venue is smaller with lower ceilings. (2) TIME! (3) Seamless event delivery.
CoverInvitation for welcome reception, bilingual.1 - 2<>
2M x 2.5M booth, concept
5M x 2M double booth, concept
Exhibition hall
3 - 5
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Initial booth size was a 2M x 3M but due to the interest stirred by the event, booth size had to be reduced to 2M x 2.5M. The booth included branding, a lockable desk, three chairs, a table and a brochure rack. Exhibitors can rent a monitor that has been placed at the back wall of the booth. The exhibitors can then decorate their own. Alternatively, bespoke design on their booth can be requested at an additional cost. There were those that requested double booths. The biggest sponsors managed to get the coveted booths at the lobby.
Stage, concept.
Conference, first day.
1 - 2
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Initial sketches of the stage had a more fluid gradation of colours. The arch on top was taken from the logo. Unfortunately, the ballroom's ceiling was quite low. I wanted to do away with the arch but client insisted in retaining it. Sketch and actual stage.
Other design elements in the conference are the bespoke badges: delegates, exhibitor, speakers, VIPs, organiser & crew badges. Each element of the conference had a sponsor: coffee breaks were sponsored, lunches were sponsored hence menus, water bottles, pop-up banners with the proper sponsors name and logo can be seen all over the venue.
Invitation, gala dinner. Bilingual.
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After the day one of the conference, the host sponsored a gala dinner. They invited the Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe to perform the world renowned "My Dream" performance.
The big idea for the dinner was to have a pan-Arabic theme. All elements of the event - from the invitation to the stage match, which includes cultural elements such as basket weaving, pottery, henna tattoo, and of course, camels!
Invitation. Bilingual. 1 - 2<>
Oman is quite known for the Portuguese forts which can be seen in most tourist places, hence the idea of a fort stage.
CoverInside1 - 2<>
Mixed seating: Arabic and banquetLive exhibition of traditional artisansOud playerTraditional craftsmenOmani drummers by the venue entranceFort stageStilt walkers dressed as storybook Arab sheikArab "sheik" posing for guestsGuests wearing their giveawaysThe night's usherettesGuests in jelabiyas showing their henna tattoosNon-Arab guests preferring the traditional seating View of the stage Whirling dervishes, one of the night's entertainment Fire dancers 17 - 21<>
As soon as the guests arrive at the venue, pan-Arabic ambience have been laid out: Omani drummers gave an upbeat performance; stilt walkers dressed in traditional Arabic dress walked alongside the guests ushering them to the live exhibition area showcasing traditional Omani artisans - basket weaving, pottery and henna tattoos.
Two 1.5M x 4M welcome panels flanked the entrance with the same Omani fort design. These welcome panels add to the ambience.
Non-Arab guests then received their giveaways – traditional jelabiyas or traditional Arabic dresses for the ladies which they can choose between red or blue. The men received dishdashas and kumma, which had a red or blue embroidery. They have opted to wear these during dinner.
The dinner set up has mixed seating – guests can choose the dinner tables or the Arabic seating – low tables and seated on mats and cushions.
As for entertainment, guests were wowed by acrobatic feats of the fire dancers and whirling dervishes.
Main restrictions of the sponsors of the themed dinner were the elimination of alcohol from the menu and no female entertainers. We had to cancel the belly dancers as the main act. These restrictions did not affect the outcome of a successful event – giving the delegates from outside the Middle East an Arabic themed dinner.
© erikagaralde. 2017