How to curate an event, on or offline
We can use imagination, feelings and recreation to explore the connection between offline and online engagement.
Imagine a meaningful event experience
I have chosen to visit, I’m excited knowing I’m going to be inspired and I’m intrigued to see who will be there. I hope to leave with some things I can use and try at home, make and do at work. I want this visit to be the start of involvement in something that matters to me and connects me with other people. I want to contribute, be challenged, and understand and appreciate more about the theme as I leave.
There is enough space and I’m guided around with a smile. How the room looks is important and this space captures the theme of the event. I can tell people have thought about what they want to communicate by the exciting visual displays and snapshots of information, piquing interest in what’s happening. The colour and background music create a stimulating environment that makes me want to be part of it.
As I move around the space, I stop and listen to stories. I pick up and explore ideas, ask questions. My opinion is sought and valued, we are all adding to the event, building the atmosphere. There is an area to play, make stuff without judgement and create accidental art. A group of people are here, offering their knowledge and willing to be a sounding board for ideas -happy to share their world and reflect yours back.
I leave with a mind full of ideas and information, some practical take-away’s that I can make happen, some inspirational goals that I can stretch towards. I’m energised by the people I’ve met and motivated by possibility. I know that the event will be there when I next need a ‘top up’ to inspire my work and reaffirm my purpose.
With this imaginary ‘real life’ event in mind, which bits could be reimagined online?
Work out what matters: Chose to visit, accessible, meaningful involvement, space for connection, exploring, information, guided with a smile, building relationships with people, understanding
How it feels: Inspiring, energising, reaffirming, motivating
What I gain: Ideas, knowledge, sounding board, reflection, practical skills and resources, learning, stories, heartfelt feelings
What I offer: Contribution, challenge, I can make stuff, share, question, participate
What it looks like: Exciting visuals, snapshots of information, stimulating environment
Recreate Again
Using these themes and ideas is an excellent place to start to develop a communication strategy and online presence but what if it didn’t stop there?
What if we recreated an online plan, offline?
Could a framework for a website be turned into a real life community event?
I’m interested to see if people navigate a physical space in the same way we as they would an online space. I wonder if they will feel, gain and offer what we hope in a physical space. I want to pay attention to the interactions and notice what we have missed. This event can be an opportunity to test interactive elements of the website in a lo-fi, human way. Could it generate content through conversation, people making stuff together? Could we film and map the paths people take between different areas of the event to gain insights into audience interest? An online presence can be shown in a tangible way with real co-design and coproduction elements embedded in the development.
Co-designing spaces, creating places around purpose, engagement and content evolving around the people in the (virtual) room never felt so tangible…
