DATASSENTIAL

The initial challenge this client brought to us was finding a location that could hold over 800 people while also delivering their content in a tech-forward way. The Geraghty came up in their search, which is how they heard about BlackOak, and after a successful partnership for their first event, Datassential came to us for a second year with bigger goals in mind.

Bringing this project to the abandoned Chicago Tribune warehouse was an exciting challenge. We had to take a very unassuming venue from the outside and create this vibrant, energetic space on the inside. We devised a creative and tech-forward solution to display Datassential’s content to their clients while making it easily accessible. The guests at this event attended a full day of keynote discussions before entering an expo floor that housed Datassential’s industry trends for the year.

The most challenging part for us was designing the stage due to the 65-foot ceilings in the massive space. We wanted to create something visually impactful and grand enough to compliment the room. We had a giant projection screen paired with a portrait-style projection screen for IMAG and a vast stage that was elevated enough to be seen in the back of the room. BlackOak also provided full-scale audio, video staging, design, and show technicians to execute this event.

Our favorite feature we created was a cathedral of light using beams and lasers. We would have a light show with music between breaks to prepare the guests for their next session. The client’s biggest hope was that they would be able to deliver new educational content to all their members and grow their membership by 50 percent as a result. They achieved their goals, and the guests said it was one of the best conferences they had ever attended.