Studio Stories from M&IT is a series designed to spark imagination – and share practical, ready-to-adapt ideas for event planners hungry for creative alternatives.
Think of it as a conversation starter. A curated stream of activations, design concepts, and sensory experiences, all engineered to add value, energy and emotion to exhibitions, conferences, and brand events.
This edition is about living in and experiencing the moment. From first-time moments, quiet moments, sometimes stretching the moment, or even digital moments, ideas that capture the moment without crushing it.
First time moments
Make the first time special with seductively memorable moments of belonging.
This is all about creating shared experiences on a Gen Z spectrum, with first-time touch points hidden in plain sight.
First-timer hangout: A looser hosted buyer lounge, inclusive and informal. A macro stage zone for established exhibitors to pitch against-the-clock micro-TED talks.
First-timer-wonder-walks: Rapid highlight walk’n’talks on a curated single topic. On floor vending machines exclusive to first timers – only they have the code – eg drinks, plasters, inner-soles, umbrellas. Encourage treats from exhibitors.
Secret free stuff: breakfasts, receptions (within other events), drinks – unpublicised, make it word of mouth, shareable experiences to turn first-timers into super-user hunting packs.
Audience moments that feel like they belong to your event, and even more to each other.
Why it works:
- Instant belonging for first timers
- Hot wires brands and exhibitors to new audiences
- Generates new peer groups for new idea
Digital moments
Is it real – or make it real – give your technology a personality.
Attendees and speakers post blogs, opinion pieces and diaries prior to your event – so why not your tech too?
A Norwegian event “thedigitaldisruptor” did just this with diaries from their show drone.
Drone diaries were 60 second micro posts from their resident drone on the run up to hybrid event. A drone with a “voice” to provide a commentary on experimental issues within the show.
Embracing machine learning, and lack of learnings, to create a drone theory personality. The plots were flow charts, lacking in punctuation and capitalisation. It wrote mind flowing code that looked like (but was not) a single, breathless sentence.
Oh yes, and at the moment it still listens exclusively to Daft Punk.
Why it works:
- Upgrade the value of the tech
- Brandable storyfication for any tech partner
- Humanise the tech; it’s funny too
Silent moments
Silence, networking in progress sign hangs over a corner of a hall.
A hub of small spaces to discover with tables full of numbered boxes to explore. Each box is an exhibitor, their stand number on the outside, content or a message from them on the inside, maybe something thoughtful or playful to introduce and encourage dialogue.
The boxes and groupings can echo the floor plan, but no signage and no branding. An act of discovery, you see other people there and it looks curious – playful moments. You “unbox” the show.
Totally quiet moments networking with a total show, in total silence.
Why it works:
- Offers sensory contrast to high-energy show floors
- Delivers hyper-personal brand storytelling
- Creates immersive, photogenic moments that people remember
Stretching the moment
Stretching the moment with the joy and playful nostalgia of delayed gratification
Digital can be lonely.
So often a disposable individual moment. So gift your community an analogue film camera booth in your event, with oversized-fun-furniture. Invite groups of sitters, cliques, crews, coteries, concordances of event professionals to strike a pose. It will be a vibe.
Each shoot will be a shared moment, that delivers a stretchy moment to be re-lived and re-played once the films are developed. A human moment of real value, with current nostalgia and the joy of delayed gratification.
Why it works:
- Creates authentic shared experiences
- Hugely shareable and brandable
- Stretches the life of your event
Why Studio Stories?
Studio Stories exists to give event professionals a creative nudge – a way to reimagine the experiences we design for our audiences; all filtered through a human lens.
It’s about making innovation meaningful. About connection, not gimmicks. About keeping creativity accessible, purposeful, and ready to activate.
Each story is just one spark in a much larger collection – a library of adaptable, affordable, and engaging experiences that M&IT will continue to explore through the Studio Stories series.
Because in a world where audiences crave authenticity, the best ideas don’t always cost the most – in this edition they just connect without crushing the moment.