Adobe Summit EMEA 2019

Europe’s largest digital experience conference, the Adobe Summit EMEA, returned to ExCeL London in May 2019. Once again, Encore was chosen by agency Taylor Bennett Partners to deliver the two-day event’s full technical production.

Focused on creating innovative customer experiences, over 6,000 attendees from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa gathered to hear the latest updates from Adobe Experience Cloud and its partners. Led by our Group Creative Director, we were tasked with bringing Taylor Bennett’s incredible vision to life by delivering the technical production for the main conference plenary, exhibition space, break-out sessions, and the hotly-anticipated Summit Celebration.

Featuring a spectacular light installation and an interactive projection–mapped chillout area, the Adobe Summit once again knocked it out of the park when it comes to delivering extraordinary experiences.

The Jellyfish

It wouldn’t be the Adobe Summit if there wasn’t a wildly creative centerpiece drawing attendees into the exhibition space, and this year was no different.  

Measuring 5,000 sq ft and floating gracefully above the Adobe informational booth, the beautiful light installation known affectionately as the Jellyfish, dazzled attendees, and created an interactive experience. Dreamt up by Russell Bennett, Partner at Taylor Bennett Partners, Encore collaborated with experiential design studio Cinimod and laser specialist ER Productions to transform the vision into reality. 

Four circle truss structures fitted with beam fixtures and DMX-controlled fans allowed the illuminated material to billow through the air. Attendees were able to change the installation’s color by passing their hands through a cage of 24 laser beams situated in the center of the Adobe booth. 

As though one interactive experience wasn’t enough, guests were able to take some time out in the projection–mapped lounge space. Inspired by the Adobe Experience Cloud, the area featured a series of deconstructed blocks that came together from a specific focal point to create the Adobe logo. Guests could alter the color and movement of the logo content in real-time using a handheld replica of the Adobe ‘A’ fitted with an accelerometer. 

This year’s Keynote theatre played host to some famous faces, including international human rights attorney Amal Clooney, actor Eddie Redmayne, and comedian Jack Whitehall. 

World-leading brands such as Unilever, BT, and illycaffè shared their creative insights on stage. To illuminate the space and showcase the Adobe Summit content, we used projectors and ROE LED panels supplied by 80-Six, to deliver a jaw-dropping expanse of 24 million pixels. 

Lighting in the Keynote theater created a stunning design to complement the on-screen content while delivering dramatic walk-on stings and ensuring the speakers remained beautifully lit throughout.  

With the Summit located at the opposite end of ExCel this year, we had some structural challenges to overcome. The challenge required us to maintain the same sound coverage and sonic quality of previous years while working with greatly reduced ceiling height and tricky sightlines to the mammoth screen. 

This year’s Summit Celebration featured a global celebration of delicacies from around the world. Guests partied their way through Japan, India, Switzerland, America, France, and the UK, sampling food from each country along the way. With Taylor Bennett Partners’ vision, we worked with creative event specialist Bimblabee Productions to ensure Adobe’s globetrotting guests were in for a treat.

Other popular features included a projection–mapped replica of No.10 Downing Street, which allowed guests to catch a peek of Theresa May’s legendary dance moves through the window. Meanwhile, a 29 ½ foot high version of the Golden Gate Bridge created the perfect platform to survey the spectacular surroundings.

If that wasn’t enough, revelers danced the night away to pop sensation Jess Glynne, DJ Benny Blanco, and Adobe Summit regulars The Earth Lights. Thousands of white balloons hung overhead forming clouds that framed the stage. In contrast, vintage hot air balloons and propeller planes hung from the ceiling and appeared to be suspended in mid-air between the clouds, completing the overhead feature.

To create the perfect stage background to display rich video content and allow beams to pass through, our team installed 181 panels of LED. Striking lighting design and an impressive rig enhanced the party atmosphere.