Turning a conference into a festival.
Google´s annual developer conference I/O, is the largest and most important yearly event for their products and technology. In 2016 I was tasked to lead the rethink of the conference to make it exciting for the developer community. We turned the conference into a festival, leaping away from a traditional conference.
"From nerd heaven to Coachella: Man, Google I/O has changed."
DESIGNING THE SPACE
Every piece of structure and communication point was rethought and designed from scratch. Working only with sustainable materials
PRODUCT EXPERIENCES
Learning by playing: Over 20 unique, playful hands-on learning activities were created for each Google product team.
The 3-day festival took place on over 10 acres with 380 speakers and 190+ sessions available to attendees.
"I didn’t know what to think first, but the vibe—developer conference/theme park/county fair, with a dash of Maker Faire and even trace amounts of Burning Man—has been fun."
TRANSFORMATION
As the light came down, the venue transformed into a full festival, with visual expressions based on code and technology.
Filled with digital experiences, arcade halls built on Google platforms, AR laser tag built on the latest technologies, pop-up parades, and famous art car experiences and light shows for a playful Burning Man-esque experience.
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Live performances by artists Kygo and Charlie XCX closed the night.
