Keep It Simple.

April 22nd, 2012, on a hot, balmy evening in Indio, California, Tupac Shakur resurrected on stage in the form of an eerily life-like hologram. This technological feat won the digital makers of the spectacle a Cannes Lions Titanium Award, but it left the audience stupified and distracted, rather than unified in California Love. More often than not, headline-grabbing gimmicks do little to create a meaningful experience. Because, sure, you can impress your audience with fancy tech tricks, but is it serving to connect with them on a human level? 

This is the challenge we face when integrating technology into events: making sure it enhances rather than sidetracks.

The key isn’t about using the latest tech just because it’s available; it’s about using the right tech to elevate the human elements of your event. When done right, technology is the quiet hero of an event. It’s the invisible force that makes sure every attendee feels connected to the speaker, the content, and ultimately, to each other. It’s not about how much tech you can pack into a space; it’s about weaving it into the narrative with precision and using just enough to enhance the human connection, without letting it steal the show.

Grabbing Attention: Using Technology as a Spotlight 

When we talk about using technology in events, it’s not just about creating a Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza—it’s about creating a frame that puts the human elements front and center. Tech should enhance the connection between the speaker and the audience, not distract from it. Here’s how you do it.

LED: More Than Just A Bright Screen

Take LED, for instance. When you walk into a room using vibrant LED, to display rich and beautiful content, it does more than just catch your eye—it draws you in and focuses your attention. At a recent SKO event, we opted for LED, not because they looked cool (although they did), but because they have that sizzle that turns your brain on. They have an intensity and evenness of brightness that projectors often fail to provide. Opting for the vivid clarity of those displays drew every eye towards the content, and every mind to the story. LED isn’t just for show—it’s a tool to make sure the speaker’s message lands right where it’s supposed to.

Scenic Design: Setting the Stage for Connection

Scenic design is another critical element that, when thoughtfully executed, sets the stage—literally and figuratively—for a powerful event. 

But, it doesn’t always require expensive custom designs to make an impact; sometimes, using off-the-shelf solutions and creatively leveraging your screens can do the trick.

At Navis World, we installed a stunning 45-foot LED wall, which became our “scenic” element. But it’s not just about having a great screen—it’s about what you put on it. We saw this gorgeous LED wall as an opportunity not to be squandered. We used dynamic walk-in and walk-out graphics that immediately engaged the audience. Every time an attendee walked in, we saw them lift their phones to capture the scene. These visuals were crafted with purpose, setting the tone and reinforcing the event’s core themes even before the program began. The scenic design wasn’t just a background; it was an integral part of the storytelling, ensuring the audience was not only engaged but also unified and ready for the experience.

For those working with tighter budgets, there are effective alternatives, such as prefabricated panel backdrops, LED tubes, columns of LED walls, or printed fabric options. The goal is to avoid the dull black drape, “conference-in-a-box” look that can put your attendees to sleep and detract from the event’s impact.

Consequence of Sound: Why Your Audio Design Matters

“What did they say?!” 

We’ve all been there—straining to hear a speaker over bad audio. Nothing can kill an event’s vibe faster than incompetent sound engineering. It doesn’t matter how good your content is—if people can’t hear it, you’ve lost them. It’s frustrating and exhausting. Disembodied sound, where the audio doesn’t seem to come from the speaker, creates fatigue and an unconscious disconnect that pulls the audience out of the experience. The audience starts to tune out, and suddenly, your carefully crafted message is falling on deaf ears—literally.

On the flip side, good audio design ensures that every word spoken is heard clearly, making the audience feel like the speaker is talking to them directly. Good audio is almost invisible—it’s there, but you don’t notice it. At a recent event, we went all out to ensure that the audio was perfect. We mapped every inch of the venue with a high-quality PA system— hanging line array throughout the space and front-filling or side-filling any gaps. A fully rounded out PA system ensured that no matter where you sat, it felt like you were right in front of the speaker. The result? The audience was fully engaged, leaning in, and hanging on every word. Good audio makes the speaker’s message feel personal and direct. And when your audience isn’t straining to hear they can focus and engage effortlessly creating a powerful opportunity to connect. 

Screen Time: Bring the Focus Back to the Speaker

Screen layout is one of those things that’s easy to overlook but makes a huge difference in how an event feels. Let’s look at the traditional setup; a stage and multiple screens flanking the stage. Sure it’s simple but it may not be serving your purpose. While you’re telling your story an image appears on the screens. Varied focal points. When the audience looks in different directions—some at the stage, others at the screens—they lose the sense of a shared experience. This division of attention creates a fragmented, individualized experience that causes a chasm in the connection.

The TED Single Screen Experience

At TED events, they’ve nailed this concept with the use of a single, large screen. Instead of dividing the audience’s attention across multiple screens, everyone is focused in one place, creating a unified viewing experience. This isn’t just about simplifying the setup—it’s about ensuring that the technology supports the event’s human elements, keeping everyone on the same page, literally and figuratively. This can be especially effective when you have a smaller audience of a few hundred attendees or an intimate space. By avoiding the temptation to go big with multiple screens, TED creates a collective experience that’s hard to beat.

Adjusting The Aspect Ratio

At Navis World, we took this idea even further with a central 3:1 aspect ratio screen that was 45ft wide and 15ft tall. Then we developed graphic content to fit the massive dimensions with crystal clarity. This setup allowed the speaker and visual content to coexist without competing for attention. The wide aspect ratio meant that the audience didn’t have to choose between looking at the speaker or the visuals—both were seamlessly integrated into one cohesive experience. This approach kept the focus balanced and ensured that the technology was there to serve the message, not overshadow it.

The TL;DR

Simplification Is Strategic

Simplifying technology in events isn’t about going cheap or stripping things down to the basics. It’s about making strategic choices that amplify the experience. It might seem like less tech, but it’s actually more—more focus, more connection, more impact. Simplification requires expertise and careful planning, and sometimes, it’s the hardest choice you’ll make. But when you get it right, the technology fades into the background, and the unified human experience takes center stage.

In the end, if your audience is noticing the tech, they’re missing the point. So next time you’re planning an event, ask yourself: Is your technology serving the message, or is it just a distraction? Because when the tech gets out of the way, that’s when the audience gets in the groove.