Even if you haven’t personally jumped on the popular Pokemon Go train, as an event designer, you might find that you have a lot to learn from the game. Stay with me for a second..

Today, most event attendees want to be entertained no matter what the occasion is, and the Pokemon Go game actually offers many of the elements that make an experience so engaging.
You don’t actually need to know what a Pokemon is in order to learn from the Pokemon Go phenomenon. But, you should know that many players are so captivated because the app combines both live and digital experiences.
So, what exactly does a mobile video game have to teach you about event production and design? Here are a few things.

• Augmented reality. The blending of digital engagement and reality is one of the game’s biggest draws. This augmented reality is not virtual reality, so it’s even better for the event industry and could be a very hot ticket. This is a great feature for trade shows, conferences and product launch parties.
  
  
• Star power. A few years ago, Niantic, the Pokemon Go developer, created a very similar game called Ingress. It’s still played today, but not by as many who play Pokemon Go. When planning and designing an event, popular themes, speakers and featured guests really do draw crowds. As an event designer, you may not have control over this, but you may want to mention it to your client.
  
  
• Gamification as motivation. There is a considerable amount of effort and strategy that goes into event planning, which is intrinsic in Pokemon Go. In order to advance in the game, players may have to walk up to five miles to catch certain creatures. The game actually modifies behavior through reward. Event designers could incorporate games with different levels and prizes to engage the guests.
  
  

Just remember, the key here is not to take yourself too seriously – you should have fun as you plan and design events for your clients. An entertaining and engaging event is a major goal, and if you can learn something from Pokemon Go to apply to your craft, why not?

Every event management professional needs to seriously think about whether or not they are still relevant in an already-saturated market. Part of staying relevant is ensuring that your events are future-friendly.
 
Today, probably more than ever before, clients and their event attendees are expecting a heightened experience, and as an event pro, you’re in charge of delivering the ultimate event experience. What does an elevated experience actually consist of, and what direction is the industry moving in?
 
Some aspects of the event experience are out of the control of the professionals that have planned and designed the actual event. For example, registration lines and event content may be out of your realm of responsibility, but you should be able to make suggestions to improve the overall experience for your client and their guests – so be ready if they ask!
 
Event technology is evolving on what seems to be a daily basis. What many of us thought were far-fetched ideas just a few years ago are now the reality. One example: the self-driving car. Though this isn’t exactly something event planners can use – yet – it should really drive the point home.
 
Technology is modernizing the way we plan and design events. It also has a great impact on the dynamic of events and galas, particularly for corporate clients. There are new apps and software for attendee tracking, mobile check-in, and navigation guidance – all technologies that your corporate clients will love.
 
As an event designer and planner, you may be particularly interested in new software and apps that help you organize your business relationships, augmented reality for a unique event experience, AV equipment, and 3D light projection.
 
The meeting and event industry is an ever-evolving entity, thanks to the endless possibilities technology has afforded us. As an event professional, it is up to you to make sure that you are up to date on all the latest so that you can offer your clients the most information to make their event the best possible.