Is event design more about fashion or function?

As a professional event designer, you probably have had the opportunity to plan and attend some pretty amazing events. If you’ve been at it for more than a few years, you know how fun it can be to see how styles change across both time and locations.
So, what plays a role in the overall design of an event? The culture, the locale, the season and even the climate all affect the theme, décor and tone of an event. Every place has its own style and taste, and event designers need to pay attention.
One thing that inexperienced event planning professionals often get wrong is that they try to make an event something it’s not. It is important to design an event that is fashionable and unique, but above all, that design needs to be functional.
Those quirky cocktail glasses with the rounded bottoms may look really cool, but they won’t do much if guests want to put their drinks down for a moment. Adventurous cuisine may seem appealing, but your event will not be considered a success if no one touches the hors d'oeuvres.
So, you have to figure out how to get the perfect balance of both fashion and function. Most guests want to be impressed by the design, lighting, layout and theme but they don’t want to be subjected to sensory overload. In most cases, it is important that guests be impressed while able to navigate the space and access food and drink easily.
This is not to say you must forego creativity when designing and planning an event. By all means work with your clients to help make their event dreams come true, but do it in a functional way. And remember, even if the event looks great, it will ultimately be a failure if none of the elements work well.