​What event designers can learn from Pokemon Go

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?