THE GOAL
Create an engaging campus-wide event to celebrate the opening of the Siebel Center for Design, a space built to bring people together and spark ideas. The event needed to inspire the campus community while making a strong impression on VIP guests, including the building’s benefactor, by showcasing the center’s potential impact on students.
When I joined the team, the grand opening was one of the first major projects to start thinking about. Because the center’s visual identity hadn’t yet been fully developed, one challenge was to anticipate the brand direction and design an event experience that felt connected to what SCD would become. I created and refined visual concepts with the team, collaborated with event partners to explore creative ideas, and helped shape the experience through details like lighting, environmental graphics, and branded giveaways – such as a light-up replica of the building for those who contributed to bringing it to life on campus.
A coordinated curtain-drop moment revealed new vinyl window letters as the building’s digital screens burst into a confetti-like swirl of brand elements, creating a celebratory reveal.
Lighting was woven throughout the space to echo the gradient design, tying everything together and giving the event a more polished feel.
OUTCOME
The event left a strong impression on the center’s sole donor, campus leadership, and attendees. A visually engaging ceremony, interactive building elements, and custom VIP gifts all contributed to an elevated, memorable experience.
