In The Nick of Time

The dates were set. The designs were built. Months of meticulous planning had paid off and the curtain was about to open on the AAPC's annual Pollie Awards at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Then production designer Charles Lippross got a call just days before the big event requiring a complete redesign of the project with no time to spare.

"Tricia's client had last—minute challenges that forced them to change the entire layout of the room just 48 hours before show time," recalls Charles. He had been working with show producer Tricia Payne of Precision Meetings & Events since January to plan the big event. "The client had to place the set along a different wall, requiring a dramatic change of the stage size, scenic elements, and light plot. Tricia and her team came to us to help solve the issue — and fast!"

Charles was ready for the challenge. He was confident that he and the CDP team could take the concept in a whole new direction and still deliver a great show. "Sometimes no matter how much you plan, things change. We have some of the most skillful guys in the business. I knew we could give Tricia a show that would make her client happy," Charles explained.

Over the next two days, the production team redesigned the set and coordinated with the sub—vendors and hotel events staff to recreate a light plot that would work from a completely different angle. New elements were added right up to show time, with stage furniture being finalized just hours before the event was to begin. Despite the challenges, everything came together and the show was a smash success. Guests arrived on March 13, 2008 and enjoyed an incredible three days of music, presentations, and live entertainment.

After the show, Tricia remarked, "Please know how grateful we were that you and your team remained so flexible with our requests and changes. Your time and dedication to the project was instrumental to our success!" Those last minute moments are what we like best, says Charles. "Just to help someone get their show up on time and looking good, it makes us proud to do what we do. That's what we're all about."

New Product Spotlight

Nautilus Podium Sleek and sexy — the next generation in presentation design. Our Nautilus Podium turns heads with its lightweight steel tube frame and curved stretched fabric skin. Make a splash at your next event with this incredible piece. Specs: Height — 47" Width — 24" Weekly List Price — $475

Bradford Squared Now one of our most popular products is better than ever! Made from lightweight composite plastics, the Bradford Squared is one of five bold new facing choices that fits onto our standard Bradford Panels for a stunning effect. Specs: Height — 48" Width — 48" Weekly List Price — $250 (2 panels)

Industry Tips & Tricks: 5 Ways To Go Green

At Concept Design Productions we take special pride in our "green" credentials. Since 1980, we have striven to develop products that make a big impact on the stage, not the environment. In a time when doing business in an eco-friendly way is easier than ever, we provide five great tips on how you too can go "green!"

1. Use Eco—Friendly Materials
2. Build To Last
3. Lighten the Load
4. Mix and Match
5. Go Paperless

Sets are often built using wood and chemical—based paints. These elements are heavy, hard to maintain, and are often thrown away after one or two uses. Consider using materials like extruded aluminum, recycled plastics, and water—based paints. Choose materials that can be recycled and you'll be doing your part to keep waste down.

Wood—constructed designs are cumbersome and difficult to keep in good shape. Consider building with sturdier materials like metal, plastic, and fabrics. These components can be used again and again, saving you big bucks on construction costs.

In today's economy, we're lucky if we have enough to fill up the gas tank! Shipping is a major contributor to traffic and emissions on our nation's highways, and with fuel costs at an all—time high, it's expensive too. Try using designs that are lightweight and take less energy to transport such as stretched fabrics and tubular metal designs.

One of the founding principles at CDP has been to use modular rental stock that can be mixed and matched to create a wide variety of creative designs. When you use well—designed modular pieces, you can make a splash every time — without the wastefulness of custom building.

Going green isn't just for the shop! In your office, you can go the extra mile to reduce your impact on the environment. Consider creating a virtual "file cabinet" by saving your files as PDF's and putting them on a shared server. Also, try using the blank side of scratch paper for internal memos and communication. Each little step goes a long way in reducing your environmental impact!

What Started It All

Why Use Modular Rental Stock
Jim Leverton, CEO

Concept Design Productions entered the event industry in 1980. The scenic and exhibit industry at that time was a culture rooted in a "design, build, use and dispose" paradigm with wood and hard wall set construction being the prime choice. This strategy made the industry products very expensive and labor intensive, not to mention the cost of repair, maintenance and storage.

As environmental designers, rather than set designers or exhibit designers, we took a different approach. We adapted our offering toward reusable solutions — characterized by well—engineered architectural structural systems. It was important that we stay away from wasteful fads and trends in favor of simple, timeless design solutions. We were working within a "green" esthetic before the word was even coined as it applies to our industry.

An approach such as this allows much creativity between unique designs. Versatility, ease of use, guaranteed performance, and breakdown for low shipping profile are only a few of the advantages. The cost of using a rental structural system is only 20% to 30% of what it would take to custom build. The utility of function, branding and appearance is always superior.

This philosophy has been the mainstay of our success for the 28 years we've served this market and is even more relevant in times like these. The industry faces unique challenges in a difficult economic landscape. It's clear that the future of design lies in modular creations that look incredible and won't break the bank — allowing us all to share the magic of creative design with audiences for years to come.

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