Let’s face it—tentpole activations in 2025 are going to be greater, bolder, and extra aggressive than ever earlier than. With crowded marketplaces, shifting client behaviours, and financial pressures, the stakes have by no means been larger.
If you wish to stand out at likes of SXSW, Cannes Lions, or OMR, you’ve acquired to carry greater than only a flashy sales space and a emblem. It’s time to create experiences that transcend the floor—immersive, unforgettable, and genuinely partaking.
At DesignScene, we’ve been proper there within the thick of it, turning model activations into full-on experiences that individuals can’t cease speaking about. From reworking whole buildings into interactive worlds to leveraging information for personalised engagement, we’ve realized what it takes to seize consideration, construct connections, and drive actual outcomes.
Drawing on our expertise with a few of the world’s most iconic occasions, we’re sharing our prime suggestions for creating unforgettable tentpole activations in 2025. Whether or not you’re seeking to drive deeper engagement, embrace sustainability, or discover new markets, we’ve acquired you coated.
So, how will you really personal your presence on the largest occasions subsequent yr? We’re pulling again the curtain on our greatest methods to assist your model not simply present up—however steal the present in 2025.
Tip 1: Go Past the Sales space—Create Immersive Experiences
In 2025, it’s time to ditch the fundamental sales space setup. Attendees need one thing deeper—experiences that pull them in and maintain them speaking lengthy after the occasion.
At SXSW, we reworked a whole constructing for Roku Metropolis into an immersive playground. It wasn’t only a stand; it was an interactive world the place guests engaged their senses and have become a part of the story. The excitement was electrical.
The takeaway? Don’t suppose sq. ft—suppose memorable influence.
Make your model area greater than only a pit cease. Use projection mapping, sensory parts, and immersive storytelling to create emotional connections.
Roku Metropolis, SXSW (DesignScene)
Tip 2: Interact Yr-Spherical—Go Past the Occasion Itself
Tentpole occasions are only the start. If you wish to go away an enduring impression in 2025, it’s essential suppose past the occasion ground. It’s not nearly that one weekend—it’s about making a journey that begins earlier than the occasion and retains the dialog going lengthy after.
Pre-event buzz and post-event content material retains audiences engaged properly past the present. It’s about constructing momentum that doesn’t finish when the lights go down.
The takeaway? Begin early, keep current, and maintain your model prime of thoughts.
Use pre-event teasers, on-site interactions, and follow-up campaigns to show a one-time activation right into a year-round technique that drives actual outcomes.
Tip 3: Prioritise Sustainability—Make a Lasting Affect, Not Waste
In 2025, sustainability isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a should.
Audiences are in search of manufacturers that stroll the speak, particularly at high-profile occasions. It’s time to indicate that your model cares—by eco-friendly supplies, reusable constructions, and waste-conscious activations.
At Roku’s CES activation we repurposed scenic parts from 2023 to construct a contemporary environment at Aria for 2024. Not solely did it scale back waste, nevertheless it additionally attracted eco-conscious attendees who resonated with the message.
The takeaway? Design with function.
Suppose past aesthetics—think about how your activation impacts the atmosphere. Use sustainable parts that not solely elevate your model but additionally go away a optimistic footprint. Now that’s a model expertise price speaking about.
Roku, CES (DesignScene)
Tip 4: Leverage Knowledge for Personalisation—Tailor Each Interplay
It’s no secret—information is the important thing to unlocking personalised model experiences. In 2025, attendees anticipate greater than generic interactions. They need content material that feels tailor-made only for them.
From tailor-made activations to customised content material, every interplay at tentpole activations in 2025 must be designed to align with customer pursuits, making a deeper connection.
The takeaway? Use information to craft experiences that resonate.
Analyse attendee behaviour, section your viewers, and personalise your interactions. It’s not nearly gathering consideration—it’s about creating significant moments that stick.
Tip 5: Faucet Into Niches—Go Past the Common Suspects
In 2025, it’s all about reaching untapped audiences in surprising locations.
We’ve seen how exploring area of interest areas can drive deeper engagement. As a substitute of solely specializing in the anticipated ones, think about activations at specialised areas or rising fringes the place your model can really stand out. For Yahoo at Cannes Lions, we took the web-service supplier onto the beachfront–virtually constructing out a whole seaside that reworked right into a live performance enviornment for the grand finale.
The takeaway? Broaden your scope by pondering outdoors the field.
Whether or not it’s a hidden gem of a location or an up-and-coming space, there’s large potential in going the place you aren’t often anticipated.
Yahoo Seashore at Cannes Lions, 2024 (DesignScene)
Conclusion: Able to Personal the Highlight in 2025?
As we gear up for an additional yr of unforgettable occasions, one factor is evident: standing out in 2025 means pondering greater, bolder, and past the same old playbook. From immersive experiences to sustainable methods and data-driven personalization, it’s all about creating real connections that transcend the occasion ground.
At DesignScene, we’re not nearly maintaining with tendencies—we set scenes. Whether or not you’re aiming to interact audiences year-round, discover untapped markets, or create a sustainable footprint, we’re right here to make your model activation really unforgettable.
Able to make your mark on the largest tentpole activations in 2025?
Let’s flip your imaginative and prescient into actuality and take your model to the following stage.
To debate a brand new temporary, electronic mail Sophie: [email protected]