Event Design Ideas From SXSW 2022

There’s so much going on during South by Southwest (SXSW), from the parties to activations. To grab guests’ attention this year, brands stood out with eclectic, clever designs, featuring lots of florals, surreal projections and even tangible showcases of NFTs. Keep scrolling for a look at some of the top design moments from SXSW 2022.

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Twitter House channeled SXSW’s location—Austin—with branded cowboy boots and hats. Look closely and you’ll spot the social media brand’s logo and interactive icons on the Texas clothing staples, respectively.

Photo: Courtesy of Twitter

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Twitter’s lounge also featured posters of tweets from years past that were rotated in and out depending on the theme of the day.

Photo: Courtesy of Twitter House

Audible’s ‘Summer in Argyle’ Fan Dining Experience 1384365226.623900a3b7fff.png

The Audible space—which popped up at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden—was meant to feel like the setting of its show Summer in Argyle, which takes place in Ohio. The bar was set up like a DMV office, the walls were lined with greenery and white picket fences.

Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images for Audible

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Even the hot dog lunch for Audible show Summer in Argyle centered on Ohio, including license plates used as vases to napkin holders. The activation was produced by Civic Entertainment Group.

Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images for Audible

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Media company Create & Cultivate hosted its regular SXSW-adjacent pop-up with panels, networking and multiple photo opportunities to drive social buzz.

Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate

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Bright, attention-grabbing colors and Insta-worthy backdrops dominated the pop-up’s design.

Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate

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Motivational phrases and plenty of florals were married to encourage guests to pause for a photo moment.

Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate

The Trip: An ‘Atlanta’ Cafe by FX FX_Atlanta_SXSW_2022_DGD_1857.6239027ab37fe.png

FX played host to a trippy pop-up to promote season three of the hit show Atlanta, which takes place in Europe. The two-day, multifloor activation, produced by BMF, evoked the experience one might have at an Amsterdam coffee shop, where all may not be what it seems.

Photo: Courtesy of FX Network

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Inside, the space featured surreal decor and art, ranging from the main poster for the show featuring portraits of the characters in a cubist manner, chairs and tables melting into the ground, along with video and wall projections.

Photo: Courtesy of FX Networks

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For a photo moment, BMF paired stacks of retro, glowing televisions with a psychedelic backdrop—and an expertly placed promo hashtag, of course.

Photo: Courtesy of FX Networks

Collide on Rainey: Global Street Farm, Presented by International Fresh Produce Association _MG_6615.623901f3597d8.png

To promote its mission to share “the joy of fresh,” the International Fresh Produce Association tapped part media brand, part marketing agency Culture COLLiDE and activated at SXSW, using—naturally—crates of fresh produce, greenery and florals to curate a colorful, branded backdrop.

Photo: Cam Hunter for COLLiDE agency

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FOX Entertainment’s NFT studio and SXSW sponsor’s space featured a video gallery wall of NFTs created by artworks and posters of official SXSW films.

Photo: Courtesy of Blockchain Creative Labs

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Dell Technologies teamed up with Lacy Maxwell Experiential to host a rooftop charging lounge for guests to take a load off between events.

Photo: Courtesy of Dell Technologies

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The activation featured large fake palm fronds, some of which were made out of computer hardware material, which was visible from afar.

Photo: Courtesy of Dell Technologies

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Fitness accessory company Bala hosted several exercise events within a pretty setting complete with disco balls, purple lighting, shimmering curtains and florals, along with a well-designed display of products.

Photo: Lacey Seymour

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As part of Prime Video’s SXSW footprint, the Amazon streaming service set up a colorful space featuring floor pillows on a stage for people to sit on, translucent vases and chairs and poppy vibrant wall art.

Photo: Scott Clark Photography

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