How to Design an Awards Ceremony: Setup and Decor

An awards ceremony requires careful preparation and planning; it is necessary to consider the concept of the event, create an interesting entertainment program, and choose a design for the hall decoration as well as decide how to decorate for an awards ceremony in other parts of the venue.

What should be the design for the awards ceremony?

Traditionally, an awards ceremony is a black-tie event where the winners come together to celebrate the results of their achievements. Award ceremony table decorations are usually formal, but there can be original decorations on the walls and at the bar that suit the event’s concept. Your décor may also be ideal for various types of networking opportunities.

Essential elements of design for an awards ceremony

Award ceremony decoration ideas should reflect the serious but festive atmosphere of the event, and the décor should also be practical. Winners, prominent industry members, magazine editors, public figures, jury members, and press are often invited, which gives participants the opportunity to network and make new connections. Your event set-up and décor should then reflect your invitation list and have the highest number of competition categories when compared to any other awards ceremony. 

Key elements of good design

A useful checklist for your awards ceremony decorations would consider the following:

• The venue capacity
• Spacious rooms and facilities
• Lighting
• Stage design
• Floral décor
• Original architecture
• Original table décor
• Branding
• Brand walls and a red carpet
• Floor plan
• Sound and video, etc.

For a better understanding of awards ceremony party decorations, as well as awards process management workflow, pay attention to design trends and concepts throughout the events industry.

Awards ceremony decorations & design trends

Effective use of colour and original designs will make the atmosphere at your event unique and engaging. There are many exciting trends in awards ceremony decoration that should be followed in 2019.

Floral decor

Festive floral arrangements are an excellent way to decorate an event venue. Unique floral arrangements on tables and boutonnieres on chairs decorated with draped fabric with bows or ribbons are a gorgeous look. Generous use of white flowers such as calla lilies, gardenias, buttercups, orchids, and succulents will add charm to an evening event, and aesthetically pleasing, delicate arches of flowers can be a spectacular decoration for daytime ceremonies.

Branding

Registration booths, etc., at corporate events can include branding with the decor that is made up of the traditional colours of the company. Today, designers offer a variety of options; company logos, slogans, and symbols can be placed on carpets, balloons, and even on individual elements of tents.

An unusual background design will become a memorable decoration of the festive hall, where you can also put company logos. This is a great idea for photo and video events.

Cloth decoration

Spectacular textile draperies are a fashionable solution for the decoration of a banquet hall; they make a setting festive or solemn depending on the situation. By combining textured fabrics of different colours in the decor, you can radically transform a space and turn even the most modest room into a luxurious setting. Using fabric in organic colour combinations on items of furniture is effective, but be sure to use a harmonious combination of colours and sympathetic overall composition.

Balloons

Decorating corporate awards ceremonies with balloons is the easiest and most popular way to create a festive atmosphere for all present. Available in almost any colour, you can decorate the ceiling, make multi-coloured arches and columns, and even fashion a tent. A ‘bouquet’ of balloons would be an excellent decoration on a banquet table. Colourful balloons can also be used to decorate window and door openings, and they can be placed on chandeliers or attached to wall sconces.

Light

A garland of lighting fixtures combined with drapery on the ceiling will look truly fabulous, as will columns, arches, walls, and corners illuminated by soft light in the chosen colour scheme. Additionally, you can install light designs that match the theme, hang banners, design installations, and even arrange antique candelabra on the tables. Images can be projected onto the walls, or LCD screens can be used to broadcast the main milestones of a brand or project as well as its symbolism, slogans, excerpts from advertising, various shows, etc.

Other awards ceremony design ideas

The glamour of old Hollywood is often employed as a theme for a traditional awards ceremony. The space can be decorated with paintings by a famous artist of that time, and glamorous portraits of business tycoons, celebrities, and other famous people may be used for room décor.

Architectural decor mimicking Hollywood mansions of the 20th century are ideal for conservative awards. The interior features can include walnut furniture, beige leather, and Venetian plaster. The table decorations can have a theatrical branding style, and the walls and other background spaces can be decorated with theatrical lettering and features.

To encourage a friendly atmosphere, excitement, and enthusiasm, interactive games and light shows will help to entertain the guests.

What to pay attention to when designing an award ceremony

The style of the decor, the choice of fabrics, and the technical execution of the project are usually dictated by the overall design concept and the room facilities where the event will be held. For business events, the hall should be designed in a restrained and simple style, and more creative solutions can be used for corporate parties.

How to design an awards ceremony

In order to design your awards ceremony interior or exterior professionally, do not forget about the key features of the decor.

Background design

Award ceremony background design covers the decoration of the rooms and the overall look of the event. As a reflection of the theme while at the same time suitable for the room facilities, it creates the general visual appeal of the event.

Stage design

Stage design for an award ceremony is the most important consideration. The stage is the focal point of any event. It must be well equipped and functionally decorated, well lit, and easily accessible for photographers and technical staff. Use neon lights, spotlights, and halogen lamps to highlight the stage.

Backdrop design

Videos and screens are commonly used at modern events, so the backdrop design for an award ceremony should be planned well in advance and produced and processed for flawless play before, during, and after the event. Projection technologies are no longer a rarity at any modern event.

Award ceremony design tips

To wrap up, here are a couple of tips:

• Make sure guests can find their way around.

Use signage and other features to help guests find their way into and around the venue. In other words, all the elements of your décor should play a practical role.

• Make guests feel welcome.

Even the best design will fail if members of the event team do not properly greet each visitor. A warm welcome at the main entrance will almost guarantee that you put guests in a festive mood and make a memorable impression.

Conclusion

Visual event design can cause a strong emotional reaction that can produce a positive impression of the whole event. Judgify offers you an awards planning software and some original ideas for award ceremony set design that can inspire for the organisation of unforgettable events.

Feel free to offer your design suggestions in the comments below.