Abu Dhabi Science Festival and Innovator

Viola Communications

The design team brainstormed and decided to use the concrete area of the Corniche in front of the restaurants to host the innovator stands, workshops, stage, and the rest of the venue structure like tents and booths. By increasing the size of the venue to 13,250sq.m, they were able to seamlessly combine more events. The result was a successful initiative that promoted a culture of innovation, attracting 63,536 visitors, surpassing the target of 40,000.

The layout of the booths was prepared in a half-moon shape on the concrete area in front of the Corniche restaurants. In the middle, a stage was set up. To the left and right, a Robotic Juice Bar operated throughout the day, and robotic screens performed a customized show, wowing the crowds. Rockets, cogs, and a plethora of science icons were displayed all around the venue, together with 3D lettering for photo opportunities. The venue was fully branded from its perimeter to the tent roofs, giving great visibility from a distance. To pay tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed, founder of the UAE, a giant mosaic of his picture was created using photo-booth snaps of visitors.

The Innovator event was built on the concrete area of the Corniche in front of the restaurants, hosting the innovator stands, workshops, and stage. On the sandy part of the Corniche Beach, two tents with science workshops were built, and next to it, a 30mx100m marquee hosted the Abu Dhabi Science Festival. All activations were indoors under canvas, while the exhibition and shows were outdoors to give a festival look and feel.

The event successfully reached exhibitor and visitor profiles, as a carefully curated program was designed to obtain maximum results. The Innovator 2018 program included over 100 UAE-based innovators' projects, 20 signature innovative projects, 5 organizations presenting their own innovative projects, 27 science workshops, 6 interactive stage shows, and multiple events across both venues that attracted visitors of all ages. School visits were deliberately incorporated, adding to the educational character of the event.

The project was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE from the 1st to the 7th of February 2018. To represent the event successfully and ensure the messages worked, designers carefully studied the previous years' content. The area was split into two and connected by an entertainment plaza. One side had Innovator stands, and the other side had science workshops and experiments. Colorful designs were integrated to appeal to the young target group and divided into different STEM fields. Recycled wood material was used for the stage, stands, and flooring, while science items were scattered everywhere.

A big challenge was to create something different and appealing. Previous years had focused on content without much decoration. As space was limited, designers efficiently created a flow across the exhibition, where the innovator booths and science tents were bright and colorful. 3D lettering was used, and activations made everything Instagrammable. A huge tent was built with customized flooring and passages leading to it. The branding outside the tents was unified and created great appeal, even from afar.

This design was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Event and Happening Design category in 2019. The award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. It is respected for integrating industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, providing fulfillment and positive feelings, and contributing to a better world.