Today’s digital age requires us to get out of our comfort zone and surpass ourselves at every created event. In order to build a different experience for the participants, we need to be aware of everything techy and innovative.
So, our colleague Paul Popa tells us how he made unique intros for the Microsoft Summit and Cisco Connect events, which we can see here :

Intro Microsoft Summit

Intro to Cisco Connect

How did you come up with the idea?

The whole idea came from a desire to come up with something new in terms of content/moment of introduction in a conference. Cisco Connect and Microsoft Summit are two reference business events in Romania and it is very important to bring something fresh to each edition. The latest trends and discussion topics, within these events, combine more and more elements of technology integrated in business in relation to man. Therefore, it is very important to build each moment based on these things. The intro part in a conference is perhaps among the most essential because it effectively starts the event and sets the atmosphere for what is about to begin.

How long did the project take?

Each project lasted somewhere around 3-4 weeks. It all started with the establishment of the idea, then the creation of a storyboard and, finally, its execution.

How big was the project team?

2 animators worked on the video intro part, coordinated by us. One of them took care of filming the characters and transforming them into digital silhouettes. After that, the second animator worked on the special effects of the characters, as well as on the rest of the layouts in the videos.

What did the client think about this project?

At the beginning, the execution time seemed very short due to the complexity of the intros, but the end was highly appreciated by them, as well as by the participants.

Brief vs. result

We tried as much as we could to respect the script and the storyboard established together with the client. Of course, there were some execution obstacles along the way, but it is vital to stick to the plan no matter what.

Can these techniques be applied in other fields as well?

As I said, the intro part starts the conference. From this point, we can decline the intro throughout the conference through several visual contents (key visual, intro cards for speakers, presentation templates, etc.)

What do you think would be the benefits of this type of technique?

First of all, it offers a different perspective than a simple filming / editing. It creates a digital sensation on the conference, and elements like this are perfect for this type of event.

If you too have the courage to put the WOW effect in your event, give us a sign here< /a> and we come back with ideas.

As I wrote in a previous article, the ascent of a team is realized on the basis of an organizational design built together.
Before creating wow experiences for our customers, it is important that we, as an organization, have a wow experience every day. So, this weekend I went to Planning 2017, in the mountains, with the aim of increasing passion and synergy in the Universum team.
What we learned from this planning and what we recommend to other organizations:

1. First of all, we suggest a full analysis of the needs of the members of the organization and the way of working from the previous year. This helps to structure the agenda and to keep a good planning flow.
2. Regarding the agenda, it is important to prioritize the discussion topics by the whole team, for more commitment, and to limit them to a small number of topics, to be discussed in depth.

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3. Because we are the organization with the largest team building license in the world, we could not not allocate a special time to moments of fun and relaxation.
4. The last step, but perhaps the most important, is represented by follow up. In Planning we discussed various strategic topics, but it is very important that these topics turn into an action plan.
5. Another thing that matters in a team building or at a strategic meeting consists of the organizational part. Fortunately, we are event organizers and we know the best locations and what are the details that we need to consider for a successful event.

The purpose of such planning consists in aligning to the same direction, calibrating at the mindset level and refreshing the synergy within the team.

We left with solutions, directions and the mindset that we are event architects, which means that through each project we make an impact in organizations and raise the standard of the event industry in Romania.

If this vision also applies to you in the organization, let’s build a memorable experience for your team as well. Identify your needs, set your goals and give us a brief here.

We realized, once again, that an event architect is the one who creates the most suitable experience for the client and his values, so we like to add our wow element to your brief.

src= “https://www.universum.ro/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/^FAE18A1CFB2F325C91D28D1210EB5DA80FBB8A586D55F87CB6^pimgpsh_fullsize_distr.jpg” alt=”[cml_media_alt id=’7398′]Tips & tricks from HR for Marketing[/ cml_media_alt]” width=”790″ height=”357″ />

I told in another another article that when the projects are bigger , it is good to have a joint venture between departments with the aim of mutual learning.
Let’s find out what the Marketing people can learn, this time, from the HR people!

1. Employer Branding – probably one of the aspects in which the Marketing – HR collaboration plays a leading role. In order to communicate for those Top Talents you want in the company, you need to know their profile in detail and create a strategy according to the target and objectives desired in the organization.

2. The needs of your audience – yes, we know that’s what it says in the courses taught at the Faculty of Marketing: you set the target, identify the need and deliver the content. In reality, the need is kind of… forgotten and we go straight to creation. What would happen if HR overlooked this stage? The answer is quite simple: unhappy employees and an unhealthy organization. The same applies to the target. It is important to know their needs for relevant communication.

3. How to please everyone – HR collaborates with various people (from Production to Finance and Sales) so learn tips and tricks from them about how you can communicate for different targets at the same time, but also about how you can organize common internal events.

4. Assumed consumers – when a recruiter posts a job ad, it doesn’t just tell about how beautiful the company and the job itself is, but there is also a section with the responsibilities of the future employee. In terms of Marketing, maybe it would be a good idea to convey what a Brand Ambassador looks like. It is possible that the target resonates with this “job description”.

5. Be more human – HR is with and about people, so we had to reach this point as well. Because there are always some marketing objectives in an excel, it could be that the tone of voice is oriented towards results and less towards people, which will lead to the dehumanization of the brand and the decrease of attachment to the organization. Remember David Ogilvy’s quote: “Never write an advertisement which you wouldn’t want your family to read. You wouldn’t tell lies to your wife. Don’t tell them to me.”

We like to learn, so the list remains open and we are waiting for ideas that you have shared with other colleagues.
If you are interested in an interdepartmental experiential training, write to us here: https://www.universum.ro/en/contact -us/, we identify the need and deliver the content, as written in point 2. 🙂

The digital era in which we find ourselves requires us to learn more and more in order to become those specialists who bring more impact in the organizations and in the environment in which we work.
So, in addition to the tips and tricks that I gave you here, today you find out what things the HR person can take over from the Marketing person:

1. Keep up to date with the latest trends – the latest tool in online promotion, the latest updates that Facebook or Instagram made, the trend among Millennials, etc. are just some of the information that marketers know in order to deliver relevant content for each audience. So, always stay up to date with the news so that you can speak the language of your future employees, but also know how to communicate with the various characters in your organization.

2. Adapt your tone of voice for each target you communicate for – whether you’re promoting an internal event or a job announcement, you can’t communicate the same to everyone. A sales person is different from a finance person. Respect their individuality and speak to them differently. They will be more receptive to the events (teambuildings, trainings, parties, etc.) that you will organize for them.

3. Get to know your employees even better – as we have already talked about target adaptation, discover the needs and wishes of the members of the organization in which you work. What do I do in my spare time? What music do you listen to? Do you prefer chill events or wilder events? So that, let’s organize the next party according to their preferences.

4. Create an “integrated communication campaign” – whether we’re talking about employer branding or internal events, think that your audience is on a continuous journey. The information you want to convey must appear throughout his journey, on every channel he is on. If the latest event in your company is talked about both in the dining room and at the end of the meetings, as well as after the program, it means that HR is doing a very good Marketing job. ????

5. The selection is made on both sides – just as Marketing chooses its target for the product/service it wants to promote, so HR chooses the person it wants to recruit. However, Marketing does not stop there, it ensures that its product/service is the best on the market. What is known about your organization? Not only you choose your candidates, but they also choose you and you have to make sure that they know all the positive aspects of the environment in which they will work.

6. Be brave and creative! – One thing Marketing people do well is to take risks and always try new things to see what works. So, challenge yourself and challenge them too!

Now that you also have a Marketing perspective, you can choose from our team building ideas, so that we can bring even more magic to your organization: https://www.universum.ro/team-building/.
Stay close because there will be an article with things that Marketing people can learn from HR people. The bigger the initiatives, the more welcome a joint venture between departments is!

by Alex Sica, Digital Marketing Specialist

Technology develops at a rapid pace, and this has not been something that surprises you for a long time. As for the technologies used in events, the multitude of things that you have at your disposal now, you certainly couldn’t do them 5 or 10 years ago. True, right? As I used to in 2015, but also in 2016, I have prepared a list of 7 trends to take into account when organizing your events this year .

1. Share experiences with mixed reality

How would it be to hold an event and the participants are not necessarily present in the room? This is what mixed reality is all about, one of the most popular trends in the events industry. With the help of the mix between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), people can interact with different destinations, even if they are not physically there. While through AR three-dimensional elements are introduced in real time over images from the environment, VR completely transposes your participants into a visual experience of an ordinary reality.

2. Capture 4K footage with drones

It is no stranger to the fact that drones are mandatory for large-scale events. Sure, you’ve noticed that the videos after festivals or events are usually shot with a drone. 2017 will be the year of the live-stream, that’s why drones are the 4K alternative of VR. And what is even more great is that the main social networks such as Facebook or Instagram have the possibility to distribute live video directly in the newsfeed.

3. Increase engagement through artificial intelligence

In 2016, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) increased a lot, whether we are talking about chat bots, the voice assistant from Apple, Siri, or the one from Microsoft, Cortana. Find out that AI is a trend this year as well. As an event organizer, you will have the opportunity to use a digital assistant to help participants with additional information at the time of registration, with details regarding the event agenda or many others. Thus, artificial intelligence will help you shift the focus from the administrative side to building a valuable experience for the people present at your event.

4. It delivers an engaging experience

Since 2017, the focus has been on the engagement of participants because it is no longer enough for your event to deliver a universal experience. In order to be able to maintain high levels of interaction with the public, it is recommended to take into account the careful management of the emotional needs of each individual participant. Thus, emotional intelligence will play a key role, and as an organizer it is necessary to think of personalized engagement strategies for the participants of your event.

5. The show is now open to the public

“Regarding corporate events, we will see a change in the conference format that will allow greater participation in content delivery. This means that participants will be able to contribute more before and during the event” says James Morgan, founder of Event Tech Lab. This means that the information delivery process will take place in two directions, the participants and the speakers being able to learn from each other.

6. The locations are becoming less… typical

Classic conference rooms or other corporate events will be emptier in 2017. This is because this year the use of unconventional spaces is popular. Whether we’re talking about rehearsal studios, cafes, bars or lofts, any place that breaks the mold is better than an ordinary location.

7. Analyze information in real time

We talked about trends that impact the participants, but 2017 looks just as good for the organizers. An advantage of using technology in the event industry is that it can help you make decisions more easily. How is that possible? Firstly, it will become easier to collect a large amount of information about the participants of your event, and secondly, it will be much easier to interpret them to discover valuable insights about your audience.

Feeling more inspired for your events in 2017?

Receive the monthly dose of inspiration with ideas for creative events by subscribing to the newsletter or write to us to organize an event at contact@universum.ro.

I learned from:

• Planningpod.com
• Helloendless.com
• Eventbrite.co.uk
• Themiceblog.com

In 2016, interest in complete experiences grew noticeably. This can also be seen in the top of the most read articles on the blog – something for which we thank you! 🙂
Here is the top:
1. 10 Teambuilding Ideas for Large Groups – 7711 views
Events with large groups are our specialty. To see and experience the energy given by a large group surely means “goosebumps”.

2. 11 Ideas for Energizing Conferences – 4594 views
2016 was about “Different Conferences”, about giving up the classic reporting or intro.

3. 12 Teambuilding Ideas for Small Groups – 1361 views
Whether you are organizing a team building for the team of a project, the team of a department or even the team of your company, we have come up with 12 activity ideas.

4. 13 Teambuilding Ideas at the Office – 406 views
Surprise your team with a 2-hour team building activity at the office!

5. Trends for the Most Successful Parties – 312 views
This year we made sure that your Christmas party looks different, and the experience offered will not be forgotten too soon.

6. Teambuilding: 8 Business Simulations – 306 views
The business simulations are so captivating for the participants that the lessons learned are assimilated very easily.

7. 9 Techy Teambuilding Activities – 239 views
Nowadays, the techy element is indispensable, therefore teambuilding activities could not be an exception.

8. What You Need to Know Before Organizing the Christmas Party – 202 views
Short checklist to check before organizing your company’s party.

9. Teambuilding: 10 Activities to Increase Company Brand Awareness – 169 views
“To make your company’s brand something unique, employees are the key to this. A first step in this direction is increasing brand awareness.”

10. 10 Aspects to be taken into account when formulating a Team Building Request – 158 views
In order for your event to turn out flawless, we have to start from the beginning, both for us and for the clients this is essential.

2016 came with #inspiratiedelauniversum which I warmly recommended with coffee or tea, early in the morning. Subscribe to our newsletter to enjoy in 2017!

We start the year with a lot of enthusiasm and energy to write history in 2017 as well! Stay close and enjoy the energy and inspiration offered in our style.

But until another time… we are looking for colleagues! If you know someone who knows someone, who knows someone… interested in joining our team in one of the positions below, tell them to send us their CV at careers@universum.ro

< strong>Logistics Specialist |. MICE Division – with proactivity and skill we have come to have impeccable logistics, that’s why we want a colleague who has an inclination towards the A/V field to organize flawless events of logistics https://www.hipo.ro/locuri-de-munca/locuri_de_munca/55976/Universum-Events/Specialist-Logistica-Evenimente-Divizia-MICE-(Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Expo< /a>

Graphic Designer | Custom Events – the idea is that you have to be creative and ubercool to put into practice the craziest ideas – from stages, tens of meters long banners, amazing materials and “online stuff” and if you know 3D you are very cool! >> https://www.hipo.ro/ jobs/jobs/63775/Universum-Events/Senior-Graphic-Designer-Custom-Events

Marketing Exec | Custom Events – the UNIVERSUM brand has managed to grow nicely in recent years, so we don’t want to stop here, that’s why the Marketing team is looking for a very cool and well-executed little man >> https://www.hipo.ro/locuri-de-munca/locuri_de_munca/64501

Senior Sales | Concept Events – with persuasion, proactivity and goal orientation we created two large-scale event concepts in Romania, Bucharest Technology Week and Internet & Mobile World >> https://www.hipo.ro/locuri-de-munca/locuri_de_munca/53888

Marketing Manager | Own Concepts – a super awesome marketer to create communication campaigns for the Internet & Mobile World and Bucharest Technology Week >> https://www.hipo.ro/locuri-de- work/locuri_de_munca/56291/Universum-Events/Marketing-Manager-Events

#life_at_the_UNIVERSUM is very fun, so… #Hai_la_UNIVERSUM !

PS: Have you seen the last awesomeness done by our team? I wrote a world record together with the entire Catalyst Teambuilding Global network.

by Camelia Tiu

First of all, you must know that organizing a Christmas party for your colleagues is one of the best ideas to bring them together in a framework free of tasks and deadlines. At any party of this kind, people already come with a good, positive mood, what you have to do is at least maintain it. Take advantage of the opportunity and allocate a little attention to give them a truly memorable experience!

Keep calm, the MAGIC is going to happen! Take this survival kit with you

Create your own MAGIC timeline.
It’s not complicated at all when you start early. Because you can’t organize the Christmas party after Christmas, arm yourself with a very good tool to keep you up to date with the tasks. It will become your best friend, so make the work easier from the start.

Find a MMC!
This time you need not only a Master of Ceremonies, but a MAGIC Master of Ceremonies. Why, how and when, I mentioned here. Have I already made you think of someone?

Choose a MAGIC theme for your party.
All parties start with one or more stories, about how I bought my dress, where I found the hat, who did my makeup orwhat I was talking about when I took this picture. Well, the organizer also launches this domino of stories through the theme he chooses. Always keep in mind the need to surprise your guests and choose something according to their tastes. Here you can find only a part of the party themes dictated by us, where the atmosphere exceeded expectations to anyone.

Use the MAGIC to be trendy.
How would it be to keep up with fashion? Yes, Christmas parties also have their own fashion and it is not difficult to follow trendurile < /a> in their execution plan. We have collected the most important information for Christmas this year and listed them in one article, now you really have no excuses.

Look for a MAGIC Elf.
Tasks were always easier to digest when they were shared. Whether or not you have experience in organizing events or you have people from the company to support you, don’t forget that you don’t need to use up all your energy for this party to happen as it should, and at the end to have the feeling that could be done better. With the experience of dozens of organized Christmas parties, we have a team of elves with ideas and always ready for action, trained by Santa, of course. Letters arrive faster if you send them to the address: contact@universum.ro

Tick-tock, tick-tock, it’s not that long until Christmas. Make it happen, make it MAGIC!

By Victor Georgescu

Just as I mentioned in the past, the experience of the guests is what matters the most , and Christmas parties are no exception to this rule. Moreover, in the last year, the trend has been to find more elegance through simplicity, both in the event industry and in many other industries. This trend will continue for company parties from the end of this year.

Under the influence of these two “macro-trends”, we recommend several ideas and methods by which you can organize this year, not only a memorable Christmas party for employees, but also a current one, which the guests will talk about for a long time.

The minimalist, stylish decorations, rather using digital elements and ambient lights are “HOT” for Christmas 2016. The colors of the year are (for the first time two were chosen!) pink quartz and serenity (a tone of blue) and the motivation for these were chosen together is that they bring calmness and good mood through their combination. Red Ambient lights are “out”, preferring shades of pink or lilac.

A new element, which we expect to see more and more often at companies’ end-of-year celebrations, are interactive digital boards – novelty always attracts attention, and these boards are a great excuse to play. On the other hand, even if photo booths are no longer a novelty, there are still ways to come up with new and surprising elements in this chapter as well.

Going in tune with the development of the digital world and the protection of the environment, paper is no longer necessary nor desirable. Hostesses with large clipboards and pens that don’t work are no longer a delightful welcome. Instead, using tablets or mobile applications is a much more up-to-date and faster way of receiving invitations.

Continuing the trend of putting the guests’ experience first, then any “wow” event will have to provide an area for networking, and the implementation of the concept (whatever the chosen one) would be better done through decoration and accessories, and not based on the wardrobe of the guests.

Going further, one more step, the buffet trend for Christmas parties is to be oriented towards “comfort food” – foods with many calories and many carbohydrates, which have a sentimental value for the people present. This last detail emphasizes the impact of congratulation and thanks that the company has on its employees, by organizing this celebratory event.

Lastly, a trend present only this year refers to the recent Olympic Games in Rio. More than half of the entire population of the Globe watched at least part of this great event, and concepts related to Rio 2016 can be included with great success in companies’ Christmas parties.

Learn more about Christmas party themes >>

By Marius Blajut, Team building Project Manager

We really like to test new things, new concepts, concepts that we believe have the potential to turn out extremely well. Catalyst Global Network allows us to do this, to have a basis for a new concept, on which to we adapt it to our needs, but more importantly, to adapt it to the needs of our customers.

Flat Out: Pyramids – a FUN activity where teams use their problem-solving skills to build a giant pyramid

This time we built a huge pyramid! A simple, yet complex concept. A pyramid of almost 3 m height, composed of several 3D sub-elements. These combined with a lot of energy, unity and communication in the team resulted in what you can see in the picture of the article.

In order to realize this pyramid, several people are obviously needed to coordinate with each other and work together for the final goal. This time it was a group of 180 participants, divided into several teams. Each team received an equal number of large sheets of cardboard, tools such as rulers, cutters and markers, and very importantly, a series of detailed diagrams of the pyramid elements, as well as almost complete assembly instructions (we like to leave some things open, to be discovered by the participants).

The attention to detail was at a great price for the final pyramid, and without the collaboration between the teams the final result could not be obtained. The involvement of the participants is ensured by clear instructions, even if complex, an organizing team and a MC enthusiastic, as well as an image and a message familiar to the participants, the pyramid having a personalized design.

And so, the result can only amaze and delight! And then let it remain as a testimony of what great things can be achieved together, in a short time, if there is collaboration and involvement from everyone.

Have I piqued your curiosity?

Learn more about our team building programs >>