Large technology exhibitions require stands that combine strong brand presentation with practical spaces for meetings, demonstrations and visitor engagement. For GITEX 2022 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Evolution Scenic partnered with Nteractive Consulting and Events Limited to deliver a custom-built exhibition stand for Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE).

Measuring 25 metres by 12 metres, the stand incorporated four enclosed meeting rooms, bespoke counters, overhead structures, integrated lighting, AV-ready meeting spaces, branded wall finishes and carpeted flooring. The result was a large-scale exhibition environment designed to support both brand visibility and day-to-day functionality throughout the show.

The Challenge

The HPE stand needed to accommodate a substantial footprint while remaining organised, professional and easy to navigate.

The design required multiple enclosed meeting rooms alongside open visitor areas, branded architectural features and functional counters. These elements needed to sit within one cohesive stand while supporting presentations, private discussions and general exhibition activity.

The stand also needed to maintain consistent branding across a large 25m x 12m footprint, requiring careful coordination of wall finishes, graphics, lighting and overhead elements.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic delivered the stand as a coordinated package of bespoke exhibition fabrication and finishes.

Four meeting rooms were constructed, each measuring 4m x 4m and incorporating glass walls, double glass doors and custom-built tables. AV setups were integrated into the rooms to support presentations and business discussions during the event.

Custom counters were fabricated throughout the stand to support visitor interaction and operational use.

Overhead hanging structures were also produced with integrated lighting, adding visual presence and helping define the stand within the wider exhibition hall.

All wall surfaces were finished with vinyl graphics to maintain consistent HPE branding across the environment.

Carpet was installed throughout the 25m x 12m stand, providing a uniform and professional floor finish across both meeting and visitor areas.

Delivery Highlights

• Custom exhibition stand for HPE at GITEX 2022.

• Partnership with Nteractive Consulting and Events Limited.

• Exhibition at Dubai World Trade Centre.

• 25m x 12m stand footprint.

• Four custom 4m x 4m meeting rooms.

• Glass meeting room walls.

• Double glass doors.

• Bespoke meeting tables.

• Integrated AV setups.

• Custom exhibition counters.

• Bespoke overhead hanging structures.

• Integrated lighting.

• Vinyl graphics across wall surfaces.

• Full carpet installation.

• Large-scale exhibition fabrication.

• Delivery and installation.

Outcome

The completed HPE stand provided a polished and functional exhibition environment capable of supporting both customer engagement and private business meetings.

The four enclosed meeting rooms created dedicated spaces for presentations and discussions, while the custom counters, overhead structures and branded wall finishes gave the wider stand a strong and consistent visual identity.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver large-format exhibition stands where architectural fabrication, meeting spaces, branding, lighting and AV integration need to operate together within one coordinated environment.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Exhibition stand fabrication, meeting room construction, custom counters, overhead structures, integrated lighting, branded wall finishes, carpet installation, delivery and installation.

Nteractive Consulting and Events Limited – Project partner for the HPE exhibition stand at GITEX 2022.

Executive retreats require environments that do more than provide a backdrop. The physical space needs to support discussion, participation, idea-sharing and decision-making while maintaining the level of finish expected from a high-profile leadership event. For the Abu Dhabi Executive Office EC Retreat, Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated a coordinated range of interactive installations and branded scenic elements.

The project combined engagement walls, feature walls, workshop stations, acrylic displays, voting installations and feedback areas to create a refined environment built around participation. Each element contributed to the wider event identity while providing practical tools for strategic discussion and collaborative working.

The Challenge

The retreat required a premium executive environment capable of supporting strategic discussions while actively encouraging participant engagement.

Rather than relying solely on conventional event branding, the scenic environment needed to incorporate physical tools that participants could use throughout workshops and discussions. Interactive walls, voting areas, feedback displays and collaborative stations all needed to function clearly while remaining visually consistent with the overall event identity.

The challenge was therefore to combine scenic fabrication, branding and interactivity within an environment appropriate for senior-level participants, ensuring that practical workshop functionality did not compromise the refined visual treatment of the space.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic developed a series of custom interactive and branded installations designed around the retreat programme.

Interactive engagement walls were created to allow participants to respond to key themes, contribute ideas and engage directly with the content presented during the sessions.

Branded scenic walls and feature displays were fabricated and installed throughout the environment, creating a consistent visual framework and reinforcing the retreat’s identity and messaging.

Dedicated workshop stations were produced as practical tools for collaborative sessions, providing defined locations for idea-sharing, discussion and participant contributions.

Freestanding acrylic stands and signage introduced a lighter visual treatment within the space. Clear acrylic elements and contemporary finishes helped maintain the premium aesthetic while ensuring information remained easy to identify and navigate.

Voting walls and feedback displays provided additional points of interaction, enabling participants to contribute responses and engage with workshop content in a physical and visible format.

By treating these installations as both scenic elements and working tools, Evolution Scenic created an environment where fabrication supported the operational requirements of the retreat rather than simply decorating the space.

Delivery Highlights

• Interactive scenic fabrication for the ADEO EC Retreat.
• Custom participant engagement walls.
• Branded scenic feature walls.
• Interactive workshop stations.
• Collaborative idea-sharing installations.
• Freestanding acrylic displays.
• Clear acrylic scenic elements.
• Branded event signage.
• Interactive voting walls.
• Feedback and participation displays.
• Executive-level scenic finishes.
• Integrated branding across the retreat environment.
• Delivery and installation.

Outcome

The completed ADEO EC Retreat environment combined premium scenic presentation with practical tools for participation, discussion and collaborative working.

Interactive walls, workshop stations, voting features and feedback displays gave participants multiple ways to engage with the retreat programme, while branded walls, acrylic elements and signage maintained a consistent and refined visual identity throughout the space.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to develop interactive executive environments where scenic fabrication serves an operational purpose, supporting workshops, strategic conversations and participant engagement while maintaining a high standard of presentation.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Interactive scenic design and fabrication, engagement walls, branded feature walls, workshop stations, acrylic displays, voting installations, feedback areas, signage, delivery and installation.

Major sporting events rely on strong arrival experiences and memorable fan activations to establish energy from the first point of contact. For the first-ever LIV Golf event in Riyadh, Evolution Scenic designed and fabricated a series of high-impact scenic environments and interactive installations that combined bold branding, immersive lighting and audience engagement.

The scope included a custom main entrance feature, a branded wayfinding tower, an immersive IBC container maze and an interactive putting activation. Across these elements, the project brought together scenic fabrication, branded structures, controlled lighting and experiential design to create a visually striking event environment aligned with the LIV Golf identity.

The Challenge

The event required multiple scenic and experiential elements to work together as one cohesive branded environment while also serving different operational and visitor functions.

The main entrance needed to deliver a strong first impression, combining architectural treatment, scenic branding and lighting with a central focal feature. Elsewhere across the site, additional installations needed to support wayfinding, visitor immersion and interactive participation.

Each element also required a distinct technical and fabrication approach. ACP cladding, scaffolding integration, DMX-controlled lighting, LED systems, Resolume-driven effects and interactive scenic features all had to be incorporated into installations that were visually consistent and engaging for attendees.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic designed and built the main entrance experience around the supplied scaffolding structure, cladding it in ACP to create a more refined and event-specific architectural finish. DMX-controlled signage and accent lightboxes were integrated into the entrance to strengthen visibility and deliver a more dynamic arrival experience.

At the centre of the entrance composition, a branded 2-metre golf ball was mounted on a rotation system within a custom-fabricated roundabout structure, creating a clear focal point that reinforced the event identity. The entrance floor was painted in a striped pattern and carefully matched to the client’s Pantone colours to extend the branded treatment across the full arrival zone.

For The Range Sign, Evolution Scenic constructed a 6-metre-high branded scaffolding tower incorporating a fully DMX-controlled lightbox. This functioned as both a wayfinding element and a large-format scenic branding feature.

The IBC Maze was developed as an immersive walkthrough installation using IBC containers fitted with custom LED lighting systems. These were controlled via Resolume, allowing colour changes and dynamic visual effects to animate the space and enhance the visitor journey.

Within the IBC maze, Evolution Scenic also developed The 19th Hole Experience, an interactive putting game that introduced an additional layer of audience participation and experiential engagement.

Delivery Highlights

• Scenic design and fabrication for LIV Golf Riyadh.
• First-ever LIV Golf event in Riyadh.
• Custom main entrance experience.
• ACP cladding over supplied scaffolding structure.
• DMX-controlled entrance signage.
• Integrated accent lightboxes.
• Branded 2m rotating golf ball feature.
• Custom-fabricated roundabout structure.
• Pantone-matched striped floor painting.
• 6m-high branded scaffolding tower.
• Fully DMX-controlled lightbox for The Range Sign.
• Immersive IBC container maze.
• Custom LED lighting integrated into the maze.
• Resolume-controlled lighting effects.
• Interactive 19th Hole putting experience.
• Branded fan engagement installations.

Outcome

LIV Golf Riyadh was delivered as a visually distinctive and highly engaging branded environment combining entrance scenic, lighting integration and interactive visitor experiences.

The completed installations gave the event a strong identity at multiple touchpoints, from the main arrival sequence through to immersive walkthrough features and audience participation zones. The result was an activation that combined scenic fabrication with experiential engagement in a way that reflected the energy and visual character of LIV Golf.

The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver scenic environments that move beyond static branding, integrating fabrication, lighting control and interactive design to support live sporting events and fan-focused activations.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic design, scenic fabrication, ACP cladding, branded entrance features, rotating focal elements, scaffolding tower treatment, DMX-integrated scenic elements, IBC maze fabrication, interactive putting activation, floor finishes, delivery and installation.

Transforming an open site into a complete entertainment destination requires scenic production to operate at an exceptional scale. For Diriyah Season 2019, the Diriyah Oasis Festival transformed a 130,000-square-metre car park into a fully functioning entertainment hub comprising four major festival zones.

Delivered within an intensive 90-day programme, the destination welcomed more than one million visitors during its two-month run. Evolution Scenic worked alongside local scenic providers to translate creative concepts into immersive environments, large-scale scenic elements, bespoke landscaping and illuminated installations.

The project required coordinated delivery across a vast site, combining specialist fabrication with local collaboration, logistical management and consistent quality control.

The Challenge

The primary challenge was the scale and speed of delivery. A 130,000-square-metre car park needed to become an operational entertainment destination containing four distinctive festival zones within 90 days.

Each zone required its own immersive visual environment while remaining part of the wider Diriyah Oasis identity. Scenic structures, custom props, landscaping, flooring and lighting all needed to be coordinated across the extensive venue.

Delivering this volume of work required Evolution Scenic to collaborate with and manage multiple local scenic providers. The combined teams needed to work efficiently while maintaining consistent fabrication, finishing and installation standards across every zone.

The Solution

Evolution Scenic translated the creative concepts into practical scenic-delivery requirements for the four principal festival zones.

Large-scale scenic elements and custom props were fabricated to establish the individual character of each environment. Bespoke landscaping and flooring treatments helped transform the original car park into a more complete and engaging visitor destination.

Illuminated scenic installations and wider lighting solutions introduced colour, energy and atmosphere across the site, supporting both the visual identity of the zones and the festival’s evening operation.

Evolution Scenic worked closely with local scenic providers, coordinating their specialist capabilities with its own team and overseeing delivery across the project. This multi-company approach enabled production to scale in response to the size of the build while maintaining common quality expectations.

Logistics and installation were managed across all four festival zones, allowing multiple workstreams to progress within the demanding 90-day programme.

Delivery Highlights

• Transformation of a 130,000-square-metre car park
• Intensive 90-day delivery programme
• Four major festival zones
• Immersive scenic environments
• Large-scale scenic fabrication
• Custom props
• Bespoke landscaping
• Festival flooring treatments
• Illuminated scenic installations
• Coordinated lighting solutions
• Management of local scenic providers
• Multi-company production collaboration
• Site-wide logistics and installation
• Two-month public operation
• More than one million visitors

Outcome

Diriyah Oasis opened as the entertainment hub of Diriyah Season 2019 and welcomed more than one million visitors during its two-month operation.

The four completed festival zones transformed the original car park into a varied and visually engaging destination. Scenic fabrication, landscaping, flooring and illuminated features gave each area its own identity while contributing to the atmosphere of the wider festival.

By coordinating multiple local providers and managing simultaneous workstreams across a substantial site, Evolution Scenic delivered the large-scale scenic package within the 90-day programme. The project demonstrated the company’s ability to scale its delivery model for complex festival environments in Saudi Arabia.

Project Ecosystem

Evolution Scenic – Scenic development, large-scale fabrication, custom props, landscaping, flooring, illuminated installations, local-provider management, logistical coordination and site-wide installation.

Why Some Of The Best Scenic Solutions Come From The Crew

Technical drawings establish how a scenic structure should be manufactured, but the people building, finishing and installing it often identify practical improvements that cannot be seen on screen. Their experience helps turn an approved design into something that can be produced, transported and installed successfully.

Not every strong scenic solution begins in a meeting room. Some are identified when a carpenter starts assembling a structure and notices that a fixing will become inaccessible later.

Others come from a metalworker who recognises that a connection could be simplified, a scenic painter who spots that a joint will remain visible beneath the finish, or an installer who recommends dividing a structure differently so it can pass through the venue. These observations do not replace technical design, engineering or project control. They strengthen them.

Scenic fabrication turns drawings, models and specifications into physical structures. During that process, materials behave differently, tolerances accumulate and practical constraints become clearer.

The people closest to the work often identify these issues first.

They also frequently identify the most effective solution.

The Workshop Sees What The Drawing Cannot

Technical drawings establish dimensions, materials, geometry and construction requirements. However, they cannot always show how easily a component can be handled, whether a fixing will remain accessible or how a material will respond once it has been cut, formed and finished. The workshop sees the structure at full scale.

A connection that appears straightforward on a drawing may become difficult to reach after surrounding panels are fitted. A curved form may need temporary bracing during assembly. A transport joint may need to move so it does not pass through a prominent finished surface. The crew also understands the order in which the work must happen.

They know which components need to be fitted first, where access must remain open and when a finish or technical element will restrict later work.

This practical perspective helps identify problems before they become embedded within the build.

Fabrication Feedback Should Start Early

Workshop feedback is most valuable during technical development and early production. Once materials have been ordered, CNC files prepared and major components manufactured, even a sensible improvement can create rework or delay.

An early fabrication review may identify:

• Inaccessible connections
• Sections that are too large or heavy
• Joints positioned within visible surfaces
• Materials requiring additional support
• Complicated assembly sequences
• Insufficient space for technical equipment
• Difficult lifting or transport requirements
• Finishes requiring more preparation than expected

The purpose is not to redesign the project informally. It is to ensure the approved design and proposed fabrication method work together.

A structure may be visually correct and technically detailed but still be difficult to manufacture or install. Early workshop input exposes that risk while there is still time to resolve it properly.

Small Changes Can Make A Significant Difference

Many crew-led improvements appear minor. A carpenter may move a connection so it remains accessible after cladding is installed. A metalworker may revise a bracket so it can be secured from a safer position.

A CNC operator may adjust the component layout to improve material use. A scenic painter may request that a joint is moved away from a smooth finished surface. An installer may recommend numbering sections according to the installation sequence rather than the workshop production order.

These changes may not alter the appearance, but they can reduce fabrication time, simplify installation and prevent damage. A fixing detail repeated across fifty components can either save time or create the same problem fifty times.

The value of the idea is not always reflected by its size.

Installation Experience Improves Fabrication

Installation teams understand what happens after scenery leaves the workshop. They work within loading schedules, restricted access routes, shared work areas and fixed handover times. A connection that is easy to complete at floor level may be far more difficult several metres above a stage.

A large section that moves easily around the workshop may not fit through a venue corridor or goods lift. A delicate finish may need additional protection if it will be handled repeatedly during unloading and installation. These lessons should return to the technical and workshop teams.

The strongest process creates a clear feedback loop:

• The technical team develops controlled production information.
• The workshop manufactures and tests the solution.
• The installation team experiences how it performs on site.
• Relevant lessons are applied to future projects.

Installation experience should not only solve problems on site. It should improve how the next structure is designed and built.

The Crew Understands How Materials Behave

Specifications explain how a material is expected to perform. Workshop experience reveals how it behaves during production. Timber can move, bow or twist. Sheet materials may vary slightly in thickness. Foam can be damaged during handling.

Metal components may distort if heat and fabrication sequence are not controlled. Paint systems can reveal imperfections that were difficult to see before finishing. Experienced crew members recognise these behaviours.

A carpenter may know that a tight curve should be formed in layers. A metalworker may identify where temporary bracing is required. A scenic painter may recognise that a metallic finish needs additional preparation because it will expose every surface defect. 

Scenic structures frequently combine timber, metal, CNC-cut panels, carved foam, textiles, graphics, lighting components and paint systems. Each department’s work affects the next. The supporting structure affects the cladding. The cladding affects the finish. The finish affects handling and repair. The installation method affects how everything must be divided and connected.

Crew experience helps manage these relationships in practice.

Practical Suggestions Still Need Technical Control

Encouraging feedback does not mean allowing uncontrolled changes. A modification can affect dimensions, structural performance, fire requirements, cost, programme or installation. Every suggestion must be reviewed by the appropriate responsible person.

A controlled process should establish:

• What problem has been identified
• Why the current detail may cause difficulty
• What improvement is proposed
• Whether engineering or compliance is affected
• Whether cost or programme changes
• Who must approve the revision
• Whether drawings or CNC files need updating

This protects the project while allowing workshop knowledge to improve the outcome. The objective is structured collaboration, not redesign by conversation on the workshop floor.

Every Project Should Improve The Next One

A project should still provide useful information after installation is complete.

The team can review:

• Details that slowed assembly
• Components that were difficult to transport
• Fixings that were hard to access
• Materials that did not perform as expected
• Areas damaged during handling
• Finishes that were difficult to repair
• Drawings that required clarification
• Solutions that should become standard practice

These lessons can improve workshop details, technical information, packing methods and installation sequences.

Continuous improvement becomes meaningful when the next project is better because of what the team learned from the previous one.

The Best Solution Is The One That Can Be Delivered

Scenic fabrication needs creative ambition, technical development and engineering control.

It also needs structures that can be manufactured, finished, transported and installed within the programme.

The strongest solution is not automatically the most complicated.

It is the one that protects the approved appearance while making the structure practical, reliable and safe to deliver.

Sometimes that solution begins during technical design. Sometimes it is resolved through engineering. And sometimes it comes from a carpenter, metalworker, painter, CNC operator or installer who recognises a problem because they have experienced something similar before.

Their input does not weaken the design process. It completes it. The technical information establishes what needs to be built. The crew helps ensure it works when it leaves the drawing and enters the real world.

Why We Build Mock-Ups Before We Build The Real Thing

A mock-up is not an unnecessary duplicate of the final build. It is a controlled test that allows materials, finishes, connections and installation methods to be checked before small issues become expensive site problems.

Clients sometimes see a mock-up in the workshop and ask a reasonable question: “Why are we building this twice?”

The straightforward answer is that a small mistake discovered early is almost always less expensive and less disruptive than a large mistake found once full production is underway. It is even more valuable when the alternative is discovering the problem during installation.

Scenic projects bring together materials, finishes, structures, lighting, graphics, technical systems and installation requirements. Drawings and renders are essential, but they cannot always show exactly how these elements will behave once they are physically combined.

A finish may appear correct on screen but look different when applied across a large surface.

A connection may look simple in a drawing but become difficult to access during assembly. Two materials may work individually but create an awkward junction when placed together.

A mock-up moves these questions into the controlled environment of the workshop, where they can be reviewed and resolved before they affect the wider build.

A Mock-Up Is A Targeted Test

A mock-up does not always mean manufacturing a complete second version of the project.

It should be designed to answer a specific question. Sometimes it is a small wall section used to approve colour, texture and sheen.

Sometimes it is a full-size connection detail that needs to be assembled and dismantled several times. It may be a scenic paint sample prepared on the intended substrate, using the proposed primer, texture system, paint layers and protective coating. For more complex projects, it may be a representative corner or section combining several disciplines, such as timber framing, metalwork, cladding, graphics, lighting and scenic finishing.

The scale and complexity of the mock-up should reflect the risk being tested. There is little value in building an elaborate sample if a simple material board will answer the question. Equally, a small colour swatch may not provide enough information where the finish depends on scale, lighting, texture or the relationship between several materials.

The objective is not to create additional work.

It is to test the part of the project where uncertainty remains.

Material Approvals Need Proper Samples

Material approvals are one of the clearest reasons for producing mock-ups. A material can look very different when viewed as a small sample, applied over a large area or placed under the final lighting conditions. Scenic paint finishes are particularly sensitive to this.

Colour, texture and sheen are affected by:

• The underlying substrate
• Surface preparation
• Primer and base coats
• Application technique
• Number of layers
• Protective coatings
• Lighting temperature and direction
• Viewing distance

A small printed colour reference cannot communicate all of these variables. A proper finish sample should, where possible, use the same substrate and process intended for the final work. This gives the client, designer and production team a shared reference point. They can see and feel the actual surface rather than approving a description or an unrepresentative swatch.

The same approach applies to specialist cladding, metal finishes, timber effects, laminates, coatings and graphic transitions. Approving the real build-up reduces ambiguity and creates a clearer standard for the production team to follow.

Mock-Ups Improve Joinery & Connections

Connections are another area where physical testing can prevent significant problems. Scenic structures may need to be divided into transportable sections and then reassembled within restricted site conditions.

The connections must be strong, accurately aligned and accessible to the installation team.

They may also need to remain hidden once the scenic finish is complete. 

A full-size connection mock-up allows the team to test:

• Alignment between sections
• Fixing access
• Assembly sequence
• Tolerance between components
• Strength and stability
• Visibility of joints
• Dismantling requirements
• Repair access
• Installation time

A detail that works well on the workshop floor may still need to be assessed against the actual installation method. Can the fixing be reached when the structure is upright?

Can the sections be aligned while suspended or positioned close to a wall?

Will the joint remain concealed after repeated assembly?

Can damaged parts be replaced without dismantling the entire structure?

Testing these questions early is particularly important where the site programme is restricted. An adjustment that takes an hour in the workshop may take significantly longer once the structure is installed around other contractors and technical systems.

Installation Sequences Can Be Rehearsed

Some mock-ups are built to test not only the final detail but the order in which the work must happen. Scenic installation often involves several interdependent steps. A structural frame may need to be fixed before lighting equipment is installed.

Cladding may need to remain open until cabling has been tested. A decorative finish may need to be completed only after two transport sections have been joined. If the sequence is wrong, access can be lost and finished work may need to be removed.

A representative mock-up allows the team to rehearse the sequence and identify where tools, lifting equipment or temporary supports will be needed. This can also improve communication between departments.

Carpenters, metalworkers, technicians, scenic painters and installers can review the same physical detail and understand how their work affects the next stage. The resulting method can then be reflected in drawings, section numbering, packing and site instructions.

Mock-Ups Create Clearer Approvals

Physical samples also support better client and design approvals. It is easier to make an informed decision when the proposed finish, material or detail can be viewed and handled directly.

The client can understand the texture.

The designer can assess whether the appearance matches the creative intent. The technical team can confirm the buildability of the detail. The workshop can establish the approved production method.

This creates a clearer record of what has been accepted. It also reduces the risk of different people interpreting a colour, texture or description in different ways. The approved mock-up can remain in the workshop as a benchmark for quality control during production.

Building Less To Avoid Rebuilding More

Mock-ups require time, material and workshop effort. That cost should be considered against the risk they are intended to control. 

The right question is not simply: “How much does the mock-up cost?”

It is: “What could it prevent?”

A controlled sample may avoid widespread repainting, remanufacturing, delayed approvals or difficult site modifications. It may also protect the installation programme by confirming the method before the team reaches site.

Not every project needs a large mock-up. The strongest approach is to identify the areas of genuine uncertainty and test them at the appropriate scale.

In scenic fabrication, mock-ups are not built because the team expects the design to fail. They are built because testing a critical detail early is one of the most practical ways to protect the design, programme, budget and finished result.