How Do Scenic, Décor and Lighting Contribute to Immersive Event Experiences?

People want to feel like they are part of what is happening around them. The senses drive attention and shape emotion, and connection to any environment is built through what people see, hear and feel. Encore event producer Audrey Jai and product manager Tom Drozd discuss how scenic and lighting create immersive experiences, how planners can build immersion at any budget and what to keep in mind when designing effective environments.

Meet the Experts

Audrey Jai, Event Producer, Encore

Tom Drozd, Product Manager, Encore

What Does "Immersive" Mean in an Event Environment?

Audrey Jai, Event Producer: "To me, immersive means intentional, because the whole point is to pull in the people. I don't like heavy design or things that don't serve a purpose. I don't like to use the latest tech just because it's the newest, hottest. I want everything to have a purpose. When someone says, 'We want it to be immersive,' I think about the individual. I'm always intentional about design, but immersive pushes me to think about each person just a little more — how each individual in the room can feel like they've had a personalized experience, even in a big general session.

That mindset comes from theater. In a black box show, you're not just working with limited space — you're trying to make the audience feel like part of the experience. I've seen spaces where the stage was inches away from the audience, where the audience became part of the moment. That's immersive to me — thinking about each seat, so there's no bad seat in the house. Corporate shows are still shows. Your show can be just as compelling as a Broadway production. It's about how you design with intention."

Tom Drozd, Product Manager: "There are two key themes that make an event immersive. The first is something you can't replicate virtually. No matter how good a screen is at home, it doesn't match sitting in a room with other people experiencing something live. When you walk into a space that feels polished and purposeful, you immediately think, 'I need to be here for this.'

The second is involvement. How much is the content involving you? That could be screens, presentation style or the way scenic and lighting reinforce what's happening. If the visuals are strong but the rest of the room doesn't support them, it deflates the experience. Everything has to work together."

How Do Scenic, Décor and Lighting Work Together to Shape the Room?

Tom: "At the core, scenic creates the environment for the event. Even something simple like drape helps create a clean backdrop, so people aren't distracted by things like air walls, hallway doors or background noise. That matters because you want participants focused on what's important. The goal is to guide their attention and reinforce why they're there.

Lighting, scenic and décor are supporting cast members. Scenic elements are essentially a canvas, but lighting brings color, texture and dimension to life. That interaction is what creates visual impact. Lighting also creates focus. Just like a movie theater dims the room to highlight the screen, lighting helps direct attention to the presenter and content."

Audrey: "You're in the room, so put some light on the audience. That alone can change how people feel. When event participants are lit, even subtly, they feel like they're part of the experience. It doesn't have to be expensive. Sometimes it's simple choices that make the biggest difference. I had a client with a mid-range budget who wanted an LED wall but didn't want it to feel generic. We added a scenic wood element into the design and it completely changed the look. It gave the event warmth and elegance."

Do Immersive Environments Have to Be Expensive?

Audrey: "Creative people are creative people. Budget only matters in how you meet the client where they are. My goal is for clients to feel like, 'You understand my budget and you're working with me.' Lighting is one of the easiest ways to scale. Adding a few fixtures, adjusting placement or avoiding rigging can make a big impact without adding cost. I want planners to feel comfortable asking for the big idea, because we can scale it."

Tom: "At their core, scenic and décor are about creating a cohesive environment, and that can start with something as simple as drape, like velour drape. The goal is to ensure every budget level has an option that works. From there, you can build incrementally. Décor drape adds texture and color. Scenic tiles add dimension. Soft sets and panels introduce more flexibility and visual interest."

How Should Planners Choose Scenic and Lighting Solutions?

Tom: "It depends on who the customer is, what the brand demands, what the goals are and the environment they're working within. Uplighting is a good example of scalability. At a basic level, it adds color and energy to a space. At a more advanced level, lights can change throughout the day to reflect mood shifts or brand moments. Stage lighting also depends on intent: recording, livestreaming or managing a large audience each influence how lighting should be designed. For outdoor events, scenic and lighting become even more important because they help define the space, support visibility as daylight changes and create a more intentional environment in settings that may not have built-in structure."

How Is Brand Identity Showing Up in Event Design?

Audrey: "We're seeing more merging between brand identity and event design. Clients are asking how their brand shows up in the experience itself, not just visuals on screen. Previously, the theme drove the creative. Now it's more collaborative. We guide the experience and shape the event's look and feel, but brand decisions ultimately come from the client."

What Is the Biggest Misconception About Immersive Design?

Audrey: "Planners think if they can't have the biggest version of something, they can't have any version at all. You can scale ideas down and still create impact. The key is understanding what you like about something. Once we know that, we can design toward it in a way that fits your event."

Tom: "There are multiple approaches to achieve what you're going for. The goal is making sure people stay engaged and connected to the content. Lighting can introduce texture and branding through simple tools like gobos, or more dynamic effects with moving fixtures."

What Should Planners Understand Most About Scenic, Décor and Lighting?

Tom: "It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It's about helping presenters reinforce their message in a way that fits the event."

Audrey: "We can meet you where you are. Ask for the cool thing. We'll help figure out how to get you there."