Corporate Events, Incentives, Conference Management | First Event

Creating a Standalone Advisory Board Experience For Digital Creatives

Client

Overview

Our client, a leading organisation in the digital creatives industry, wanted to invigorate their advisory board experience and rethink how they engage with clients. With an audience of 180+ attendees at Taets Art and Event Park in Amsterdam, they aimed to separate their advisory board event from other experiences, creating a standalone, reciprocal event that delivered value both ways.

They came to First Event to help reshape the agenda, enhance engagement, and introduce innovative ways to communicate key messages, ensuring the event felt dynamic, unmissable, and impactful.

event conference host on stage with branded background event attendees networking event attendees networking event conference host on stage with branded background

The Challenge

Traditionally, the client’s advisory board ran alongside additional experiences, but this year they wanted a standalone event that felt special. The challenge was to create an experience that:

  • Offered unique value to attendees contributing their insights.

  • Encouraged meaningful interactions and engagement.

  • Delivered a clear, coherent message while feeling fresh and innovative.

  • Set a new standard for future advisory board events and client engagement.

Our

Solution

First Event approached the challenge by reimagining the structure, format, and messaging of the event.

  • We split the agenda across two days, giving attendees space to absorb content, network meaningfully, and engage in deeper conversations without feeling rushed. This pacing allowed the event to breathe and created opportunities for genuine connection.
  • A seamless pre-event communication strategy built anticipation, introduced the creative elements, and ensured attendees arrived well-prepared and excited.
  • We developed unique event branding that tied all visual and messaging touchpoints together, reinforcing the event’s vision and creating a cohesive identity. This included a key message house, which streamlined communication for stakeholders and vendors, helping everyone understand the core pillars and the value offered to attendees.

From concept to execution, First Event ensured the event felt alive, dynamic, and reciprocal, encouraging attendees to actively contribute their insights while enjoying a professionally curated, immersive experience.

A panel of six speakers, including one using sign language, sits on stools on a colorful stage with geometric designs, sharing insights to enhance the experience for digital creatives at an Adobe Advisory Board event. Two women are smiling and talking at a table with an open laptop covered in stickers. One types while the other watches, coffee tumbler in hand—an inspiring scene highlighting the collaborative experience for digital creatives.

Why

It Worked

 

The event’s success was built on careful planning, creativity, and engagement-focused design:

  1. Vendors arrived fully prepared and confident, thanks to the key message house, ensuring all content aligned with the event’s vision.
  2. The venue layout struck the perfect balance between formal and informal spaces, fostering meaningful discussions and collaboration.
  3. Energy remained high throughout both days, with attendees engaged in sessions, networking, and breakout activities.
  4. The event introduced a fresh format for advisory board experiences, creating a model that can be replicated year after year while maintaining reciprocity and value for participants.

By combining strategic planning, creative design, and effective messaging, First Event delivered a standalone experience that inspired attendees to share insights and shaped the future of the client’s ecosystem.

A group of people sits around a conference table in a meeting room, listening to a woman presenting near a screen displaying a chart—an engaging experience for digital creatives. Laptops, notebooks, and water bottles are on the table. A group of people socialize on a boat deck by the water—some holding drinks and wearing lanyards, with a mix of casual and business attire—enjoying an inspiring experience for digital creatives.

Explore More

Want to see how we create an unmissable event? Explore our conference services or get in touch with our expert event team.