A longtime contributor to the MPI community, Ruud Janssen, CMM, DES (MPI France-Switzerland Chapter), Event Design Collective (EDC), remains intent on spreading event planning-efficiency education that enhances the event experience for all stakeholders—especially organizers. We had a brief chat with Janssen to preview some of what to expect from the EDC’s involvement at IMEX Frankfurt, MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) and more.

Onsite at IMEX Frankfurt, there will be numerous opportunities to learn about event design and engage with the Event Design Collective.

• Monday, May 22, join Janssen and Ingrid Rip, CED, for Event Design Certificate Level 1 Programs in English hosted and sponsored by Postillion Hotels and The Hague & Partners. 

• Monday, May 22, join Gerrit Jessen, CMP, CMM, CED, for the German-language Event Design Certificate Level 1 Programs hosted and sponsored by CCH – Congress Center Hamburg.

• Visit the Event Design LAB at #IMEX23 in Hall 9 and join in on an Event Design Sprint as we will be designing MPI’s World Education Congress 2027 with Devon Montgomery Pasha.

• Visit the Event Design LAB at #IMEX23 in Hall 9 and listen in on one of the #DESIGNtoCHANGE podcast recordings which will be recorded live onsite with leading changemakers and Certified Event Designers.

What do you hope attendees get from your education at IMX Frankfurt? 

Janssen: “The truth about what is really on the minds of their stakeholders is what participants want to know. 

“Events have gone through a turbulent time these past three years and participants to IMEX are eager to sharpen their event design skill set. In order to have better conversations with event owners, we notice their curiosity in event design is now imminent to actually learn how to do this most effectively. Most teams are keen to go thorough redesigns of their events and want to know how others are doing that, too. At IMEX we showcase not just by talking about event design but actually doing it onsite.”

What do you hope to get out of your involvement at IMEX Frankfurt?

Janssen: “We hope to meet organizations that want to incorporate event design into the fabric of their way of doing business. In the past years IMEX has been a key touch point to meet important new clients like Caesars, Encore, Marina Bay Sands and The Hague & Partners—venues where we have now established Event Design LABs to foster the community of practice across the globe. 

“Team IMEX and MPI have believed and supported the foundational work we do in delivering the Event Design Certificate Program since we launched the #EventCanvas in 2014. These partnerships have been instrumental to the success the community has experienced together with the team at Event Design Collective. 

“IMEX and MPI have been vested in bringing Event Design using the #EventCanvas methodology to the wider event industry community at both IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America. This year, it’s designing MPI’s World Education Congress 2027—“destination unknown”—onsite in Hall 9 in the Event Design Collective Studio, together with the IMEX visitors and design enthusiasts.”

Is that any different this year, compared to years past?

Janssen: “Every year we have seen an evolution in the way we have been innovating and collaborating with team IMEX and this year we are taking another major leap forward. We record the outcomes of the event designs in conversations. This #DESIGNtoCHANGE podcast recorded live onsite at IMEX and WEC/EMEC brings these conversations to a wide audience inside and outside of these communities of practice.”

In closing, Janssen recommended those interested in the #EventCanvas and the EDC’s activations at IMEX Frankfurt should check out their podcast series recorded at last year’s event.