Kehoe Designs Senior Event Producer Taps into Her Creativity

Joey Alissa Berman’s a true success story. From getting her foot in the door at Chicago-based event design and décor company Kehoe Designs almost seven years ago — she worked her way up into a senior event producer role for corporate events.

“I love the company and believe in the brand. I’m in it for the long haul,” said Berman, who has a strong background in corporate events, experiential activations, and mitzvahs.

Berman’s favorite part of the job?

“Endless possibilities,” she said. “That’s the best part about Kehoe Designs. Just because you don’t see it on a shelf or Pinterest doesn’t mean we can’t do it.

“We can make anything — that’s what sets us apart.”

From a modernly minimalistic NFL Draft weekend and her interpretation of the movie ‘Mad Max,’ to the world-famous music festival Lollapalooza, Berman recently discussed her work on Lollapalooza as an event that best showcases her creative style and vision for her clients.

At Lollapalooza, the annual must-attend four-day music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park — Berman’s client C3 Presents tasked her with turning two platinum hospitality tents for performers and high-level executives into coveted hideaway destinations.

“From bright orange and shocking pink walls featuring an edgy gallery wall to a real chill zen den highlighting plant life and natural elements — these polar-opposite looks elevated guests’ platinum VIP hospitality experiences,” she said. “Both styles emerged using the Kehoe Designs seasonal trend boards with a personal twist — adding pops of gold, residential accents and attention to detail.”

The south tent sat boldly electric, with bright pink and orange corrugated walls — home to zesty black-and-white prints (kohl-rimmed eyes and dramatic clouds) and sayings (“Too glam to give a damn”). Greenery-hugging, low-slung furniture ringed the perimeter. Berman chose curved black faux leather sofas dotted with shimmering pillows, gold-gilded honeycombed tables and glass-topped, wicker-bottomed highboys with faux leather stools.

“We didn’t originally plan for the gallery wall, but when I was in the tent, I felt like something was missing,” Berman said. “I knew we needed an edgy gallery wall, and our whole team got after it. At Lollapalooza, you can push the boundaries.

“We printed sayings such as ‘Do epic shit’ and ‘I’m feeling tipsy & fresh.’”

On the tent’s other end, Berman designed an opulent bar, featuring custom-printed gray marble and overlaid with gold faceted panels, and topped by a majestic dog statue and golden vases overflowing with faux orchids.

“When you’re doing four-day festivals in a tent, we must consider what plants will be longest-lasting,” said Berman, who thoughtfully added a fringed pink-and-orange ceiling treatment. “That helps with overall atmosphere, giving an alternative vibe vs. the feeling of being inside of a tent.”

Berman ran with a totally different design for the north tent, creating a calming organic, greenery-infused “zen den” feel. A canopy of copper-painted, wood-slat fencing woven through with greenery and straw-like fronds — all overhanging a collection of wicker-evocative shelving and furniture, covered in neutral fabrics with small pops of blue, teal and gold.

“The ceiling treatment was originally used as a layered wall piece in Kehoe Designs’ lobby — the creative vision to reimagine décor elements is what makes our team so great,” she said. “For the tent’s walls, we also painted wooden beach fencing with copper, bronze and gold leaf tones for more of an elevated look.”

Q&A with Joey Alissa Berman:

Q: What branding elements get you most excited when you’re designing a corporate event?

A: I enjoy the challenge of integrating clients’ products into our designs. Whether it’s a Christmas tree made of soccer balls or a weeping willow tree made out of green mop heads — the unique product displays help our clients sell their products, and ultimately keep us on the edge of creative genius!

Q: Any cool events in your pipeline that you can share with us?

A: One of my favorite corporate events of the year is coming up in May. This annual event is unique because the client usually asks to feature Pantone’s Color of the Year (for 2019,  it’s Living Coral) and integrate their products into the overall décor.

Q: What’s an experiential event trend that you’re incorporating/excited about incorporating into your events?

A: Social media plays a big role in the majority of our corporate events and activations. Kehoe Designs’ clients are all about creating unique and memorable photo moments. By adding a dimensional graphic to a flat wall or continuing the design onto the floor, we strive to push boundaries and elevate the experience.

Photo credit: Kehoe Designs
Design and décor: Kehoe Designs
Technical production: BlackOak Technical Productions (https://blackoak.tech/)
Plantscapes: Floral Exhibits (https://www.floralexhibits.com/)

About Kehoe Designs:
Kehoe Designs is a full-service event design and décor company that produces over 1,000 events annually. Our team specializes in creating memorable experiences for all social and corporate events including private parties, luxury weddings, experiential activations, tradeshows, product launches, festivals, and retail openings. Behind the creative force of Kehoe Designs, there are artisans, designers, technical producers, and floral experts who have elevated the standard of event experiences for more than 22 years. Allow us to bring your event to life. For more information, visit www.kehoedesigns.com.