The 18th session of the UN Industrial Development Organization General Conference was held at Emirates Palace from 3 to 7 November 2019 under the theme Industry 2030 - Innovate. Connect. Transform our Future.

Evolution was appointed to deliver the exhibition at the centre of the conference. The strategic opportunity was to turn industrial-development policy into an environment delegates could explore through distinct subjects, interactive technology and visual storytelling.

Instead of one continuous information display, the atrium was organised into themed hubs that allowed complex global priorities to be encountered in focused, human-scale experiences.

The Challenge

The exhibition needed to translate a broad policy agenda, spanning technology, sustainability, partnerships, entrepreneurship and industrial development into an engaging visitor experience.

The challenge was to move beyond information-led displays and create an environment where complex themes could be understood, explored and discussed.

Set within Emirates Palace, the exhibition also had to operate within a formal international conference environment.

The design needed to introduce impactful scenic and digital elements while respecting the venue’s architectural character, maintaining clear delegate circulation and creating space for meaningful engagement with each subject area.

The Solution

Evolution designed and produced seven themed hubs covering Gender, Youth and Entrepreneurship, Circular Economy, Industry 4.0, Industrial Parks, Sustainable Energy and Partnership content.

Programmed touchscreens, iPads with personal headsets, AI stations and large-format screens gave each subject an appropriate mode of interaction. Delegates could choose where to focus and move between overview, personal listening and deeper digital exploration.

Scenic panels transformed the atrium into a coherent exhibition environment while maintaining open routes and comfortable engagement space around the hubs.

A dedicated gallery for Elisabetta Lattanzio Illy’s photographic exhibition, Transforming Needle and Thread into Women Empowerment Tools, introduced a more human and cultural perspective alongside the policy and technology content.

Delivery Highlights

• Interactive exhibition for the UNIDO General Conference at Emirates Palace.
• Seven themed content hubs aligned with Industry 2030.
• Programmed touchscreens and large-format digital displays.
• iPads with personal headsets for focused content engagement.
• AI stations supporting interactive learning.
• Scenic transformation of the Emirates Palace atrium.
• Dedicated photography gallery focused on women’s empowerment.

Outcome

The atrium became an active learning environment rather than a backdrop to the conference. Delegates could move between policy themes, test different digital formats and encounter both institutional and human perspectives on industrial development.

The exhibition made Industry 2030 easier to navigate by giving each subject a distinct physical and interactive identity within one connected experience.

Project Ecosystem

Client:

UNIDO

Evolution Events: Led exhibition strategy, content-environment planning, gallery coordination, production management and conference delivery integration.

Evolution Scenic: Designed and produced the seven hubs, atrium scenic panels, gallery environment and physical exhibition architecture.

Evolution Technical: Integrated the programmed touchscreens, iPads, headsets, AI stations and large-format screen systems.

Additional Project Support:

Evolution Furniture - Evolution Site Services

During the World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference in 2024, international dignitaries and VIP delegates gathered at Qasr Al Watan for a formal gala dinner hosted in Abu Dhabi.

The evening needed to operate as both diplomatic hospitality and a cultural introduction to the UAE. Evolution was entrusted with the full turnkey delivery, creating a guest journey that moved from palace arrival and welcome reception through to speeches, performances and dinner while maintaining the formality and protocol expected of the setting.

The creative approach used elegance, clarity and UAE cultural expression to connect each stage of the programme. Scenic design, tablescapes, signage and activation environments were developed as one cohesive visual language that complemented the palace architecture and the significance of the international audience.

The Challenge

Qasr Al Watan carries significant architectural presence, meaning temporary interventions needed to create impact while respecting the character of the venue. The event also required clear navigation from entrance gates through arrival, reception and dining areas for guests moving within a highly controlled protocol environment.

Behind the guest experience, catering teams, performers and production crews required dedicated operational spaces and carefully managed access routes. These requirements had to support the programme delivery while remaining discreet and separate from the formal diplomatic setting.

The Solution

Evolution designed and constructed the pre-function and gala dinner environments as one connected guest journey. Branded walls and activation stands established the MC13 identity on arrival, while the main stage provided a formal focal point for speeches and cultural performances.

The gala environment used custom-designed tablescapes and coordinated seating to introduce refinement throughout the dining space. Rather than relying on a single statement feature, the design considered detail across the room, ensuring the formal dinner experience felt cohesive from every guest perspective.

Bespoke directional signage guided guests and VIPs from the entrance gates through the palace while supporting smooth movement within the venue’s architecture. Back-of-house tents were installed for catering operations and performers, allowing guest-facing areas to remain controlled and discreet.

Evolution coordinated closely with venue, protocol and security stakeholders, aligning installation, guest movement and programme timing with the requirements of an international diplomatic occasion.

Delivery Highlights

• Full turnkey delivery of the WTO MC13 Gala Dinner at Qasr Al Watan.
• Design and construction of the pre-function and formal dining environments.
• Main stage for opening speeches and cultural performances.
• Branded walls and activation stands reinforcing the conference identity.
• Custom tablescapes and coordinated guest seating.
• Bespoke directional signage from the entrance gates through the palace.
• Back-of-house tents supporting catering services and performers.
• Coordination with venue, protocol and security teams.

Outcome

The gala gave international delegates an evening that reflected the character and significance of its Abu Dhabi setting. Palace architecture, cultural performance and carefully managed hospitality came together to create a dignified transition from ministerial proceedings into an evening of connection and conversation.

Guests experienced the occasion without being exposed to the complexity behind the delivery. Supporting spaces, guest navigation and stakeholder coordination worked together to ensure the diplomatic programme unfolded with precision and ease.

Project Ecosystem

Client:

Ministry  of Economy and Tourism

Evolution Events: Led the turnkey concept, diplomatic guest journey, protocol and security coordination, cultural programme, hospitality planning, signage strategy and live delivery.

Evolution Scenic: Designed and produced the main stage, pre-function environments, branded walls, activation stands and supporting physical elements.

Evolution Furniture: Provided the formal dining furniture and seating package supporting the custom gala tablescapes.

Additional Project Support:

Evolution Technical - Evolution Site Services

The UAE’s 50th National Day celebration at Hatta used the landscape of Hatta Dam as the setting for a performance tracing the nation’s progress and achievements.

Evolution collaborated with LarMac Projects ME Limited to create 100 telescopic lightboxes based on iconic UAE buildings. Together, the structures formed a scenic narrative of national development rather than a conventional architectural backdrop.

The creative concept relied on movement, scale and illumination. Each structure needed to rise from the stage, maintain the recognisable proportions of its architectural reference and perform as part of a synchronised landscape of light that remained legible across the dam.

The Challenge

Every building required its own visual identity while operating as part of one mechanical system. Taller structures needed up to four telescoping tiers, custom lifting mechanisms and sufficient stability for live performers working nearby.

The mountainous setting introduced high winds, rain and humidity. The scenic elements also had to retract into the stage floor and operate reliably within a live performance where timing and synchronisation were critical.

The Solution

Evolution designed, supplied, installed and operated 100 custom lightboxes, each modelled on an iconic UAE building and adjusted to retain relative scale differences within the stage composition.

Heavy-duty industrial tracks and telescopic tower mechanisms allowed the structures to emerge and retract. Multi-tier designs were engineered for taller buildings, translating the varied national skyline into a workable kinetic system.

Independently controlled LEDs created dimensional lighting across each replica. All 100 elements were connected through a single electrical control circuit, allowing colour and sequence changes to be synchronised from a command position approximately 30 metres away.

Structural design, testing and live operation were developed around weather exposure, performer safety and the precision required for the buildings to rise as part of the choreography.

Delivery Highlights

• One hundred custom telescopic replicas of iconic UAE buildings.
• Scenic sequence staged on an artificial pool at the edge of Hatta Dam.
• Up to four telescoping tiers for the tallest building structures.
• Custom lifting mechanisms and heavy-duty industrial tracks.
• Independently controlled LED lighting within every lightbox.
• Synchronised control through one electrical circuit from 30 metres away.
• Engineering for high winds, rain, humidity and live performer safety.

Outcome

The buildings transformed national progress into a live visual event. As the illuminated skyline emerged from the stage, architecture became a moving timeline rather than a static symbol.

The precision of the mechanical and lighting systems allowed 100 individual structures to read as one national image, creating a powerful centrepiece within the Hatta landscape.

Project Ecosystem

Client:

UAE Governement / LarMac Projects ME Limited

Evolution Events: Led project coordination with LarMac Projects ME Limited, production planning, installation sequencing and live scenic operation.

Evolution Scenic: Designed, engineered, fabricated, installed and operated the 100 telescopic building lightboxes and lifting structures.

Evolution Technical: Delivered the LED integration, electrical control, synchronised colour sequences and technical operation of the kinetic skyline.

A parade float may look impressive as a static design concept. The real test arrives when that concept begins moving through a live public environment. Successful floats must balance engineering, stability, visibility, audience sight-lines, operational practicality, safety requirements, creative storytelling and visual impact all at once.

This challenge is especially pronounced across large-scale public celebrations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Floats often travel long parade routes with varying road surfaces, pass large crowds, appear in broadcast coverage and operate under challenging weather conditions while remaining visually engaging from every angle. A design that succeeds on paper can falter in motion if weight distribution, structural dynamics or performer integration have not been carefully considered.

The strongest float designs address weight distribution, structural integrity, movement dynamics, audience visibility, performer integration, maintenance access, transportation logistics and installation requirements from the earliest stages. Engineering practicality and creative ambition develop together rather than in sequence. Structural calculations account for acceleration, braking, turning and road camber. Materials are selected for their strength-to-weight ratio as well as their aesthetic qualities. Scenic elements are engineered to remain stable under motion while still delivering the intended storytelling impact.

Visibility planning is equally critical. Audiences line routes on multiple levels — from street level to elevated viewing platforms and broadcast cameras. Designs must therefore work in the round, with key storytelling moments readable from different distances and angles. Performers need safe, stable platforms that also position them effectively for audience connection. Lighting and special effects must function reliably while the float is moving, often under bright daylight or variable night condition.

Operational considerations shape many of the final decisions. Maintenance access points allow technical teams to service systems quickly between appearances. Transportation logistics determine how large elements are broken down for road movement and reassembled on site. Installation sequences are planned to fit tight build windows along the parade route. Safety requirements — including emergency egress, fire protection and structural load limits — are integrated rather than added as afterthoughts.

Importantly, audiences should never feel the engineering effort operating underneath the experience. The strongest parade floats create genuine emotional impact while remaining operationally stable, reliable and safe throughout live operation. The storytelling, colour, movement and performer energy take centre stage. The engineering simply enables the spectacle without drawing attention to itself.

This balance is achieved through close collaboration between designers, engineers, scenic fabricators, technical specialists, parade operators and production teams. Early involvement of fabricators ensures that ambitious forms can actually be built and moved. Engineers translate creative intent into buildable, road-worthy solutions. Technical specialists integrate lighting, sound and effects that function reliably in motion. Production teams test assembly and movement sequences so that the final delivery on the day feels seamless.

Evolution Scenic approaches float design with this integrated mindset. Scenic fabrication expertise allows complex forms, detailed surface treatments and robust modular construction to be realised in the workshop before final assembly. Engineering input ensures structural performance under real-world movement. Collaboration with technical and operational partners guarantees that the floats not only look spectacular but perform reliably across extended parade routes and demanding schedules.

Large public celebrations in the region, such as Union Day parades and other national or cultural events, demonstrate the value of this approach. Floats that combine striking visual storytelling with sound engineering travel smoothly, maintain performer safety and deliver clear sightlines to thousands of spectators. The result is memorable public spectacles that enhance rather than complicate the overall celebration.

Designing floats for real-world movement ultimately requires respect for both the creative vision and the physical realities of live operation. When engineering practicality and creative storytelling develop hand in hand, the outcome is environments that move gracefully through crowds while creating lasting emotional connections. The audience experiences wonder and delight. The teams behind the scenes know the work required to make that wonder possible.

The ADSW Youth Circle opened on 15 January 2018 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in collaboration with ADSW and the Ministry of Youth Affairs. Students from across the Emirates gathered in the ADSW VIP Majlis at ICC Hall to discuss sustainability, renewable energy and the role of young people in shaping the future.

The occasion carried significant national attention through the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The design response therefore needed to recognise the profile of the moment while keeping the young participants, their ideas and their interaction at the centre of the room.

Evolution created a professional but inclusive setting in which the visual identity, furniture and technical production supported conversation.

The Challenge

Youth-focused dialogue requires a different energy from a formal conference. The environment needed sufficient presence for a high-profile ADSW programme, but it also had to feel accessible to students and encourage active participation.

Branding, stage design, video coverage and seating all needed to reinforce the sustainability theme while preserving a clear sense of equality and connection across the circle.

The Solution

Evolution designed and built a focused stage environment that gave the discussion a strong visual centre without turning it into a one-directional presentation. Branding connected the Youth Circle to the wider ADSW theme and made youth participation visibly part of the sustainability programme.

Furniture was arranged to create comfort and inclusion, supporting a closer relationship between speakers and students. Technical production and video coverage ensured that the discussion was clearly communicated and documented while remaining secondary to the live exchange.

Overall event management connected guest arrival, room readiness, content requirements and live operation, allowing the session to move with the confidence expected of ADSW while retaining the openness of a youth conversation.

Delivery Highlights

• Youth dialogue delivered within Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
• Stage design and build for the ADSW VIP Majlis at ICC Hall.
• Event branding aligned with sustainability and youth participation.
• Technical production and video coverage.
• Furniture arranged for comfort, inclusion and direct discussion.
• Full event management from setup through live delivery.

Outcome

The Youth Circle gave students a setting that visibly valued their contribution to the sustainability conversation. The room carried the importance of the occasion without losing the directness and energy required for youth participation.

The event connected national leadership, sustainability and young voices through a format designed around listening and exchange.

Project Ecosystem

Client:

Masdar - Mubadala Company

Evolution Events: Led event management, participant journey, branding coordination, guest operations and live delivery.

Evolution Scenic: Designed and built the stage and branded discussion environment.

Evolution Technical: Delivered the audiovisual production and video-coverage systems.

Evolution Furniture: Provided the furniture arrangement supporting comfort and inclusive discussion.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, the Global Citizen Forum brought international leaders and public figures to the Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre under the theme The Future in Motion.

The two-day programme needed to hold two different emotional registers: the discipline and clarity of a leadership conference, followed by a gala dinner with greater warmth, theatre and celebration.

Evolution used the event theme as a guiding principle for the overall experience design. Scenic elements, technical production and programme transitions were coordinated to create a cohesive environment that supported the evolving narrative of the event while maintaining a consistent visual identity throughout.

The Challenge

Conference sessions required speaker focus and a controlled visual setting. The gala demanded a more expressive atmosphere, yet treating the evening as an unrelated fit-out would have weakened the overall experience.

High-profile attendees also required polished logistics and dependable transitions. Changes between sessions, guest movement and the evening setup needed to happen without exposing the production complexity behind them.

The Solution

The main stage and branded scenic elements gave the conference a clear visual centre, supporting different formats of leadership discussion while reflecting the theme's sense of forward movement.

Audio, video and lighting systems were integrated with the scenic environment so that content and atmosphere could change together. For the gala, the design language was adapted through custom scenic elements and lighting rather than replaced, creating a more intimate and celebratory setting that still belonged to the same event.

Onsite coordination focused on the transitions between programme states. Conference sessions, technical changes, guest communication and the gala setup were treated as one sequence, allowing the audience to experience a deliberate evolution rather than a visible reset.

The theme therefore became more than event language. It was reflected in how guests progressed through the programme and how the environment moved with them.

Delivery Highlights

• Two-day conference and final-evening gala at Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre.
• Main stage and branded scenic environment reflecting The Future in Motion.
• Full audio, video and lighting production.
• Custom gala scenic and lighting treatment.
• Event coordination and onsite logistics for high-profile attendees.
• Planned transitions between conference sessions and evening hospitality.

Outcome

The Global Citizen Forum changed atmosphere without changing identity. Guests moved from international dialogue into evening hospitality through a progression that felt planned, not improvised.

By the final evening, the environment had become warmer and more theatrical, but the visual and production language still connected the gala to the ideas and relationships established during the conference.

Project Ecosystem

Client:

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

Evolution Events: Led event coordination, guest experience, programme transitions, onsite logistics and live delivery.

Evolution Scenic: Designed and built the main stage, branded backdrops and custom gala environments.

Evolution Technical: Delivered the integrated audio, video and lighting systems supporting the conference sessions and Gala Dinner.