CHANTILLY, Va. (January 24, 2012) –CORT Event Furnishings, the nation’s largest event furniture, lighting and accessories rental company and designer Richard Carbotti of Perfect Surroundings share their top event design trends for 2012. This year, competition will be fierce as clients use design to communicate their individual brands and values at events, trade shows and conferences.

“Event planners are challenged to design unique event experiences that speak to brand personalities and create a “wow” experience, particularly in unusual spaces,” said Kevin Dana, Director of Marketing for CORT Trade Show and Event Furnishings. Richard Carbotti agrees, “Everyone is looking for the next great event venue and that requires an extra effort in planning logistics and furnishings that can go wherever the event is held; on a ship, rooftop or even on a mountain.” 

Color Everywhere

Clients are increasingly comfortable using color to set their designs apart. According to Richard Carbotti, “I see warm colors playing a key role in this year’s designs when mixed with energetic and exciting tones. Tangerine oranges and sunflower yellows, for example, mix beautifully with fuchsias, purples or last year’s Pantone Color of the Year, Honeysuckle. Designers should also never rule out cobalt blue, a lively shade of blue that always provides a bold color balance and a cooler temperature if need be.”  

White remains the most popular furnishings color for events because it provides a blank palette to paint a rich experience with lighting, wall art and other accents such as pillows and vases. 

Indoor/Outdoor Furnishings

Events are no longer confined to hotel ballrooms as clients challenge event planners to create visually appealing and comfortable seating at increasingly exotic outdoor locales. These cutting-edge events require furniture that is weatherproof, durable and portable while exuding style that will surprise clients.  CORT’s expanded indoor/outdoor collections are designed to marry the multipurpose requirements of today’s event furnishings without sacrificing modern style and elegance. Some of CORT’s newest event furnishings include:

• Inflatable Furniture – Durable, functional, and fun; air-filled seating opens up a new world of possibilities for planners. Blofield Air Design by CORT is an award-winning European-designed collection that goes from the beach to the board room. 
• Indoor/Outdoor Ottomans – Whether plastic or vinyl, ottomans provide cost-effective seating that can withstand any environment.  CORT’s new Vibe ottoman cubes are lightweight, waterproof vinyl ottomans available in seven vibrant on-trend colors and can be scattered across a pool, deck or lawn.
• Indoor/Outdoor Modular Sectionals – Create seating to conform to unusual spaces of all sizes, from roaring galas to intimate events on a terrace or under a tent.  CORT offers the exclusive new Danish designed Briza sectional in a grey-taupe all weather fabric.

Luxury is Back

As the economy strengthens, many corporate clients have larger budgets to spend on designing and outfitting events, particularly luxury brands that need to differentiate themselves. Demand is strong for high-end furnishings and designer pieces. “Clients aim to make a tasteful statement with understated elegance and sophisticated modern furniture design,” said Dana. CORT’s Lounge22 brand is made in Los Angeles and the clean modern lines and unique designs lend themselves to high-end events. Available nationwide, Lounge22 is the right choice for discerning event planners.

Mixing Styles, Patterns and Textures

Richard Carbotti believes in the value of mixing different styles to create surprising and one of a kind accents. “There are two precepts foundational to event design: First, knowledge and respect for space and how it affects people, and second, a working knowledge of artistic or cultural styles and periods as they are developed throughout history.  Design is not simply in “the things” themselves; it is in how those things are used and arranged in ways that get people to feel something.” 

Creative Modular Seating

Every client wants to design seating tailored to their particular event, but the Millennial generation is reinventing traditional event expectations and demanding more casual meeting and networking environments.  While there is always a place for sofa and chair vignettes, planners need options to design seating that is customizable for indoor and outdoor events in upscale and casual atmospheres.

“Large serpentine or linear seating that wraps around dance floors or doubles as dining areas are all the rage,” said Carbotti. “CORT’s Endless collection serves this need and has expanded to include right angles and small individual glass tables that connect to each seat.  Blurring the lines between lounge seating and traditional meeting setups will continue in 2012.”

Social Media

In 2012, most events will have a social component to generate interest before, during and after the event. Whether it’s live tweeting at the event or blogging before and after; planners have to incorporate social media engagement into the overall strategy and budget to ensure attendees stay informed and those who cannot attend are still able to participate.

About Richard Carbotti

For almost 30 years Richard Carbotti has been transforming spaces of any scale into detailed custom-designed environments. As a graduate of Parsons School of Design in Manhattan and the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, he has employed his knowledge of two-dimensional visual, interior, and graphic design to produce spectacular events internationally. Producing events in more than 30 states, Carbotti has been nominated for Event Solutions Designer of the year twice, winning once. Richard is a founding member of ISES New England and ISES RI where he served as its first President. His design solutions, creativity, and attention to detail continue to garner international awards, including industry coveted Special Event Magazine Gala Awards, ISES Esprit Awards, and most recently an induction into the International Event Solutions Hall of Fame.  Richard will also continue his almost 40 year career as an art/design/special events educator (K-graduate level), teaching Event Design at NYU again later this year.  

About CORT Event Furnishings

CORT Event Furnishings is a nationwide provider of furnishings for the exhibit and events industry. From high-profile events to corporate events and weddings, CORT provides the rental furnishings that make events possible. CORT also provides rental furniture to the majority of trade shows and conferences in the nation, including shows and events in Canada.  With distribution centers located across the nation, CORT Event Furnishings guarantees “Style & Service Delivered” anywhere your event lands. All of CORT’s products are available in 2D and 3D CAD files free to all clients. For more information, visit www.CORTevents.com

About CORT

For the past 40 years, CORT has been a leading provider in rental furniture and has provided services to more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 companies. CORT is a Berkshire Hathaway company and has offices in every major U.S. market and a global furniture rental network of affiliates in more than 50 countries. For more information about CORT, visit www.cort.com. 

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Amanda Manna
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