The biggest Pop Culture event in Portugal, and 2 times award winner from the Iberian Festival Awards for Best non-music festival.

TYPOLOGY ➡️ Festival Event Production.

DESCRIPTION  ➡️ In this project, I had the exciting opportunity to be part of a 1-year major production, being responsible for the Design Event project, including the operations management of all Visual Designs for several Digital channels, merchandising (e-commerce stores), and Printable Designs for the Venue structures.

The Event has gained immense popularity, winning two awards at the Iberian Festival Awards for Best non-music festival. 

It brings together the community and the entertainment industry in various areas such as Cinema, Television, Streaming, Gaming, Cosplay, Music, Kids, Comics, Literature, Content creators, Anime, and Manga.

ROLE   ➡️ Creative Project Manager | Visual Designer.

SOFTWARE ➡️ Adobe (Illustrator, Photoshop) | Canva | SketchUp | Office 365 (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, One Drive) | Asana.

* * *

⚡ The challenge was to adapt the event to its growing audience and secure a larger venue in the capital city to accommodate more visitors. This required strategic communication and infrastructure investments, along with partnerships that shared the mission of bringing Pop Culture to the public.

1. Creating a communication strategy to engage the community, drive advance ticket sales, and provide a valuable return on investment to strategic partners.                                                                                                       
2. Ensuring seamless coordination among all departments involved in the project, aligning everyone towards the project's goals.                                        
3. Selecting a suitable venue well in advance to allow for proper preparation and guaranteeing high-quality visual structures.                             
4. Managing the project timeline efficiently within a team with limited resources and multiple simultaneous projects.                                                      
5. Coordinating the integration of digital and physical channels, both internal and external, to create a cohesive experience.                                       
6. Designing the event within the constraints of a limited budget, especially focusing on functional signage planning.

To tackle the development of the Event Design Project within the overall scope, I employed project management methodologies tailored to the creative industries.

1. Iniciating

We conducted market research, I analysed previous editions' reports and trends, and identified the needs and activities to be implemented, collecting the needs among all departments. Then, I established preliminary deadlines.

2. Planning

I developed an internal information management plan, providing a standardized access process to communication supports and tools for the entire team, as well as a strategy for linking the various departments.

I planned actions and necessary supports, developing communication templates for various channels (commercial presentations, digital templates, price lists,…).

Furthermore, I elaborate a schedule, list of tasks and requirements, preliminary budgets and market consultation for production suppliers or communication partners.

3. Executing

I designed digital and physical communication supports to aid departments and implemented brand activation actions. 

I was part of the technical visits to the venue, prepared a design event project implementation plan, signage plan, final artwork, budget, and selected suppliers. 

I also was responsible to solve any visual needs that arose during the event.

4. Monitoring & control

I monitored the production and implementation of visual supports across digital and physical channels, ensuring they aligned with the project's scope. 

I managed information and internal support, providing the team with the necessary tools. 

I developed and validated the quality of final artworks, selecting the best materials, and monitored production with suppliers. 

I managed on-site installation teams and ensured adherence to the schedule.

5. Closing

I organized and archived all supports developed throughout the year according to the information management plan. 

I handled event dismantling logistics, updated the post-event production budget, recorded reusable materials, verified supplier billing, and prepared a "lessons learned" report for the design event.

The Creative Challenge

🥇 We challenged visual artists to interpret the briefing and propose an innovative Key-visual theme for the 2023 edition. The result was "We can be heroes," a visually captivating concept.

The key visual concept was then transformed into a technical manual, serving as a guide for different channels and communication materials, which I was updating progressively. 

It also incorporated innovative conceptual elements, such as a family of symbols, which aimed to create an authentic subliminal language reinforcing the event's mission and empowering the audience to express their unique characteristics.

Bring a concept Key Visual to life

We embarked on a series of decisive actions to realize the design event project for the 8th edition of Comic Con Portugal.

The journey began with developing a comprehensive briefing that combined research findings with the event's identified needs. 

Planning for Innovation and Impact

With the visual direction established, we focused on creating a cohesive and immersive experience for attendees. 

This involved designing and planning several visual items for digital channels including templates for presentations, commercial materials, digital media assets, manuals, Website and e-commerce visuals, merchandising concepts, visuals for partnerships, brand activations concepts, ... 

Also, the layout of the event space, considering factors such as traffic flow, exhibit placement, and stage setups. The aim was to guarantee, the venue could accommodate the expected number of visitors and provide optimal viewing experiences.

Ensuring that the visual experience remained consistent and impactful, delighting attendees and creating memorable moments was crucial.

To be able to overstep these requirements, and manage the Event Design Project, I was in constant collaboration with several departments as the Operations, Commercial, Marketing and Communication, ensuring everyone was aligned with the project goals and timelines.

Igniting the Imagination: Creating a Visual Wonderland

Attention to detail was crucial in executing the project successfully. The visual design aimed to enhance the event's visual identity and ensure consistent branding across different mediums.

I manage the preparation of several visual supports for the most prominent actions, such as: templates for institutional presentations for several public presentation dates; commercial templates for the departments; digital templates converted to the Canva platform for the Digital media team; manuals; visual supports to print, for intermediate presentations of the event with partners (backdrops, roll-ups, sample products, ...); merchandising concepts and other supports for brand activations with partners (FNAC ticket packs, …); Visual posters billboards; catalogues and price lists for branded products to enhance sampling actions with partners, …

Also, the signage plan for the event venue was a major concern, due to the labyrinthine circuit of space. I designed and produced high-quality signage, incorporating the key visual theme. This included directional signs, information boards, and banners that guided attendees and enhanced the overall visual aesthetic.

Unlocking Synergy: Strategic Partnerships

As the event approached, we focused on marketing and promotion strategies to generate excitement and maximize attendance. 

We leveraged social media platforms, influencers, and partnerships with media outlets to reach a wider audience. We also organized pre-event activities to engage the community and build anticipation.

I also conducted a comprehensive study of the venue area, resulting in a technical book that presented the event's entire concept and thematic areas. The book aimed to showcase the event and provide partners with visibility opportunities, while maintaining the integrity of the Comic Con Portugal brand.

From Blueprint to Reality: Executing the Design Event Project

During the event production phase, I closely monitored the execution of the design elements, making adjustments as needed.

The biggest challenge was to manage the last minute changes that could impact several final artworks, and fulfilling the production deadlines. 
As the visual event map, signage plan, and final structures that were defined during this phase. 

I was also in charge of the negotiation with suppliers for the printed items for the venue and close monitoring of their production. It were produced a total of 280 items to meet the event's requirements.

Building the Dream: Bringing Comic Con Portugal to Life

To make sure that evening was implemented with quality and in time, I developed an assembly manual plan for the installation of the visual items at the venue. 

The process involved careful coordination to meet the tight installation schedule. Continuous monitoring ensured proper functioning, safety, and the ability to adapt to changing needs during the event.

☑️ The project achieved its goals, resulting in a 57% increase in visitors compared to the previous edition. 

☑️ The project was completed within the established deadlines and provided a high-quality experience for the public. 

☑️ Additionally, it generated media value of over €8,000,000. 

☑️ The visual image and solutions installed at the venue received positive feedback from visitors and event partners.

In 2022, was celebrated the 8th edition, at Parque das Nações in Lisbon, from the 8th - 11th December, having 121,717 visitors, in an area of 115.000m2, to watch a diversity of 230 panels with heavyweight headliners among 370 guests, and more than 400 rewarding experiences.

Upon the event's conclusion, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation to assess the project's success and identify areas for improvement, gathering feedback from attendees, exhibitors, and partners to inform future iterations.

The project's success demonstrated the importance of a holistic approach, effective project planning, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt and problem-solve in a dynamic environment. 

Despite limited resources, the project achieved outstanding results through teamwork and a shared vision.

The design event project for Comic Con Portugal 2022 was a dynamic and rewarding endeavour. Through effective project management, creative design, and strategic collaboration, we successfully brought the world of pop culture to life, providing an unforgettable experience for fans and industry professionals alike.