From A Space Concept To A Real Experience

SETTING THE MISSION

After months of developing BorgWarner’s „Mission 2030“ Global Sales Conference, finally arriving at the venue in Porto and seeing everything come together felt surreal.

The project began with the creation of the event’s visual identity, inspired by space exploration to represent ambition, progression and long-term vision while maintaining the professional tone of a global corporate conference. From there, Hi&Lo developed the presentations, motion graphics, branding and event materials around this central concept, creating a consistent experience throughout the event.

The event logo itself was designed as a mission patch, inspired by those used in real space missions. Beyond becoming the visual identity of the conference, it was also embroidered onto custom jackets that attendees wore during the event, reinforcing the sense of a shared journey.

Walking into the venue for the first time, preparations were still underway. The production team was running technical checks on the panoramic LED wall while the branded environment was coming together. Seeing months of work displayed at that scale for the first time was one of the most rewarding moments of the project.

Behind the scenes, preparations continued with rehearsals, technical checks and presentation updates. Managing dozens of presentations required constant coordination with the production team to ensure every version projected on stage was accurate and up to date.

PREPARING FOR LAUNCH

Rehearsals were the busiest part of the event. Throughout the day we refined presentations, adjusted layouts, animations and timings, and supported speakers as they prepared for the stage.

Many presentations evolved during rehearsals, with quick edits handled on site and more extensive updates completed by the Hi&Lo team back at the studio. Working directly with speakers gave us the opportunity to refine both the visual experience and the confidence of each presenter before they stepped on stage.

Before the conference began, every presentation was carefully checked with the technical team to ensure the correct versions were ready for projection.

WELCOME TO MISSION 2030

Once attendees arrived, the atmosphere changed completely. The hotel no longer felt like a hotel—it felt like the conference had taken over the entire space.

Guests wore the custom jackets featuring the mission patch we had designed, while branded badges, themed meeting rooms and digital agendas reinforced the visual identity throughout the venue. The immersive concept came together without losing the polished feel expected from a global corporate event.

Inside the main conference room, the LED wall displayed behind-the-scenes images captured during setup and rehearsals using templates we had created for the event. Seeing both our work—and even ourselves—projected on that scale was a memorable experience.

THEN THE ROOM WENT SILENT

As the opening video began, the room fell silent. Every eye turned to the giant LED wall as months of creative work finally came to life through cinematic visuals, sound and motion.

Then came one of the event’s most memorable moments. As the video ended, the CEO ran onto the stage wearing an astronaut helmet before removing it and welcoming the audience. It was a simple gesture, but it instantly brought the entire „Mission 2030“ concept to life and showed how fully the theme had been embraced..

KEEPING THE EXPERIENCE ALIVE

Throughout the conference, presentations, Q&A sessions and collaborative activities were supported by continuous visual content on the LED wall. Animations and location-inspired graphics helped maintain energy between sessions while strengthening the connection between the event and its surroundings.

Even while the event was underway, the work continued behind the scenes. Speakers requested last-minute refinements, the production team needed additional visual assets, and presentations continued to evolve. Constant collaboration between everyone involved helped ensure the experience remained seamless from start to finish.

FROM DESIGN TO REAL IMPACT

Events like this reveal how much happens behind the scenes beyond the presentations themselves. Speaker rehearsals, live updates, backstage coordination and real-time design support all play an important role in creating a confident experience on stage.

One of the most rewarding moments was seeing attendees engage with an environment built from designs we had developed months earlier. Watching the presentations, branding, animations and custom materials come together at full scale was a reminder of how much thoughtful design can shape the experience of a live event.

Working alongside an international team also highlighted the importance of collaboration, flexibility and attention to detail. After spending months creating presentations, visuals and animations behind computer screens, seeing everything come to life in front of a live audience was a powerful reminder of why live events are so rewarding.

Marisa Morais

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