Session Title: Sustainable Strategies in Experiential Marketing: RainFocus from INSIGHT to Adobe Summit
Date: April 16, 2025
Time: 11:25 – 11:55 AM
Location: EMS 2025, Las Vegas
Sustainability is no longer just a nice-to-have in the events industry—it’s a strategic imperative. As experiential marketers strive to deliver memorable, large-scale events, they’re also being challenged to reduce environmental impact, embrace efficiency, and innovate with intention. That’s why VDA is thrilled to take the stage at EMS 2025 to present a session that dives deep into sustainable event strategy—alongside our visionary partner, RainFocus.
In this forward-thinking session titled “Sustainable Strategies in Experiential Marketing: RainFocus from INSIGHT to Adobe Summit,” we’ll explore how sustainability can serve as a powerful design lens for creating immersive experiences that are effective, engaging, and environmentally responsible.
A Collaboration Fueled by Purpose and Innovation.
This session will be co-presented by:
David Breen, Principal Designer/ Founder at VDA
Rodney Hart, VP of Events at RainFocus
Moderated by Melanie Rich, Business Development Specialist at VDA
David and Rodney bring years of experience in building strategically designed, eco-conscious event environments. Their collaboration has transformed high-profile programs like RainFocus INSIGHT (targeting internal stakeholders and partners) and Adobe Summit (serving global customers), making them standout examples of sustainable experiential marketing in action.
Through close partnership, VDA and RainFocus have developed innovative frameworks that prioritize both brand experience and environmental accountability, without compromise.
🌍 What You’ll Learn: Sustainable Event Strategies That Deliver.
Attendees will walk away with tangible tools and ideas for integrating sustainability into their event lifecycle—from initial planning to final teardown. Topics include:
Strategic Sustainability Planning
Learn a clear, repeatable method for setting sustainability goals aligned with your event’s business objectives. Discover how to incorporate measurable sustainability KPIs that drive impact and accountability.
Gamification That Reduces Waste
Explore smart engagement strategies that leverage gamification to reduce material use. We’ll dive into examples of low-waste giveaways, digital activations, and how behavioral design can encourage mindful consumption.
Reusable, Modular Experiential Design
See how VDA incorporates modular event structures and flexible design systems that can be reimagined and reused across multiple activations. These solutions help reduce material waste while maintaining creative originality and brand integrity.
Building Sustainable Vendor Partnerships
Understand how to collaborate with vendors and venue partners to ensure eco-conscious decision-making, including sourcing local materials, selecting venues with strong sustainability programs, and rethinking transportation and logistics.
Why This Session Is a Must-Attend.
Whether you’re an event marketer, creative director, experiential strategist, or brand-side planner, this session will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to design events that are both highly impactful and low-impact on the planet.
You’ll learn how RainFocus and VDA use technology, creativity, and collaboration to build smarter event programs—and how you can apply these insights to your own work, regardless of scale or budget.
This session is especially relevant if you’re looking to:
Align event goals with ESG and sustainability reporting initiatives
Elevate attendee experiences while minimizing waste
Create a blueprint for greener, more efficient event execution
Inspire clients and internal teams to embrace sustainable design