Emerge Americas 2024

Emerge Americas 2024 gave Strangeworks an opportunity to introduce quantum computing to an audience beyond the company’s usual network of scientists and industry professionals. As a sponsor of the conference’s Quantum and AI Village, the company needed a booth that could communicate its technical expertise while remaining inviting to students, families, business leaders, and people encountering quantum technology for the first time.

The experience was built around the campaign “Are You Sci-Curious?” and the belief that curiosity today shapes the science of tomorrow. We defined being Sci-Curious as an eagerness to discover, explore, and pursue new knowledge with the potential to improve people’s lives. This gave us a welcoming idea that could unite a wide range of audiences without requiring prior technical knowledge.

The booth balanced two different communication needs. One side introduced Strangeworks’ platform, services, and business value through product messaging and a continuously running presentation for attendees already familiar with quantum computing. The larger experiential area focused on participation, giving less technical visitors an immediate and approachable way to engage with the brand.

At the center of the activation was a large illustrated mural inspired by space, quantum concepts, emerging technology, and the Strangeworks mascot. Visitors were invited to color directly onto the walls using acrylic paint markers, gradually transforming the booth throughout the conference. A repeating hexagonal pattern, drawn from the geometry of the Strangeworks logo, also created spaces where attendees could respond to the prompt, “What are you Sci-Curious about?”

The installation was designed to encourage more than passive observation. Visitors could see the evolving artwork, touch and contribute to the mural, leave written ideas, explore the company’s technology, and take branded materials with them. Custom M&M’s presented in test tubes introduced a playful sensory detail, while stickers and other small takeaways offered accessible entry points for different types of attendees.

We also turned the booth’s limited storage room into a hidden speakeasy-style activation. A small printed zine guided visitors through the experience and revealed a special knock they could use at the concealed door. Those who completed the interaction were greeted by a team member and received a T-shirt. What began as a practical solution for protecting supplies became another layer of discovery within the booth.

The accompanying mini zine connected the campaign, mural, and speakeasy into one cohesive journey. It explained the idea of being Sci-Curious, invited attendees to leave their mark, offered clues for accessing the hidden room, and introduced Strangeworks’ business capabilities on the reverse. Together, these touchpoints gave visitors multiple ways to understand and remember the company.

My role included campaign development, environmental graphics, editorial layout, presentation design, branded takeaways, print preparation, and production coordination. I also helped think through how visitors would move through the booth and interact with each element. The finished experience consistently drew people in, encouraged participation across age groups, and gave many attendees their first memorable introduction to Strangeworks and quantum computing.