tech culture conference.
Over the course of two years, RED VELVET partnered closely with Blavity as their trusted AfroTech in Texas partner. Together, we evolved the conference from a multi-site takeover in Austin to a city-spanning experience in Houston, scaling its impact while preserving its cultural soul. Our collaboration with Blavity was rooted in a shared vision and a commitment to building environments that empowered AfroTech’s community to connect.
context.
AfroTech is more than a networking event, it’s a movement to carve out space for Black innovators in tech, business, and culture. In 2023 and 2024, growth surged, geographies shifted, and expectations rose. The mandate: evolve from “conference production” to “experience architecture,” matching the ambition of attendees and partners while preserving AfroTech’s cultural core.
the ask.
Become the connective tissue across years, venues, and audiences. Build a design system and operational backbone that scales from a five-site city take-over to a convention-center campus—without losing warmth, clarity, or community. Deliver environments that unlock hiring, deal-making, and discovery; empower partners to show up with purpose; and ensure every touchpoint—from mainstage to makers market—feels intentional, accessible, and electric.
solution.
RED VELVET operated as end-to-end partners: experiential planning, environmental design, creative direction, content and stage ops, partner integration, and city-level coordination. We established a bold, legible visual system—color, typography, scale, and cues—that doubled as wayfinding and brand theater. Across both years, we choreographed movement with clear sightlines and landmark moments (like giant AfroTech letters) that sparked pride and orientation in equal measure. We designed zones for focus and flow, networking lounges, recruiter-ready areas, and relief spaces so attendees could navigate a full day and leave energized. And we optimized recruiting and partner surfaces, connecting programming to measurable outcomes (from impressions to resume submissions). Net-net: we didn’t just set the stage; we built the ecosystem and a blueprint for what AfroTech can become next.
