Unite 2024 - Proof of Concept

Unite is Inside Real Estate's annual user conference, bringing together the full community of real estate professionals who use their software platforms, including kvCORE, BoomTown, and, Brokermint. The 2024 theme, "This is Unite," celebrated the success, knowledge-sharing, and genuine connections that naturally emerge from the event each year. To reflect that spirit, the design pushed in a more tech-forward, futuristic direction compared to previous years — and while this particular concept wasn't ultimately selected, it was a rewarding creative exercise in exploring ideas outside our usual approach.

  • Senior Designer, Art Director, Event Designer

  • Experiential / Event Branding / Web Design / UX

    • Conference website experience

    • Event app assets

    • Environmental signage

    • Attendee swag (apparel, totes, badges, etc.)

    • Digital presentations and A/V assets

    • Social media and promotional materials

    • "Convince Your Boss" attendee toolkit — a concept I pitched for Unite 2025 that has since become a standing part of the event marketing strategy

  • Erinn Farley | VP, Creative Director

The Process

To bring Unite to life, the strategy centered on repeatable patterns — a system built so low-res imagery could be used in a deliberate, fun way rather than treated as a limitation. It was a clear departure from our usual color palette, leaning into a bold Y2K influence that gave the brand permission to feel more playful and futuristic than previous years.

From there, I explored multiple directions for typography and headshot treatment, testing how far the system could push toward that Y2K energy before it stopped feeling like Unite. Each direction was presented to the internal team and stakeholders, with rounds of feedback shaping the work through several iterations. After review, leadership chose to move forward with a different concept for the final identity.

The Takeaway

This concept was rooted in strategy first — finding a way to turn a technical constraint into a visual signature, then letting that idea drive the direction for typography, color, and imagery. It's shared here as a look at the thinking behind the work: the willingness to depart from convention, take a point of view, and build a system with intention, even when it isn't the direction that ships.

A Note from Bridget Bauer, Marketing Events Manager

“Every year we partner on the branding & creative assets for our annual user conference & I'm always impressed by how thoughtfully she approaches the work. She looks beyond the obvious deliverables & considers every opportunity to extend the brand experience.”