7 Steal-Worthy Design Trends From the 2024 Award Season's Prettiest Parties

Incorporating brand logos into design-forward events can be a balancing act—but when done right, branded moments can actually enhance the decor and even serve as a creative photo op. Case in point: The Recording Academy's second annual Grammy House, which took over Rolling Greens in Downtown Los Angeles during Grammys week in February. The space, which hosted three days of programming, was presented by Mastercard—and marketing partner R&CPMK and fabrication partner Unboxed Group integrated the brand's iconic red and orange logo in unique ways. A standout moment was a 20-foot Mastercard-branded boombox with giant speakers that guests could sit inside.

Also at Grammy House, the Mastercard logo appeared in a unique photo op: Guests could walk inside a dreamy sunset landscape that brought the Mastercard "Priceless" album artwork to life.

Warner Bros. hosted its Oscars after-party at West Hollywood's LAVO Ristorante. The event was produced by Jennifer Wang of JWang Consulting, who wanted to create a statement piece to welcome guests to the party. "We took the iconic WB shield and gave it an Oscar-worthy look by creating a moment in gold with florals in various shades of purples and pinks to give nods to The Color Purple and Barbie," she explained.

Spotify's annual Best New Artist Party took place at Paramount Studios during Grammys week, honoring the year’s Best New Artist nominees Gracie Abrams, Fred Again, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét, Jelly Roll, Ice Spice, and The War and Treaty. The space was decorated with lush greenery and subtle Spotify logos.

Warner Music Group’s annual Grammy kickoff celebration took place at Citizen News, drawing the company's 2024 Grammy-nominated artists and songwriters like Janelle Monáe. Produced by the Warner Music global events team, the event's design transformed the venue into a midcentury loft-inspired nightclub utilizing wood paneling, floral installations, and eclectic patterns that incorporated the brand's logo in eye-catching ways.

Elegant neutrals seem to be having a moment in the event design world—and award season was no exception. A stunning example comes from People magazine's 26th year hosting the after-party for the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February. The event was designed and produced by Event Eleven, with an undulating ceiling entry made from raw natural wood.

Essence hosted its Black Women in Hollywood Awards during Oscars week. The 400-person event, which recognizes the achievements of Black women in the film and television industry, was produced by MVD Inc.; it took over the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for the first time. Chocolate served as the running theme for the color scheme, paired with neutral tones and elegant golds. The light neutrals served as an open, airy choice for the chic daytime event, which also featured a bronze stage nestled into the museum terrace's dome structure.

This year’s Disney Emmys party leaned into the winter season with an “Après Fête”-themed after-party, held at Otium in Downtown Los Angeles. Designers and producers Sterling Engagements drew inspiration from the chic ambiance of an East Coast boutique hotel mingled with a West Coast wine country aesthetic, using a palette of rich leathers, woods, layered textiles, and darker metals accented with neutral florals and greens.

Sterling Engagements principal Alexandra Rembac was inspired by the award show's move to January (it's typically held in September). "A winter layer and seasonal weather added so much goodness and maybe a few extra logistical dynamics to this year's design," Rembac explained. "We were fortunate to be able to lean into some new textiles and textures we often aren’t able to as effortlessly play with in September, like creamy velvets, irresistible boucle, an abundance of handwoven knits, rich cognac leather, and warmer wood tones. Fluted wood details and brass tones helped elevate the look, which also worked so well with Otium’s interior and The Broad’s exterior designs."

Will neon ever go out of style? Not on our watch. For the Grammys, The Recording Academy’s official after-party—which took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center—treated its 5,000 guests to an eclectic, music festival-themed celebration.

"I attended multiple music festivals in 2023 and it reinvigorated my passion for live music and the experience of seeing so many live acts over a few days in a massive space, so I wanted to pay tribute to all the music festivals around the world that bring joy to so many," explained Branden Chapman, COO of The Recording Academy. "I thought the neon theme and light-up trees were impactful and beautiful. I was also thrilled with our stage design and incorporating more laser lighting effects than we have used in the past."

Another Recording Academy event that utilized bold neon lighting was the third annual Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective (BMC), held during Grammys week at the Fairmont Century Plaza. The 1,000-person gala was designed and produced by MVD Inc.; it offered a plethora of eye-catching installations, including a multi-entry intersectional LED tunnel.

One of the most popular post-Emmys parties was the HBO | Max Nominees Reception, which was held at San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood. Upon arrival, each guest was handed a map of the venue, leading them through a variety of unique F&B pop-ups and entertainment moments—including eclectic touches of neon throughout the space. The invite-only party was designed and produced by Bespoke Bohéme.

At the SAG Awards after-party, producers Event Eleven carried the entrance's undulating shapes and raw natural wood throughout the event space, creating curved walls that made a unique canvas for lighting designers Images by Lighting to play with shadows.

Another event that played with curves and circular shapes was the Recording Academy's Grammy House, where guests could stroll through a lush green setting full of real living plants, trees, and ivy. A circular tunnel, evoking sponsor Mastercard's logo, was used as a transition moment and to frame an oversize gramophone, whose gold exterior had been swapped for living moss.

More circular shapes appeared at the official Oscars greenroom, presented by Rolex. The space—designed by the Rolex team and produced by Event Eleven—focused on the vegetal world, using images of fans and watch bezels as inspiration.

Universal Music Group's Grammys after-party also leaned into curved shapes, adding wavy red stripes to a bold black bar.

While some events opted for neutrals, others leaned into bold or unexpected color schemes and eclectic patterns. The Recording Academy's Grammy House, for example, hosted panels on a vibrant, floral-filled stage. A pattern on the floor evoked sound waves, an appropriate choice for the music-centric programming.

TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) closed Grammy weekend with a star-studded soiree celebrating SZA's blockbuster year. Producers The Pāvé Group used vibrant color schemes to bring to life pivotal moments from SZA's career. "This year SZA had was monumental—sold-out tour, No. 1 album, and to top it off with being the most Grammy-nominated of the night—[so] the design had to meet the magnitude of the moment," explained The Pāvé Group's founder, Sasha Lance. "To commemorate the journey, I wanted to take people through her CTRL era (different shades of green, moss, beautiful plant life) to the SOS era (aquatic, oceanic, deep blues)."

The right pattern can make an impact even with minimal colors. At the Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective event during Grammys week, an eye-catching black-and-white background set the scene for a gramophone installation and photo op. For the installation, the team at MVD Inc. wanted the florals to appear to ascend into the ceiling to represent the odds-defying power of Black music.

The HBO | Max Emmys party featured a vibrant blue carpet with custom-made navy bouclé letters, all set against an eclectic pattern that continued throughout the party space. "My philosophy for high-end experiential design is similar to the way I look at interiors, focusing on a constant play between color, texture, pattern, and light while finding holistic ways to re-imagine any given space,” said event producer Kate Mazzuca. "We chose a rich but muted palette of deep navy, union blue, and a color I've dubbed 'French sapphire,' with pops of warm, oatmeal beiges, and punctuated by olive green, deep rust, and a soft peachy cinnamon."

Post-Emmys, the first stop of the night for many A-listers was the Television Academy’s own Governors Gala, which took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event—once again designed and produced by Sequoia Productions under the direction of the Television Academy—appropriately took on a “Rhapsody in Gold” theme to mark the award show’s 75th anniversary. The black and white palette was highlighted by splashes of Emmy-inspired gold, including 250 linear feet of gold chain curtains that cascaded from two stories above the floor. At the apex of the room, a massive Emmy statuette reached 24 feet above the guests; it was accompanied by four nine-foot versions positioned on a central, tiered platform.

The Disney Emmys party also encouraged guests to look up. Within the winter sanctuary-like space was an eye-catching ceiling installation that used poly chiffon draping in monochromatic tones to create a decorative display under a tent. "This year, we really wanted to approach the design through some different mediums and shift focus to larger, more impactful above-eye-level moments," explained designer Alexandra Rembac. "The ceilings assisted us in adding just the right amount of drama and wow to the environment."

WME kicked off Oscars weekend at the Hearst Estate in Beverly Hills. A tent with custom scenic walls, arched windows matching the home’s exterior, and hanging light fixtures was built around the patio, expanding the indoor party space and adding some interest to the ceiling decor. The event was produced in house by the corporate events team at WME parent company Endeavor.

At Essence's Black Women in Hollywood Awards during Oscars week, dramatic, 24-foot draped portrait towers of the honorees hung from the ceiling.

After the Oscars, stars head to the Governors Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ official post-Oscars celebration held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, immediately following the ceremony. In the middle of the space, a custom bar—with an Oscar statue in the center—rotated slowly throughout the evening. The Governors Ball was produced by MaryJane Partlow, the Academy's executive vice president of awards, production, and special events.

The SAG Awards after-party took over the stage of the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, the same location in which the award show had taken place earlier in the evening. To make the large space feel more intimate, a round bar—utilizing an eye-catching red design—sat in the middle of the open floor plan.