When a global institution such as RBC Capital Markets (RBC) commissions a major conference like its 2025 Energy Transition event, the challenge is much more than just infrastructure. It is about brand experience, audience engagement and messaging coherence. At Datum, our role has been to partner with RBC across successive years, designing and delivering the creative, print and digital elements that turn a venue into a fully branded, immersive space.
Setting the scene: the conference and its objectives
RBC’s 2025 event – the RBC Energy Transition Conference 2025 (also part of its Global Energy, Power & Infrastructure series) – is a high‑profile, invitation‑only gathering of industry leaders, policymakers and investors, focused on the energy transition, clean technology, infrastructure and finance. rbccm.com+1
For RBC, the aim is to reinforce its position as a market‑leader in energy transition advisory, sustainable finance and industrial insight. The visual and spatial environment must reflect that ambition.
Why a fixed monthly retainer makes sense
Rather than treating each conference as a one‑off, our partnership with RBC is built on retained, studio‑style collaboration. What does that mean for RBC (and for any client considering a long‑term partnership with Datum)?
- Continuity: same creative team, same print and digital team across events, reducing onboarding time and ensuring consistency.
- Efficiency: shared assets evolve rather than start from scratch each year, saving time and cost.
- Strategic evolution: we don’t just execute; we contribute ideas, review past performance, refine and iterate.
This kind of arrangement aligns with our Playbook’s emphasis on “retained studio work” and fixed‑monthly retainer models for clients who want to build long‑term marketing value, not just one‑off projects.
What we deliver: from concept to installation
Our work for RBC spans our three key sectors – Creative, Print and Digital – each playing a pivotal role in the conference experience.
Creative
From the outset, we develop the design concept: overarching event theme graphics, signage hierarchy, way‑finding, event collateral (badges, programmes, lanyards) and environmental graphics (backdrops, stage sets, digital screens). The challenge is to align with RBC’s brand while giving the space a distinctive, conference‑specific identity.
Once the creative direction is agreed, we manage print production: large‑format graphics for venue walls, freestanding signage, printed programmes or guides, branded exhibition materials, delegate packs, media walls and more. We coordinate with venue logistics, ensure deadlines are met, and guarantee consistent quality across multiple print suppliers.
Digital
Modern conferences demand digital as much as physical. We support RBC with digital screen content, motion graphics, live‑event feed design templates, branded presentation decks and pre‑event promotion graphics for social or email campaigns. Together, these ensure the event feels cohesive from the moment delegates arrive online to when they walk into the venue.
Installation & logistics
Behind every seamless event is logistical precision. We project‑manage installation on‑site, liaising with venue contractors, overseeing timing, checking graphics placement, ensuring printed items arrive and are displayed correctly. We monitor quality control, remove or adapt any last‑minute signage changes, and ensure the finished environment reflects the creative vision.
The value to RBC – and to any client of Datum
Working with Datum in a retainer model gives your organisation distinct advantages:
- Brand consistency: With repeated collaboration, the brand experience remains consistent across events and years.
- Reduced risk: With a proven partner who knows your business, fewer surprises, less stress on event‑week.
- Cost effectiveness: Regular engagement means stronger negotiating power with print suppliers, economies of scale, and fewer wasted hours on reinventing the wheel.
- Strategic input: Datum doesn’t simply ‘produce’, we advise. Because we are embedded, we can feed back insights from previous events, spot what works, what delegates respond to, and help shape future briefs.
- Time savings: With our teams already familiar with your brand, your workflow is streamlined, approvals quicker, quality assurance embedded.
In short: for RBC and clients like them, a long‑term retained partner like Datum turns the event from a project into an evolving programme of brand experiences.
Working with RBC across other projects
Our work for RBC extends beyond the Energy Transition Conference. For example, we collaborated on their UK headquarters fit‑out at 100 Bishopsgate, London, delivering creative, print and digitial material that elevated their workspace. (See case study: Inside 100 Bishopsgate: How We Helped RBC Elevate Their New London Headquarters).
We also feature multiple event‑production projects for RBC in our portfolio, showcasing our depth of experience with large‑scale, global institutional clients. This breadth enables us to deliver scale, consistency and excellence.
Step‑by‑step: how we work with you
Here’s a checklist of our process when working on a major event like RBC’s:
- Initial brief & objectives – we meet with you to understand the event purpose, audience, brand guidelines and measurable outcomes.
- Creative concept – we present initial moodboards, visuals, signage hierarchy; client approves concept.
- Production planning – we coordinate print schedules, digital asset creation, venue logistics, installation timing.
- Asset creation – design finalisation of print and digital elements, production files, sign‑off by client.
- Shipment & installation – printed materials delivered, on‑site installation, digital screens configured, quality check.
- Event execution – support during the event, troubleshooting onsite as required.
- Post‑event review – evaluation of what worked, delegate feedback, learnings captured, assets archived for reuse next year.
- Retainer planning – we plan the next phase, update asset library, evolve the event experience, budget for next year.
Key terms defined
Retainer model – A contractual agreement where Datum provides a fixed scope of services (creative, print, digital) each month for a set fee, enabling continuous support rather than paying per project.
Brand experience – The sum of all brand touch‑points at the event: visuals, signage, printed materials, digital screens, delegate materials and interactions; how your brand feels in the room.
Way‑finding graphics – Signage and graphic materials that guide delegates through the venue (e.g. registration desk, breakout rooms, refreshments) to improve flow and experience.
Audience takeaway: what you will get if you work with Datum
If you are a commercial or education‑sector organisation considering a long‑term marketing partnership, here’s what you will gain:
- A creative agency that works as an extension of your in‑house team, not as a one‑off supplier.
- A proven process built on repeat events and retained engagements, meaning less risk and more value.
- End‑to‑end delivery across creative design, print production and digital asset execution.
- A way to build truly consistent, high‑quality brand‑experiences that reinforce your identity year‑after‑year.
- And ultimately, a partner focused on retained studio work, helping you shift from project mode to programme mode.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What services does Datum provide for an event like this?
- Creative design (event branding, signage, digital screen assets)
- Print production (large‑format graphics, signage, delegate materials)
- Digital support (motion graphics, event microsites, presentation templates)
- On‑site installation and logistics coordination
- Post‑event review and asset library optimisation
How soon should we engage Datum before a major event?
- Ideally 2‑3 months in advance: this allows concept development, print scheduling, and logistical planning.
- For repeat clients on retainer, planning can begin 12 months ahead, with asset evolution carried into each year.
Why is a retainer model beneficial?
- Consistent service and creative output every month
- Better value compared to separate project fees
- Builds institutional knowledge of your brand within the creative team
- Enables strategic planning rather than purely reactive delivery
Can Datum scale print and digital production for large‑scale international events?
- Yes. We have experience working with global clients such as RBC, delivering at scale with multiple asset types, venues and regions.
- We coordinate print suppliers, shipment logistics and digital asset rollout to match large‑scale event demands.
What sectors does Datum serve?
- Commercial clients (corporates, institutions, brands)
- Education sector (schools, colleges, universities)
We tailor our creative, print and digital services accordingly, ensuring tone and delivery appropriate to each sector.
