Hands On - Virtual Events

During the pandemic, we had to move fast—shifting from in-person gatherings to virtual almost overnight—and what we found was honest: most online experiences felt flat, missing the connection and energy that make coming together matter. Instead of accepting that, we rethought the experience entirely, starting before anyone ever logged on by sending curated engagement boxes to participants’ homes—bringing a shared, physical element into a virtual space. From there, we built intentional programming around it, turning what could have been another Zoom call into something people actually looked forward to. One of our favorite examples is a three-day virtual “camping trip,” where teams received kits in advance and then had a virtual hike, gathered for game night, and made s’mores. It worked not because it was virtual, but because it was designed with purpose—and that’s when it became clear that gathering isn’t defined by format, but by how thoughtfully the experience is built.

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The challenge is that most virtual events are passive and forgettable. Attendees log in, listen, and log off with little retention or impact. Without thoughtful design, interactivity, and a clear engagement strategy, virtual becomes transactional instead of transformative. The result is low energy, limited connection, and minimal return on investment.

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Forums redefines what virtual can be. We design hands-on experiences that begin before the event even starts—shipping curated kits that bring the experience into each participant’s space and building programming that invites active participation. The result is a virtual environment that feels tangible, connected, and memorable. If you’re ready to create a virtual experience people actually engage with, start the conversation with Forums.