President’s club

Background

Fortinet’s President’s Club is an annual, all-expense-paid incentive trip that honors the company’s top-performing sales employees and their families. In 2018, the event was hosted at the prestigious Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia—an iconic property named one of the Top 21 Iconic Hotels in the World by National Geographic Traveler. Overlooking Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the Empress provided a regal setting worthy of Fortinet’s most elite performers.

The Challenge

The exclusive nature of the event and the grandeur of the venue required a creative approach that matched the experience in both tone and quality. The objective was to design high-end event collateral that not only reflected the luxurious environment but also elevated the Fortinet brand and conveyed a strong sense of prestige and recognition to attendees.

Strategy & Execution

Every detail of the collateral was thoughtfully curated to deliver a sense of exclusivity and refinement:

Material Selection
Used Neenah Classic Crest paper for its premium texture and print quality, lending sophistication and weight to the printed pieces.
Specialty Finishes
Employed a combination of blind embossing, silver metallic ink, and red foil stamping to create a visually striking and tactile experience. These finishes echoed Fortinet’s brand palette while reinforcing the elite nature of the event.
Design Aesthetic
The visual language was intentionally understated yet elegant—honoring the historic charm of the venue while aligning with the modern, high-tech identity of Fortinet.

Outcome

The final collateral suite contributed to a seamless and luxurious event experience. From the moment attendees received their materials, they were immersed in a visual narrative that underscored their achievement and the value Fortinet placed on their contribution.

By integrating thoughtful design with premium production techniques, the project successfully reflected the prestige of the President’s Club and reinforced Fortinet’s commitment to excellence and employee recognition.

July 2018
Victoria, B.C.

Background

Accelerate is Fortinet’s annual global conference, bringing together over 2,000 employees for a multi-day experience of training, workshops, keynote sessions, and industry networking. In 2018, the event was held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas with the theme “Strength in Numbers.”

The challenge was to transform three expansive floors of the venue into a fully branded Fortinet environment that guided attendees seamlessly through the experience, all while reinforcing the conference theme and the company’s global brand identity.

The Challenge

With over 2,000 attendees navigating a large and complex venue, the primary design objective was twofold:

Create a comprehensive wayfinding system that was intuitive, clear, and visually aligned with the Fortinet brand.
Seamlessly transform a highly branded hotel venue into a cohesive Fortinet environment through environmental graphics and signage.

Strategy & Execution

The design approach was guided by the conference theme, “Strength in Numbers,” which inspired a visual language focused on unity, structure, and clarity.

Floor Mapping & User Journey Design
I began by designing detailed maps for all three floors of event space to understand the attendee journey and anticipate directional needs. These maps became the foundation for the signage plan and print production system.
Wayfinding & Signage System
Over 400 event signs and 60+ large-scale applied graphics were developed, including directional signage, informational displays, and environmental branding. Each sign was carefully placed to minimize confusion and maximize flow throughout the venue.
Vendor Coordination & Production
Given the national scope of vendors involved, I developed an installation guide and signage legend to accompany the floor maps. Files were prepared with precision to ensure clarity for printers and installers across various locations.
On-Site Leadership
During installation, I directed setup using the pre-designed maps and guides. This level of preparation enabled a smooth, efficient install process and ensured the final result matched the creative vision exactly.

Results

The transformation of The Cosmopolitan’s event space was a resounding success. Attendees navigated the three floors with ease, and the environment delivered a fully immersive brand experience. The event design received highly positive feedback from both internal stakeholders and attendees.

Key metrics: