When visiting a festival, congress, or trade fair this summer, you’ll undoubtedly spot the striking creations of This Affects. This experience agency excels in event styling and customized event concepts. Bianca (Creative Director) and Mikki (Styling Producer) have been shopping at TICA for years, selecting the most unique items and eye-catchers to bring their productions to life. At the end of May, This Affects will handle the styling for the annual TICA barbecue in Venlo. TICA’s editorial team spoke with them about the preparations, the matching TICA theme Festival Vibe, and the upcoming summer.
Bianca In 2010, I started Business Events Amsterdam, which organized business events. In 2017, I chose to focus more on the creative side, which ultimately led to the establishment of This Affects in 2021. Now we conceive and produce custom-made concepts for event and festival styling.
Mikki I started with flower and stand styling at trade shows, and then gained experience in wedding and event styling in Sicily. It was very educational! That challenge confirmed that event styling is my passion. In 2023, I joined This Affects. I’m responsible for the styling department with the mission to elevate concepts to a higher experiential level.
After receiving a request, our concept department starts with a kick-off, sometimes already involving Mikki’s styling team. This approach allows for sharing styling knowledge and makes it easier to translate a concept into a live production. With our concept designers and producers maintaining constant communication, quality is assured.
At dance festivals like Awakenings, Mysteryland, and Outdoor Stereo, but also public events such as the HvA introduction festival, Hoorn Wine Festival, and corporate festivals for: JBL, DC Clinics, Group M, and VSDV.
Shortly after starting This Affects, we received a request that took our entire team to Ibiza. It was a five-day project requiring lots of bohemian styling. Shopping at TICA was the logical choice then. We’ve been fans ever since! The diverse range ensures we can always source completely suitable styling materials.
We buy a lot of packaging material such as ribbons and wrapping paper, but also various cushions, poufs, home decorations and artificial flowers. For each project, we look at which brands are a good fit. We buy a lot from Light & Living, Colmore, Mini Art Products, Lauco, Kersten and Lime Light.
Mikki Seize every opportunity that comes your way! This starts with an internship; broad experience in this field is so important. Give 100% at every learning opportunity, as this will always be rewarded eventually. And, identify your strength; what do you have an eye for, what do you excel at? There can never be enough stylists who can think innovatively.
Bianca Keep observing! Put your phone away, look at the space, and absorb all shapes and colors like a sponge. If you can incorporate this inspiration into your work, I believe you’ll go far.
