The Brief
Lead Dev is a live event designed for software development teams across the globe to come together and share good leadership practices, discuss problems & solutions and learn new skills.
Each year the event takes place in multiple locations, including Austin, Berlin, San Francisco, New York and London.
The event was due to take place in New York in April 2020 but with the outbreak of Coronavirus and a global travel ban in place, it was decided to switch it to an online event with participants able to join, free of charge, from their homes.
We were tasked with using our live event experience to bring an online event to life and create an engaging experience to a large audience across the world. The event was supported by around 40 speakers from around the world who joined in presentations, panel sessions and Q&A discussions with the vast audience.
The challenges we faced
Events are all about engaging and inspiring an audience. We have spent many years perfecting this art and in a live environment, we take full control of all aspects of the production to ensure the audience get the right experience and a memorable event is delivered.
The greatest challenge with moving an event online is the lack of control over the audience, the environment they are in and the technology they are using. Our greatest challenge was how to remotely inspire an audience!
With all the speakers locked down to their home locations, another challenge was managing their individual live feeds without onsite professional support and control over their hardware. The quality of each feed was determined by their internet connection, video camera/web cam, lighting, microphone and general acoustics. Without careful planning, each of these parameters could lead to a poor quality of output that would mean viewers would switch off.
Another very unique challenge we faced while in lockdown due to Covid-19 was that we couldn’t bring our team together to produce and manage the event from a single location. Instead we needed to set up communication channels and remote preview streams so our team could all operate together as one, but from their own locations. Thankfully we have technology available at our finger tips so could construct systems to deal with this challenge.
What we did
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Step Four
We created pre-set looks to the stream that we could switch to with ease. These included:
- 3 Remote Hosts
- 1 Remote Host + Google Slides
- 1 Remote Speaker + Google Slides
- 4 Remote Panellists
Step Five
We built redundancy into every system where possible and we were ready for a multitude of different technical challenges throughout the event and had content we could switch away to if we lost any feeds.
Step Six
The event went live with just 2 operators required. Dan took the role as Director and was based in an office with super fast internet. Adam was our Producer and was based from home. We used some clever tech that allowed Adam to remote control hardware in the office over the internet.
What our customers say about us
“A fabulous installation by the team at On, delivered with an incredibly short lead-time. We love working with the team at On as they are always so accommodating and flexible – Thank you!”
Louiza Vicary
Managing Director
Alive!
“Really friendly, trustworthy team of experts. Working collaboratively to create great end results for a very difficult budget.”
Leanne Kilheeney
Brand Experience Manager
Ear to the Ground
“This was an interesting project to work on in the grounds of a stunning, historic stately home. The trick with this installation was finding a creative way of using simple technology to create a totally believable, immersive world which took visitors on a magical and enchanting journey.
It’s amazing to think how applying a bit of creative thought to lights, props and sound can result in something truly memorable and captivating and we look forward to seeing this initiative go from strength to strength next year.”
Anabelle Parslow
Fabrication project manager
On
INSPIRING AN AUDIENCE
INSPIRING AN AUDIENCE
“Many thanks for all of your hard work on the Pepsi NFL job. Appreciate it was a quick turnaround, with many curve balls thrown at you… well, more oval shaped ones!
We were really happy with the final outcome, as was the client, so thank you.”
Olly Holcombe
Head of Production
ID Agency
“I can’t thank you enough for the amazing hard work and dedication you all put into the project over the past few months, we really appreciate it… Everyone has commented on the epicness of the set and the work that went into everything behind the scenes”
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“This was a great project to be involved with, but the timings went right down to the wire. The brief was to create a space which would help Stella to inspire its guests and leave a lasting impression. We were able to play a huge part in delivering that… within the space of a week.”
Chris Vernon-Smith
Creative Director
“As always an amazing job over the last couple of days. The venue looked incredible. Everyone who attended had a great time and the messages landed perfectly. Thanks for all your efforts in the run up to this one”
Senior Communications Manager
“This was a huge event, so it was fantastic to be trusted with such responsibility by Hearst Live, a first-time client of ours.
It required a remarkable amount of fabrication and kit to bring this to life, but because we have so much tech in-stock at our Midlands HQ, we were able to cover all of the requirements and deliver a fantastic event.
Managing a complex production environment with a wide array of technical elements proved a challenge, but our team has a huge amount of experience in managing large scale events such as this and because we invest in best-in-class technology, we were able to not only ensure the event looked amazing, but the content, lighting and AV all came together to ensure a seamless production across the three days.”
Guy Eaton
Managing Director
On
“Since the restrictions of the pandemic have been in place over the last 16 months, it has been a real challenge for businesses to fully engage their audiences virtually, particularly for awards events. NHSPS trusted us once again in the delivery of this high profile event to recognise individual contribution.
The feedback received from the audience was absolutely outstanding with everyone feeling involved and proud to work within a team providing vital services to the NHS during the pandemic. It was a real honour to help make this event super special and to further cement our relationship with a forward thinking client.”
Guy Eaton
Director and Founder
On
Carlsberg Britvic, National Convenience Show Exhibition Stand
Carlsberg Britvic partnered with us to design and deliver the largest stand at the National Convenience Show 2026. Built around an open, in the round concept, the 361sqm island stand balanced seven distinct drinks brands alongside the wider At Your Convenience platform. The space combined tasting experiences, gamification, digital engagement and premium meeting areas to create a high impact destination that worked from every angle of the hall.
Samsung Nationwide Roadshows
We delivered a nationwide Samsung roadshow programme designed to engage sales advisors, corporate audiences and students through immersive product experiences. Each activation was pre-built, tested and rehearsed from our Midlands studio before touring the UK, combining product display zones, presentation spaces and gamified engagement. Across 12 months, the programme supported 18 product launches, delivered 10 roadshows and generated over 43,000 interactions.
Medivet Exhibition Stand at LVS 2025
For London Vet Show at ExCeL London, we partnered with Medivet and CHS to deliver a bold, high impact stand that combined strong brand presence with a welcoming, conversation led space. Through smart use of structure, lighting and interactive content, the stand cut through the show floor while clearly communicating the Branch Partner model. We provided end to end production and technical support, creating a platform designed to spark meaningful conversations and support long term engagement.
80th Anniversary Toy Box Installation for JCB
A landmark outdoor installation celebrating JCB’s 80th anniversary, transforming a full size 3CX backhoe loader into a larger than life toy box display. Engineered for long term public installation, the project combined structural design, bespoke fabrication and environmental control to deliver a visually striking lakeside feature at JCB headquarters.
Aldermore Bank Month of Impact
We supported Aldermore Bank’s first ever Month of Impact with a connected programme of live, hybrid and virtual events, broadcast across multiple UK offices. Alongside technical delivery and live streaming, we produced customer story films and designed an interactive 3D Aldermore Town to bring the bank’s purpose and impact to life. The programme culminated in the launch of the 2025 Report to Society, leaving behind lasting digital assets designed to support ongoing engagement and onboarding.
Bold Exhibition Stand at LVS 2025
We worked with WMH&I to scale a bold game show inspired exhibition concept for Vetoquinol at London Vet Show. Bespoke furniture, interactive content and an open layout created a playful, high quality environment designed to encourage interaction and dwell time, supported by full build and technical delivery.
Polestar Festival
A seamless internal production and scenic delivery for Polestar Festival, featuring the first UK reveal of the Polestar 5. We built a clean presentation stage with integrated LED, provided rigging, lighting and audio for a bright hangar environment, and delivered a premium setting that showcased five Polestar models from past to future.
The Stars of Stellantis Awards
We supported Strata Create and Stellantis with full technical and scenic production for the Stars of Stellantis Awards at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham. Our team delivered a complete show environment including a graphic wrapped stage set, integrated LED video, L-Acoustics sound and dynamic lighting, all backed by dedicated on site production management to create a polished and high energy awards night.
Cegedim RX Exhibition Stand, The Pharmacy Show 2025
We worked with Cegedim Rx to create a standout exhibition stand for The Pharmacy Show 2025, combining bold visuals, digital touchpoints and hands on demo areas. By reusing stored assets and providing dedicated project management, we delivered a smooth experience and an engaging space that drew visitors throughout the show.
Resolute DTF Exhibition Stand – Sign Show 2025
At The Print Show 2025 we delivered a sustainable stand for Resolute DTF using reusable assets with raised flooring, branded scenic elements and storage space, reducing costs, lowering environmental impact and creating a strong platform for conversations and sales.