CSG Sales Kickoff (SKO)
Brand and Event Design
Overview
Design of the SKO (CSG Sales Kickoff) annual event identity system, including logo creation and year-over-year visual evolution aligned with evolving event themes and CSG brand guidelines.
Objective
To establish a scalable and flexible visual identity for SKO that reinforces CSG’s brand while allowing each year to express a distinct theme without losing continuity.
Key Message
To connect strategy to day-to-day selling and build momentum that drives customer value, stronger relationships, and sustained revenue growth throughout the year.
My Role
Design of the original SKO logo in 2023 based on CSG branding guidelines
Campaign design and creative direction
Art direction and visual system development
Digital design execution across key touchpoints
Marketing asset production across all channels
Key Deliverables
Scalable identity system evolving annually while maintaining brand continuity
Modular logo variations and usage guidelines supporting multi-channel application across event environments
Integrated campaign system spanning email, internal communications, and digital activation
Speaker presentation systems designed for consistency across event programming and executive storytelling
Tradeshow environmental design system, including booth experience, spatial graphics, and supporting visual architecture
Full suite of event marketing assets, including signage, banners, and branded collateral
Branded merchandise and swag system aligned to each year’s thematic direction
Cross-platform asset production across digital and physical touchpoints to ensure cohesive event rollout
Process
Initial conceptualization and kickoff alignment
The project began with a kickoff and conceptual alignment session to define scope, objectives, and success criteria. Early discussions focused on translating high-level leadership direction into a clear creative opportunity space. Once key messaging was validated and approved by leadership, the campaign theme was developed from this foundation.
Interpreting event goals
Deconstructed the SKO brief into three core priorities: creating a unified and recognizable event identity, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints, and developing a scalable system that could evolve annually while maintaining strong brand continuity. These priorities informed both the conceptual direction and structural design of the identity system.
Establishing visual direction
Defined a modular visual language centered on connection, clarity, and adaptability. The system was designed to express the idea of convergence across teams and business units within CSG Systems International, using structured forms to communicate integration, alignment, and shared momentum across the event experience.
Event system and identity framework
Developed the SKO identity system as a scalable design framework rather than a fixed campaign asset. This included the foundational 2023 logo system and its evolution into yearly adaptations for SKO 2024, SKO 2025, and SKO 2026, each responding to specific event themes while preserving core structural consistency.
Expanding into event assets
The identity system was extended across a full ecosystem of event applications, ensuring consistency across all SKO touchpoints. This included digital and internal communications, email campaigns, speaker presentation systems, tradeshow environments, environmental graphics, and branded event collateral and merchandise. Each application was derived from the core identity framework to maintain a unified event experience across physical and digital spaces.
SKO 2026: EMpower
This year’s SKO event experience design featured EM, an interactive AI cube that learned and responded to CSG’s business in real time, illustrating how AI can augment sales workflows and support the company’s evolution through an immersive, narrative-driven experience.