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The CLF Effect
- Tahisha Maphumulo
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) is one of the most influential venture capital firms in the country and the Cultural Leadership Fund (CLF) was created to expand access, opportunity and long-term impact within the tech ecosystem. For the CLF Effect event, the goal was to make that impact visible — spatially, emotionally and experientially.
We were brought in to design and execute an immersive activation that told the story of the fund’s history, milestones and ripple effects on the community.
Transforming a Blank Space
The venue began as a completely blank space — no architectural features, no built-in moments, no visual cues. The opportunity was to transform the environment entirely and guide guests through a narrative experience rather than a static display.
The event’s central theme focused on ripple effects — how one decision, one investment, or one moment can create far-reaching influence over time. That idea became the foundation for the design.
A Custom Floor as the Starting Point
To anchor the concept, we designed a custom water-effect floor graphic, created in-house, that ran throughout the space. The visual referenced movement, depth and reflection — subtly reinforcing the idea of ongoing impact.
The flooring immediately shifted how the space felt, setting the tone before guests engaged with any of the content.
Milestones, Fabricated Moments and Storytelling
Along the perimeter of the room, we created a series of custom-fabricated milestone displays highlighting key moments in the CLF fund’s history.
Each moment was built from the ground up:
Custom-fabricated bases
Printed acrylic panels featuring milestone content
Integrated lighting at the base of select panels to create lift and emphasis
Natural elements and floral accents to soften the structure and add dimension
