Go bigger and bolder with the BizBash Buzz.
The BizBash Buzz newsletter delivers inspiration, innovative ideas, and expert insight to event profs around the world.
Subscribe now!

Top 50 Event Designers 2019: DeJuan Stroud

The New York-based Stroud on designing for celebrities and family.

Michele Laufik
June 18, 2019
“A modern interpretation of a tree is in the center of the bar. The trunk is made of white painted birch branches and the top of the tree is a shallow drum with a stick pattern printed in pink and white and the inside is lined with rose-gold glitter.” Pictured: Bat mitzvah at Mandarin Oriental
“A modern interpretation of a tree is in the center of the bar. The trunk is made of white painted birch branches and the top of the tree is a shallow drum with a stick pattern printed in pink and white and the inside is lined with rose-gold glitter.”

Pictured: Bat mitzvah at Mandarin Oriental
Photo: Jesse Hart Studio

De Juan Stroud Headshot Photo By Ann LamPhoto: Ann LamIn 1996, Stroud (@dejuanstroud) took the leap from finance to florals and full-service event design. Today, he works with many notable clients including Tony Bennett, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael J. Fox, and Tracy Pollan, and HBO, but his favorite have been his two daughters, saying “I want every wedding that I design to be special, but it was extra special to design weddings for my own daughters.” In addition to private events, New York-based Stroud has also handled galas for the New York City Ballet and the Central Park Conservancy.

Back to the Top 50 Event Designers list

Check out the rest of BizBash's 2019 Design Issue


Latest in Event Design & Decor
Guests were welcomed to their seats with a book decorated with a reading light that illuminated the place cards and added an amber glow to the tablescape.
Event Design & Decor
A Must-Read: Get Inspired by These Book Launch Event Ideas
Because of rain and blustery conditions, event organizers had to make their own sunshiney atmosphere, compensating for the dismal day by drawing guests out for cheerful activities, decor, and food.
Event Design & Decor
Springtime Event Ideas From Janie and Jack’s Cheerful Garden Party
Another event that played with curves and circular shapes was the Recording Academy's Grammy House, where guests could stroll through a lush green setting full of real living plants, trees, and ivy. A circular tunnel, evoking sponsor Mastercard's logo, was used as a transition moment and to frame an oversize gramophone, whose gold exterior had been swapped for living moss.
Event Design & Decor
7 Steal-Worthy Design Trends From the 2024 Award Season's Prettiest Parties
Warner Music Group's 2020 Grammys Party
Event Design & Decor
14 Stunning Uses of a Neutral Color Palette for Events
Related Stories
Top 50 Designers Main3
Event Design & Decor
Design Stories: The Top 50 Event Designers
“I had the honor of doing my niece’s wedding this past fall…. She entrusted me with her entire reception experience. Upon arrival at the Geraghty, guests were greeted with a Hamptons-esque cocktail party [followed by] a formal dinner in a lush, Parisian garden setting.”
Event Design & Decor
Top 50 Event Designers 2019: Tom Kehoe
For the Institute of Contemporary Art’s fund-raiser, “we transformed the raw tunnel-like space into a sparkling, cosmic environment that connected with the Institute’s forward-thinking position in the art world. To juxtapose the austere architecture and create a warmer, more refined feeling, we conceptualized a colorful, nebula-inspired lighting treatment that completely transformed the mood of the space. We incorporated hundreds of feet of mirrored circle pattern panels overhead for a shimmering effect, and we added high-end, luxurious elements including 6-foot-tall crystal candelabras to balance the height of the room, illuminated cut-crystal spheres to add glow to the tables, and lush, vibrant floral arrangements.”
Event Design & Decor
Top 50 Event Designers 2019: Ty Kuppig
“This was extremely exciting and challenging for us because we were essentially building out an entire store that was on par with the extremely high standard of YSL…. It was very inspiring to work directly with their Paris team to review designs and materials and then to make it come to life,” Chan says. Pictured: YSL Toronto pop-up store
Event Design & Decor
Top 50 Event Designers 2019: Candice Chan and Alison Slight
More in Event Design & Decor
Event Design & Decor
A Must-Read: Get Inspired by These Book Launch Event Ideas
From a mobile flower shop to clever place settings, here are some design concepts from recent gatherings celebrating authors.
Guests were welcomed to their seats with a book decorated with a reading light that illuminated the place cards and added an amber glow to the tablescape.
Event Design & Decor
Springtime Event Ideas From Janie and Jack’s Cheerful Garden Party
Despite rainy conditions in Hollywood, the event made its own sunshine via springtime decor, activities, and catering.
Because of rain and blustery conditions, event organizers had to make their own sunshiney atmosphere, compensating for the dismal day by drawing guests out for cheerful activities, decor, and food.
Event Design & Decor
7 Steal-Worthy Design Trends From the 2024 Award Season's Prettiest Parties
From unexpected color schemes to unique logo integrations to memorable uses of patterns and texture, here are the most glamorous event design ideas we spotted at Hollywood's biggest award show events.
Another event that played with curves and circular shapes was the Recording Academy's Grammy House, where guests could stroll through a lush green setting full of real living plants, trees, and ivy. A circular tunnel, evoking sponsor Mastercard's logo, was used as a transition moment and to frame an oversize gramophone, whose gold exterior had been swapped for living moss.
Event Design & Decor
14 Stunning Uses of a Neutral Color Palette for Events
Neutral shades like tans, beiges, and creams can instantly bring elegance, sophistication, and timeless appeal to event design.
Warner Music Group's 2020 Grammys Party
Event Design & Decor
Love Rocks—Take It From New York City's Sweetest Valentine's Day Soiree
The LOVE Party’s dessert bar was sweet, but we think event profs will find the attention to detail at this rock ’n’ roll-themed affair even sweeter.
Of course, the centerpiece of the LOVE Party was a dance floor that boasted the event’s paint-splattered and lipstick-kissed branding. Amid dancing the night away, eventgoers could quench their thirst at one of multiple bars, where liquor bottles shared shelf space with the amount of red roses lovers dream about receiving on Valentine’s Day.
Event Design & Decor
12 Valentine's Day Decor and F&B Ideas That Give Us Heart Eyes
Whether you need last-minute inspo or are just feeling festive this week, take a look at these swoon-worthy event ideas for V-Day.
Although this bright tablescape from JOWY Productions brought to life a Barbie-inspired luncheon, the red, pink, and purple hues and flower varieties easily evoke V-Day. Celio's Design provided the florals for this event at a private residence in Malibu.
Most Popular
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Coachella 2024: Here's What You Missed From This Year's Coolest Parties and Brand Activations
Brands & Event Pros
Meet the 2024 BizBash 40 Under 40: Event Profs with Endless Impact
BizBash Sports
Women's Final Four 2024: How Brands Helped Celebrate a Record-Breaking Season
Strategy
This UNICEF Exhibit Uses Visitors' Heartbeats and Voices to Create an Emotional Musical Journey
Trade Shows
15 Colorful Booth Designs From Natural Products Expo West 2024
BizBash Sports
Men’s Final Four Fan Fest 2024: See How Brands Stood Out Among All the Hoopla
Event Design & Decor
How Office Supplies Became Chic Party Decor at This Anniversary Bash
School and office supplies company Bazic Products hosted a glamorous Silver Jubilee—complete with pencils, paper clips, and more products as decor—to mark 25 years in business.
'Because of the nature of Vibiana and the way the venue lays out, projection was the way to go,' said Rembac. 'We felt it would yield a much bigger impact than a ceiling install or anything too complicated on the tables.' Sterling Engagements worked closely with the venue's in-house AV team to produce 'scenes' that would subtly shift throughout the night: For arrivals, it depicted a snowlike journey to the destination; for the program, it was a forest that made guests feel like they were staring out a window at a perfect winter setting; and for the party, the projections morphed into a fun, festive, and celebratory atmosphere. 'We modified the overhead and front perspective within each look, and as the evening progressed, so did our surroundings—which was really fun,' she noted.
Event Design & Decor
How This Gala Became an Authentic Spotlight for the Asian and Pacific Islander Community
Character Media's Unforgettable Gala honored API talent in the entertainment industry—and featured a long list of API-led vendors behind the scenes.
Event producer Tina Li sees an event like the Unforgettable Gala as a chance to spotlight and boost API-owned vendors and enterprises. “Events like this let us promote and support our community not just on camera or onstage, but also behind the scenes,” she said. “It’s truly an event uplifting APIs—where the actual heavy lifting is also done by APIs.”
Event Design & Decor
Ice Ice Baby: Lean Into the Season with These Sleek Winter Decor Ideas
Whether you're planning a New Year's party, a January holiday party, or just a wintry bash, consider leaning into the season with these stunning ideas for icy-white decor.
Engage!18's Great White North Gala
Event Design & Decor
Peachy Keen Event Design Ideas Inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024
Here’s how to incorporate Peach Fuzz into your events in the new year.
'We love peach for the pop of color it adds to a tabletop. When a Pantone color comes out for the new year, we love to use varying shades of the color. For example, shades of peach and coral pair so well together or serve as a beautiful complement to pinks and blues. Peach is also a great color to work with when there is a neutral color palette involving nudes, beige, and metallic,” said Heather Rouffe, managing partner and director of sales at Atlas Event Rental. (Pictured: Classic Peach linen napkins)
Event Design & Decor
This Event's Eye-Catching Decor Celebrated the "Wonder and Magic" of Its Desert Setting
For a sales-winner reception in Southern California, DMC Access created a desert oasis-inspired reception with lush greenery, eye-catching mirrored elements, and unique entertainment acts.
A mirrored entrance moment immediately set the tone for the desert oasis-inspired gathering.
Event Design & Decor
How This Renowned Miami Gala Engaged Attendees with a Spy-Themed Parisian Affair
Find out how this longtime fundraising gala delivered an art-infused museum theme with spy flair.
Creative director Maxwell Blandford set out to curate a dramatic ballroom with decadent table settings in bold colors to evoke a masterpiece of artwork. Tableware was sourced to fit the combination of elegance and intrigue.
Page 1 of 268
Next Page