Creating a new stage look for a rebellious 401k brand

Introduction

The Retireholics is a 401k industry podcast, YouTube stream, and live on-stage show. They are committed to keep reinventing themselves and that includes their show appearance. I was in charge of backdrop design, animation, stage setup, and photography during live shows.

YEAR

2022

COMPANY

Retireholics

AGENCY

Seventy5 Studios

WHAT I LEARNED

Designing elements that work in the digital and physical world
Ensuring files meet requirements for large-scale printing on fabric
Use of props to enhance the live on-stage experience

KEYWORD

Impact

Understanding Retireholics

The Retireholics stream their retirement show every two Thursdays, and they have been doing it for 8 years. Animations, sound effects, and chat bar are distinctive elements of their online presence.

They also do live shows where they bring the online experience to the stage. Props, lighting, video recording, games, and beer are key elements. The objective is to visually impact the audience.

Retireholics’ followers like to be part of the behind-the-scenes of the show, so they document all the events using video and photography to share them on social media.

Design process

REQUIREMENTS

The goal was to represent a laid-back vibe, that could be accessorized easily with on-stage props, could be set up quickly, and broken down even faster. The inspiration was the constant “on the road” mood of the Retireholics, so inspired by Breaking Bad, we created a posterized-style RV.

ElementS for live shows

The final backdrop consists of three pieces that can be mixed and matched in multiple configurations depending on the size of the stage. One key design decision was making the trailer graphic as big as possible to give a feeling of reality. The final touch was the orange lights to add depth and warmth to the stage.