3M CES 2025 //

Wall-to-Wall Wow Moments.

3M invited STAR and Clutch Studios to turn their CES 2025 booth into a full-on visual experience. Clutch took on the challenge of bringing the visual identity of "Journey to Uncomplicated” across a seriously impressive lineup of LED screens, from a 20-foot entrance wall to a 97-foot wraparound interior display. Big screens, bold ideas, and a whole lot of pixels.

Overview //

With a large CES footprint, 3M set out to position themselves as the ultimate “uncomplicators”, helping businesses around the globe tackle their toughest challenges in sustainability and efficiency across rapidly evolving, technology-forward industries. A striking visual metaphor that mirrored 3M's commitment to creating elegant solutions was developed to communicate that journey. STAR tapped Clutch Studios to lead the creative direction and execution of over 150 pieces of dynamic content, deployed across a 50'x70' exhibit to create an impactful experience that drew in and captivated its audience.

Creative Development //

Inspired by 3M’s red square motif, the visual direction reimagined it as a bold, dimensional, and tactile object. A grid pattern emerged, charging to life with strobing imagery and layered sound that exemplified complexity. As it reached its peak, the puzzle pieces came into place—one clear message, one unified tone, and a moment of calm. It was a visual and auditory exhale that captured the power of simplification.

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Approach //

Given the extensive list of deliverables, tight timeline, and need to adapt to evolving direction, we approached technical execution with an efficient and flexible mindset.

Using a number of effectors in our 3D scene, we were able to animate procedurally, allowing us to refine quickly without relying on individual keyframes.

With limited time, we aimed to reduce how often the 3D had to be re-rendered. Utilizing exported UV maps to variate our creative with extensive options of stock imagery and videos meant we could spend less time computing and more time creating.

Production Strategy //

Because of the booth layout and locations of the LED screens, each video had to be split into as many as 3 separate outputs. That meant we weren’t just making 1 video per area; we were outputting multiple files for every zone. What started as 13 videos quickly ballooned to 37 (and counting). To keep the visual experience seamless, the content on each screen had to align perfectly—not just in design, but also in timing—to create one immersive, cohesive moment.

With daily check-ins, detailed content trackers, constant communication, and seamless collaboration between our producers and artists, we kept everything running smoothly—staying organized, on schedule, and fully in sync from start to finish.

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How It All Came Together //

Throughout the show, 3M hosted a lineup of daily speakers. For every screen in the exhibit, we developed a dynamic mix of motion and static graphics that featured a countdown to the next session, introduced speakers, and allowed for custom branding. We collaborated closely with the AV team to nail down the most efficient way to hand off assets—delivering flexible files with embedded alpha channels so backgrounds, text, and graphics could easily be layered and updated on-site in real time to accommodate for last minute changes during the run of show.

In the end, we delivered 155 assets—with rigorous quality control ensuring every detail was accurate. Putting on a live show takes a lot of moving parts, but by combining STAR’s expertise with ours, we created a standout exhibit at the world’s largest technology expo.

results from 3M CES exhibit