5 Tips for Engaging Livestream Set Design

Author | Josh Whitaker

Perhaps surprisingly, the amount of people who actively choose to engage with your livestream content is not entirely down to the entertainment or information you deliver. There is also quite a lot to be said for the design of a set, too.

This is why there are professional companies that devote their time to ensuring a televised set looks pristine and has no issues with lighting, sound or staging.

There is such a wide range of events that can be broadcast live, from graduation ceremonies and TV interviews to product launches and political presentations. Audiovisual expectations are different at each event, with audiences watching a livestream that conforms to their expectations.

1. Use Studio Lighting to your Advantage

Lighting is always a key factor when it comes to designing an engaging livestream set, no matter how big or small the broadcast. Different types of lighting produce different emotions and expectations within an audience, from bright spotlights to showcase exciting developments on set, to dimmer lighting that creates a low-key ambiance.

Before COVID-19, many livestreams might also have been attended by audiences. It was common practice to keep the audience in a minimal amount of light but illuminate the stage and speakers as much as possible. This helped to produce a sense of comfort for the audience, giving the feeling that they could sit back and watch the event unfold.

Now, with things being broadcast digitally, you want to ensure that there is maximum light falling on the speakers and the stage area. This makes it easier for people watching on handheld devices to see what is happening.

2. Consider Important Features of your Livestream

Does your audience need to see anything such as a presentation? Make sure you design your set so it is front and center. If you are delivering a speech based on slides shown behind you, ensure you are standing close enough to the projector.

Alternatively, your livestream could always show your slides on one section of the viewer’s screen and your face on another. Just make sure that you know how this will be achieved before you begin!

3. Managing Social Distancing in the age of COVID-19

Presenters on a livestream set usually need to ensure that they are spaced six feet apart due to current social distancing mandates. Sometimes, this can create awkward decisions for you when you are designing a set. One popular option to consider is the use of plexiglass dividers between all members of the livestream. This helps viewers to realize that there is the required social distancing on set, making them more able to focus on the points your stream is getting across.

Without the use of face masks, presenters would need to sit eight feet apart. Naturally, the larger this distance, the more design challenges you are going to encounter on set. This is another reason why plexiglass dividers can help retain some sense of normality on set.

Lastly, consider the fact that your ‘distance markers’ do not need to be so plain. You could use ornaments or floral decorations to ensure the required space between participants on your livestream. After all, you want as many eyes as possible on your livestream!

4. Design a Livestream Set with Depth in Mind

Too often, people set up basic livestream sets with just the bare bones. Presenters sit in front of monotone, one-color backgrounds and fail to add any visual interest to the shot. Try increasing the depth of the image by adding various props to the background which does the job of keeping the focus on the speakers.

For example, a bookcase, plants, or shelving can all add interest to the background of a shot. Unconsciously, a viewer will become more engaged in the livestream if there is more information for their brain to process than simply a talking head.

If you are running low on usable backgrounds, consider shooting from the corner of the room towards the middle. This gives the impression of a larger, more in-depth space for the livestream event.

5. Don’t go Crazy with Color or Patterns

Despite what we just told you about engaging backdrops, you need to make sure you do not cross a line into backdrops that actively distract from the livestream itself. Examples of approaching this the wrong way could be implementing a green screen with a vibrant, distracting background, or having the speakers wear colors that contrast greatly with the backdrop.

At the end of the day, you want as much attention to the actual content of your livestream event as possible.