St. Jude Information Systems Annual Holiday Luncheon

chasedowell
Dec 11
3 min read

Updated: Dec 18

Theme: Joy in Motion — Celebrating the Holidays & Honoring Cultures

Transforming a Luncheon Into a Cultural Celebration of Joy, Identity & Connection

St. Jude’s Information Systems Department partnered with House of Luxe Creative Studios to produce their Annual Holiday Luncheon—a celebration designed to honor the department’s global diversity through the theme Joy in Motion: Celebrating the Holidays & Honoring Cultures.

Our objective was to transform the bright, open St. Jude atrium into a vibrant story space where joy felt active, culture felt visible, and every attendee felt seen, valued, and celebrated. Through intentional design, layered storytelling, and movement-inspired color, this luncheon became a dynamic cultural experience rather than a standard holiday gathering.

Design Challenge

The Information Systems leadership team envisioned a luncheon that would:

Celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds within the department
Bring the theme Joy in Motion to life through movement, color, and flow
Educate attendees on global holiday traditions
Encourage connection through interactive elements
Remain functional in a high-traffic, glass-filled atrium
Create bold, photo-friendly installations for attendees

The challenge was designing a cohesive visual narrative that balanced holiday warmth, global representation, and St. Jude’s professional identity—all within an architectural space that requires thoughtful scale and restraint.

Our Creative Approach

A Sculptural, Multicultural Stage Installation

To visually interpret Joy in Motion, we created a sweeping multi-arch stage installation draped in flowing fabrics inspired by global color palettes. The movement of the drape formed a living tapestry, symbolizing unity, diversity, and celebration.

The stage served as:

A symbolic gateway into the event
A focal point for leadership remarks and entertainment
A kinetic expression of the theme, using color and texture as motion

Even in the minimalist atrium, the installation felt architectural, festive, and culturally expansive.

Immersive & Varied Tablescapes

Each table was intentionally designed to feel like its own celebration—unique yet cohesive within the larger story.

Tables featured:

Bold, monochromatic linens in jewel-toned palettes
Custom tabletop trees adorned with international flags, celebrating global identities
Coordinated bows representing the vibrancy of cultural traditions
Gold chiavari chairs adding warmth and elegance
Custom-wrapped gift boxes featuring the St. Jude logo, used as alternate centerpieces

The St. Jude–branded gifts added delight, visual variety, and a festive holiday spirit. Their presence created a thoughtful contrast with the flag trees—symbolizing gratitude, giving, and shared purpose.

This mixture of centerpieces resulted in a dynamic tablescape landscape, ensuring that the room felt rich, layered, and filled with motion—true to the event’s theme.

Story Spaces & Interactive Installations

To deepen engagement and honor culture, we created multiple guest-centered storytelling experiences:

“Joy in Motion” Global Map Wall

Guests placed colored pins to mark:

Where they’re from
Where they’ve been
Where they dream to go

This transformed the luncheon into a living narrative—celebrating personal histories, roots, and aspirations.

Cultural Holiday Education Panels

Oversized, museum-style displays highlighted global holiday traditions, including:

Diwali
Hanukkah
Kwanzaa
Christmas
Ramadan
Las Posadas

These panels invited guests to learn and appreciate cultural celebrations beyond their own.

Team Photo Pyramid

A sculptural pyramid installation featured portraits of the Information Systems leadership team, forming a symbolic “tree” that honored the people guiding the department’s mission. It quickly became one of the most photographed installations in the room.

Execution & Logistics

House of Luxe Creative Studios provided full event production, including:

Space planning & visual design
Drape engineering and arch stabilization
Coordination with St. Jude facilities and leadership
On-site styling and photo-ready detailing

Through strategic preparation and on-site efficiency, the full installation was completed one hour ahead of schedule, allowing ample time for refinement and staging before guests arrived.

Impact

The luncheon received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Attendees described the space as:

“Joyful and inclusive”
“One of our most beautiful celebrations yet”
“A true representation of who we are”

Guests engaged deeply with the map wall, gathered around the cultural panels, and celebrated at tables that honored their stories. The combination of flag trees and St. Jude–branded gifts sparked conversation, pride, and connection throughout the room.

For House of Luxe, the most meaningful outcome was this:

We created a story space where cultural identities, personal histories, and shared joy could coexist and shine.

Event at a Glance

Client: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Information Systems Department
Event Type: Annual Holiday Luncheon
Theme: Joy in Motion: Celebrating the Holidays & Honoring Cultures
Location: Memphis, TN
Attendees: 200+
Key Features: Multicultural stage, immersive tablescapes, global map wall, cultural education panels, team photo pyramid
Centerpieces: International flag trees & custom St. Jude–branded gift box centerpieces
Services: Creative direction, design, production, installation

The St. Jude Information Systems Annual Holiday Luncheon stands as a powerful example of House of Luxe’s Storysmith mission:

We build story spaces that magnify personal and cultural narratives.

Through movement-inspired design, intentional storytelling, and immersive guest experiences, the luncheon became more than a meal—it became a cultural celebration of joy, identity, and shared purpose.