Rob Barber, Chief Creative Officer
LEADER • DESIGNER • SPEAKER • CREATIVE STRATEGIC THINKER
Biography
Since joining ATOMIC in 2010, Rob Barber, Chief Creative Officer, has been instrumental in leading ATOMIC’s product development efforts and propelling ATOMIC to be an industry leader in modular scenic stage products.
He and his team have introduced over 100 new products and several patented product lines, including Modular SuperLever, FASTwall, and SuperZipper. His team celebrates 13 industry-related design awards and multiple patents.
In addition to leading Modular Systems at ATOMIC’s headquarters in Lititz, PA, Rob has extended ATOMIC’s product reach by launching ATOMIC Modular Systems in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Frankfurt and by building lease partnerships around the globe.
Clients include an extensive list of entertainment and media brands such as iHeartRadio, MTV, FOX Sports, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu, The Talk, and Ellen, and tours for artists like Madonna, Usher, Elton John, Miranda Lambert and Mötley Crüe.
Additionally, Rob has spoken both nationally and internationally throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia on a variety of topics including leadership and creativity.
Prior to ATOMIC, Rob was part of development team for Eggland’s Best Eggs and developed and patented the technology for printing on eggs, as well as designed the technology for environmentally controlled poultry houses.
He has a formal education in fine woodworking, computer science, and business management…an oddly weird and perfect fit for ATOMIC.
Rob serves nationally on the Advisory Board of the Parnelli Awards, which recognizes high-level achievement in the Concert Touring and Live Event industries. On a local level, he actively serves on the board of the Lancaster County Community Foundation, channeling philanthropy and managing endowments that help shape Lancaster County. His recent endeavors include contributing an essay to the book, “Lights on Lancaster” (John R. Gerdy) and receiving both the Medal of Honor from the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and The Special Event Gala Lifetime Achievement Award. These prestigious awards honor those who have made significant achievements in the fields of design and creativity.
Publications\Perspective
Date | Publication | Title/Topic | Contribution |
December 2023 | Special Events Magazine | Gala Lifetime Achievement Award | Feature article |
November 2023 | Lights on Lancaster Gerdy, John R. PhD | Wandering Warehouse: A Creative Collective (pp. 14-18) | Author |
July 2023 | Abundance Leadership Freebairn-Smith, Laura | Ch 8 Visibility (pp. 113-114) | Quote provider |
May 2022 | Interior Design Magazine | Spacekit (pp. 46) | Featured article |
April 2022 | Special Events Magazine | TSE Spotlight | Featured article |
March 2022 | Office Insight Magazine | Spacekit’s Modular Wall Art (Pg 13) | Featured article |
March 2022 | Office Insight Online | Spacekit’s Modular Wall Art | Featured article |
January 2022 | Connected Design | Design | Podcast |
January 2022 | FDM+C Magazine | ATOMIC blasts into residential | Featured article |
October 2021 | Commercial Construction & Renovation | Display at NeoCon | Podcast |
July 2021 | Aspire Magazine | Maker Monday | Featured article |
July 2021 | Be Well TV | The Business of Creatives | Interview |
April 2021 | Spacekit | Who We Are | Feature |
Speaking Engagements
Date | Event/Occasion | Topic | Location |
May 2024 | MPI World Ed Conf | Unplugged | Louisville, KY |
May 2024 | IMEX Frankfurt | Creating Scenic Environments | Frankfurt, Germany |
April 2024 | MPI Global Days | How you WOW | Calgary, Canada |
February 2024 | The Special Event | Napkin Sketch to Show | Austin, TX |
January 2024 | Go West 24 | Unplugged | Edmonton, Canada |
October 2023 | IFEA Conference | How you WOW | McAllen, TX |
April 2023 | Prolight + Sound | How you WOW | Frankfurt, Germany |
March 2023 | The Special Event | How you WOW | Orlando, FL |
January 2023 | Go West 23 | How you WOW | Edmonton, Canada |
January 2023 | Abundance Leadership Conf | Keynote – The Big Pause… | Warren, VT |
June 2022 | MPI WEC | How you WOW | San Francisco, CA |
June 2022 | IMEX Frankfurt | How you WOW | Frankfurt, Germany |
May 2022 | The Special Event | Spare a Square – the Business of Collaboration | Anaheim, CA |
July 2021 | The Special Event 2021 | The Big Pause…Same Team, New Dreams | Miami, FL |
June 2020 | InfoComm 2020 | Creativity in Three Acts | Las Vegas, NV (COVID Cancelled) |
May 2020 | IMEX Frankfurt | Creativity in Three Acts | Frankfurt, Germany (COVID Cancelled) |
November 2019 | The Special event Asia | The Changing Landscape of Experiential Events: Design Thinking for Event Curation | Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore |
October 2019 | AIA Central PA Architects Conference and Expo & Excellence in Design Awards | Keynote, “Creativity in Three Acts” | Rock Lititz, Lancaster, PA |
May 2019 | PA College of Art & Design | Commencement Speech | Lancaster, PA |
April 2019 | Prolight + Sound | Keys to a Successful Show | Frankfurt, Germany |
April 2019 | Prolight + Sound | Technology Panel Discussion | Frankfurt, Germany |
April 2019 | Prolight + Sound | Technology Panel Discussion | Frankfurt, Germany |
March 2019 | USITT | Keys to a Successful Show | Louisville, KY |
February 2019 | Heroic Public Speaking | Training Completed | New Hope, PA |
February 2019 | Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association Conference | Keys to a Successful Show | Los Angeles, CA |
January 2019 | The Special Event | Keys to a Successful Show | San Diego, CA |
August 2018 | ILEA Live Conference | 20 Tips to a Successful Show | Denver, CO |
April 2018 | Prolight + Sound | Keys to a Successful Show | Frankfurt, Germany |
April 2018 | MESE Conference | 20 Tips to a Successful Show | United Arab Emirates, Dubai |
February 2018 | The Special Event | 20 Tips to a Successful Show | New Orleans, LA |
August 2017 | ILEA Live Conference | Design Thinking Workshop | Edmonton, Canada |
Awards
Date | Award | For | Presented By |
2024 | Gala Lifetime Achievement Award | Rob Barber, Recipient | Special Events |
2019 | Medal of Honor | Rob Barber, Recipient | PA College of Art & Design |
2017 | New Product Awards | Best New Product – un-Panel | WFX |
2016 | New Product Awards | Best New Product – FabLok | WFX |
2016 | Espirit Awards | Best Industry Innovation FASTwall | ILEA |
2016 | USPTO Patent Granted | SuperZipper | USPTO |
2015 | New Product Awards | Best New Staging – FASTwall | WFX |
2015 | Spotlight Awards | Rental Company of the Year | Event Solutions |
2015 | Big Apple Awards | Best New Product | ILEA |
2014 | Event Style Awards | Best New Product – SuperWall | BizBash |
2014 | New Product Awards | Best New Product – SuperWall | WFX |