(this post is a WIP)
July 2012…
I joined the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Illinois chapter as VP of Membership. My role was to drive local chapter membership and also collaborate with other chairs to make membership worth while. At the time Linkedin & social media were getting into their full stride. The genesis (big word, I wanted to use it) of this event was to provide chapter members with updated headshots in front of artwork that displayed personality and pop, as an alternate to the tired “corporate headshots” that are usually 4-5 years old. Secondarily, the membership body would constantly say that the events at this time (some still say currently) were attended by to many sales representatives and not enough designer/architect attendees.
(Also headshots according to linkedin should be refreshed every 2 years at least)
2014… PHOTOBASH
In 2014, I created PHOTOBASH.
Throughout the infant stages of this event, working out the different ways to execute this event on a minimal budget was challenging. One of the biggest challenges was finding artwork from willing artists large enough to fill out the frame of a headshot photograph. Solution was to partner with wallcovering companies who had creative patterns and products to display. Again working within the budget, I then had to get someone to build both the actual frames and stands to the wallcovering backdrops for minimal minimal costs.
All of these events were successful in my eyes but this first one, laid the ground work for the years to come.
The event was hosted at Room 1520 in the west loop. Space was lofty, dim and the music echoed. There was a vibe that all about 40-50 people experienced. With the intimate setting we all experienced something new and something possible. I’m still appreciative of the “innovators” & “early adapters” for their support at this first event.
Not thinking past the event, from my foggy memory, I tossed the frames and wallcoverings in a nearby alley. Party over. (I am still trying to hunt down more images from that evening, below is all I can find)
2015…
One under the belt and enough time to over think things. Now that I knew the party was going to happen a second time, I needed to promote the event more some how.
Solution: this was my small experiment with a “campaign”. Although we still promoted through social media channels. I allotted money in the budget for hard flyers. Strategy was to give stacks to the board members and furniture representatives to distribute among their firms. With the event happening in March but receiving confirmation November, I printed the flyers first thing in December. I found multiple images of an old man model that resembled what some believe to be SANTA.
IIDA also had their signature event happening in February called STITCH. I used another image of SANTA with copy, in the Stitch event hand out brochure of the competing costumes. The A&D community already familiar with the hard flyers of SANTA since December, would now be getting an event reminder in February for PHOTOBASH
Few additional new ideas popped onto the drafting board:.
“Let’s Change the Venue” Chicago is a great city with multiple event spaces. Next spot we held the event at was “the Chop Shop” I know there is something for saying “not re-inventing the wheel every time” but tired people say that, the team was ready. The team was so ready that when the doors opened to let guests in, there were screws, screw drivers, hammers in the way. The Minimal Minimal budget carpenter I used the previous year, was at it again. Instead of building stands that held the wallcovering frames up, the carpenter suspended a cable wire from balcony to balcony and hung the frames back to back. Again budget.
“Let’s raffle off the Wallcoverings” oooo man did we do that. The guests were responsible for taking home these large 3.5’x5’ frames. Some tried inebriated, that was an event within itself. Raffle proceeds went back into the IIDA Chicago Chapter.
Let’s get an actual headshot photographer” Photographer had a vision…. you see.
2016…
Two (2) events under our belt now, picking up some momentum and now on people’s radar. More time to over think.
“Let’s mix it up” Other feedback that I would hear about A&D industry events is that the events are attended always by the same people. Solution: Collaborate with other organizations to vary the attendee mix. After reaching out to the neighboring organizations (ahem, ASID/AIA/CORENET) and receiving no interest. I collaborated with the Society of Typographical Arts (STA) for this year’s event. STA members would create the backgrounds which again would be raffled off. They collaborated with me on both the flyer and Stitch brochure page.
“Let’s Change the Venue” this year’s event was held at Brunch.
“Let’s raffle off the Wallcoverings” This year I approached the board if they would allow me to donate the raffle proceeds to an new effort called (re)group
“Somewhat increase in Budget?” Minimal Minimal Carpenter now switched to actual crafters. Photographer set up also improved.
“Let’s involved the Chapter Sponsors” With the venues being bare, I approached the chapter sponsors to create vignettes for attendees to view product.
2017…
This year’s location was at Ignite Glass Studios. I recommend this location for anyone looking at a large venue. Due to how large the venue was and my experience with the previous year vendor vignettes, I then approached everyone to fully furnish the event space.
This year I even collaborated with a General Contractor to create the background frames and stands!
2018…
Reflecting on the past year, I was told we should down size the venue. We selected the newly opened at the time ACE Hotel to host this event.
2019… it matured
The space this year was at Chez Event space, which was comfortable but the non-enthused onsite manager would not dim the lights to my liking.
The backgrounds were printed and mounted by an actual printer! I reached out to different organizations and graphic artists to create the backgrounds. The backgrounds had a curated direction; incorporate font & the Pantone color of the year 2019: 16-1546 Living Coral. The attendees were very happy with the finished product. Raffle proceeds again were donated to (re)group.
The backgrounds were installed by a General Contractor!
There were 2 photographers! S/O Yeva and Kara for all their help!
IIDA IL chapter sponsors provided vignettes for attendees to sit and also for the sponsors to get their product in front of people!
DJ Charles protege spinning tunes making people dance, I even had a magician there to entertain people!
VWS
All in all it was a great success! Volunteering for the IIDA IL Chapter I tell people is the best way to get involved with the commercial design community and community out reach.
I am putting this information and experience on the web for people to understand my process/challenges while creating this event. I hope people find this peek behind the curtain inspirational and beneficial. With more resources and even bigger visions, I cannot wait to see what is next.
I would have loved to have this event on a friday night, I pushed for it every year but continually got shot down :) (you know who you are!) If you’re reading this and want to collab on an event please feel free to reach out!
On to the next
@helloimfelix