GLAAD Media Awards (2019)
Role: Creative Director
For the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards I was responsible for all social assets and video. I pitched the idea of creating an off stage activation experience that celebrities could participate in and share on their social channels to build buzz around the event before the official clips and the full show was public. The activation in Los Angeles was so successful that Facebook/Instagram reached out to partner with GLAAD to create an experience for the New York event.
Los Angeles Activation
The “insta-space” activation was an integrated LED installation that featured customized light shapes and color change. We were working with a limited amount of space and little time with celebrities so we wanted to create something that was high energy, easy to use and stylized in a way that a range of celebrities would be comfortable sharing on their social channels. We wanted to also create something that focused more on the camera motion/editing/lighting so that everyone looked good regardless of the range of their motion.
We stuck to the classic GLAAD blues and choose to not include branding on the set. Instead, we included the GLAAD “ampersand” in the intro of the video and the logo lockup at the end of the video. We were able to turn these videos around to guests in real time.
View count (04/2019): 4.5 million
Creative Studio & Fabrication: OM Digital
Jonathan Van Ness (“Queer Eye”) & Michelle Kwan
Hayley Kiyoko
New York Activation
Due to the success of the Los Angeles activation, GLAAD teamed up with Facebook/Instagram to create a unique activation experience for celebrities at the New York event. Since Madonna was the honoree for this event, we wanted to create something that was inspired by her Vogue era.
Creative Studio & Fabrication: Art+Commerce
Cast of “Pose”
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Additional Social Graphics
In addition to the activations, we created all of the social assets for the show. We tied in the neon elements from the Los Angeles activation into the graphics and overall designs.
Graphic Design: Dustin Hood
Press (Top Hits)
VOGUE: At the GLAAD Awards, Beyoncé and Jay-Z Deliver a Stylish Message of Hope
Variety: ‘Overwhelmed’ Beyonce and Jay-Z Preach LGBTQ Acceptance in GLAAD Awards Speech
Vanity Fair: Beyoncé Gives an Emotional Speech at the GLAAD Media Awards: “To Choose Who You Love Is Your Human Right”
Deadline: Beyonce And Jay-Z’s Emotional GLAAD Media Awards Speech Honors Family, Champions LGBTQ Rights
Rolling Stone: Watch ‘Drag Race’ Alum Shangela’s Fierce Beyonce Tribute at GLAAD Awards
Entertainment Weekly: Madonna, 'black Madonna,' and Pose-ing: 8 highlights from the GLAAD Awards
USA Today: An emotional Madonna honors gay teacher at GLAAD Awards: 'It was OK to be different'
People: Andy Cohen Recalls Looking Into Son's Eyes for First Time: 'There Was No Hate, No Bias, No Bigotry'
Vanity Fair: Madonna Got Candid and Reminisced About the 80s at the GLAAD Media Awards