Akima
CHALLENGE: Akima asked my team at Yes & to shape the content and experience of the company’s annual leadership conference, with less than three months from project kickoff to launch.
SOLUTION: A cohesive experience driven by the company’s unique Alaskan heritage.
Anchored by the image of an Iñupiaq hunter to visually brand the conference, we strategically developed and created day-of activities as well as multiple content pieces, including an opening title sequence, banners, exhibit booth wraps and an evergreen brand heritage video.
ROLE: Creative Director, Copywriter, Producer
Heritage Story
Capping off our content this heritage video was designed to serve as an evergreen statement to define Akima’s identity.
Drawing upon months of visual research in partnership with the client, I brought in my friends Illo to design and animate the story. We cast an Iñupiaq elder as the voice of the film and created a unique hand-crafted illustration style in an effort to authentically bridge the gap between a 10,000 year old oral culture and the contemporary world.
The result was a resounding success, with a standing ovation at the conference that was later followed by a Vimeo Staff Pick, a nomination for Vimeo’s Best of the Year Awards, two Gold National ADDY Awards, being shortlisted for the ADC Awards, and being featured in Communication Arts, among other recognition.
Opening Titles
Conference Branding
We crafted the image of a hunter holding a harpoon at the top of a mountain to visually brand and tie together all areas of the conference. Art Director Brian Domenici designed the imagery, which draws upon the harpoon in Akima’s logo and was modeled off of extensive research we performed on traditional Iñupiaq art, the environment and hunting attire.
Additional Heritage Samples
