This carefully-planned reunion required us to design a one night production that was deeply aware of the emotional context, resulting in narrative assets that are more engaging and evergreen.
The Assignment
After years spent apart during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pantheon restarted the iconic DrupalCon, bringing WebOps development professionals from across the country back together to celebrate.
Circumstances put immediate pressure on the relationships — to find their footing and make up for lost time — and it was of paramount importance to Pantheon that the annual conference returned successfully.
When planning events of this scale and magnitude, the best organizations prioritize warm connection. They design a container for mutual curiosity, the exchange of knowledge and the building of trust.
This closely parallels the approach Human Centric Media takes to strategic communications: we find the spark of shared values at the heart of these gatherings, and use that energy to power lasting engagement.
Contextually-Aware Design
That starts in the discovery process. We ask all parties (communications directors, executive directors and event planners alike) what success looks like for them. What strategic objective are we trying to achieve together and how can we develop a narrative that lifts all boats and gets us there?
For DrupalCon, it wasn’t as simple as a roaring comeback. The COVID-19 era demanded an approach that deeply respected everyone’s boundaries and personal safety. The best organizations don’t just move on from a crisis, they design a supportive experience for staff, clients and stakeholders to thrive within.
We approached the production design for this project with that context in mind, documenting each subject’s unique experience with the utmost reverence.
Media that Tells a Story
Agencies with less emotional intelligence and fewer refined processes produce photos and videos that prove your event happened, and that people were there. But what story do the images tell?
Audiences crave more: loyal DrupalCon attendees look to the post-event media to reinforce the relationships they formed and rekindled. Your communications tell engaged members of your audience what message they should carry with them into the following year. If that message isn’t resonant and impactful, attendees will quickly forget their experience.
So we approached Pantheon’s staff and partners with real emotional curiosity — holding patient space for moments to develop naturally, and delivering images that audiences can truly feel.
Evergreen Assets
Narratives developed and deployed with human experiences in-mind are evergreen: they show potential partners how and why your organization brings people together.
Human Centric Media’s process turned this reunion of DrupalCon attendees into storytelling assets that Pantheon can use to demonstrate their values and impact for many years to come.
Are you making the most of your storytelling opportunities? We want to help.
