20YEARS
- Ideahaus® Brew House, Pgh, PA 1990
Remember 1990?
We do, like it was yesterday. Because we were incredibly excited about what was happening in communications. New technologies were emerging that were revolutionizing the way people connect and share information. Fast forward two decades and it’s kind of crazy. Because everything has changed… and nothing has changed.
Inspired by our upcoming anniversary, Ideahaus® is producing “20YEARS in Communications.“ We are exploring the course and work of communications professionals over the last 20 years with an insightful series of events, exhibits, panel discussions, and of course, Social Media
20YEARS is directed by Ideahaus® Founder Kevin Popović, and produced by Amy King and her team at Mind Over Media, and spans the complete spectrum of professional communication. Original music for the project is being produced by Rob Deaner and Market Street Sound. Event marketing will be shared between partner organizations, including Pittsburgh Ad Fed, Pittsburgh Chapter of American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA), Media Association of Pittsburgh (MAP), Pittsburgh Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Pittsburgh Technical Institute (PTI).
Why look back at 20 years of communications?
“We were talking about our anniversary, our original studios, and who got started in the business at the same time, and so on,” said Popović. “We realized that we all had to make a series of uninformed decisions when we got into the communications business.”
He recounts some of the dilemmas he and his cohorts faced:
- Join an agency or start my own?
- Stick to my art or get a steady job?
- Go client-side or stay in production?
- Stay at home or get out of town?
When he asked his colleagues how it has all worked out for them, he began to uncover some startling stories, and realized that he had to record these insights.
Based on issues selected by senior creative and communications professionals, the project is structured around a series of key questions that explore issues and experiences that all communications professionals encounter in their careers. It also shares with aspiring artists, writers, designers, producer, and strategists some critical insights that reflect the changing styles, strategy and media of the last 20 years.
A focus on common threads
“There’s a couple of things we need to stress here,” added Popović. “First, this is about communications; all types of communications. Advertising, marketing, design, public relations, multimedia, events – all of them. When I started the agency, it was about communications. Twenty years later, it’s about communications. Traditionally, a lot of these things have been treated by pros as though they are worlds apart. I believe this project will show how much more we all have in common, how we all fit together, how we are all really trying to do the same thing – and that’s help somebody communicate to somebody else.”
Notable communications professionals from every discipline have been invited to participate in 20YEARS, and to speak from their vantage points. All have been in the business for at least 20 years, and are accomplished at what they do.
The content from the project will be released during a preview event in Pittsburgh, then displayed as part of a week-long installation (locations are still under review). Partner organizations will have license to share the work within their organizations, and with members as part of their educational resources. Media supporters will have access to all media, as well as contributors and project organizers.
“Please join us,” said Popović. “We won’t be doing this again until 2030 — and believe me, you don’t want to wait that long.”
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