Made Like This: A Dream Collaboration with the Essence Festival of Culture

There are some projects that mark a moment in your journey. Projects that remind you why you started, who you’re becoming, and what’s possible when preparation meets opportunity. This was that project for us.

In less than 30 days, we had the honor of producing the 2025 Sponsor Reception for the Essence Festival of Culture — an event that celebrates the legacy of Black excellence, creativity, and power, and the brands that stand in partnership with that legacy.

From concept to execution, this project was a masterclass in trust, collaboration, and rising to the occasion.

The Vision

This year’s Essence Festival theme, Made Like This, served as our North Star. It speaks to the beauty of becoming, of legacy in motion, and to the uniqueness of Black creativity that is shaped by resilience, community, and cultural pride.

We wanted every touchpoint of the sponsor reception to reflect that spirit:

A hallway wrapped in rich blue velvet, lined with iconic Essence magazine covers and lush greenery, drawing guests into a sensory moment of reverence and nostalgia.

Lounge quadrants that felt like living rooms — with soft seating, coffee tables, and floral vignettes — offering space for meaningful conversation and connection. 

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A custom fabricated photo moment inspired by Black art and stage design, using maroon hues from the brand palette, dramatic florals, and light to create depth and memory.

And an interactive element that guests could take home — custom screen-printed designs produced live at the event.

The Process

Pulling this off in under 30 days meant our calendar was FULL of meetings with Essence leadership to align on run of show and brand visuals, coordinating vendors for rentals and florals, briefing our fabrication team, fine-tuning screen elements, and adapting in real time.

But what made it all possible was trust.

We were thrilled to finally collaborate with Nicole Hutchinson of Mosswood Events — a veteran in destination event production and someone we’ve long admired! Her trust in our creative direction, her mentorship, and her operational excellence were invaluable to this production. We’re so proud of what we built together.

The Outcome

It’s one thing to imagine an experience…it’s another to see it come to life and feel it resonate.

We hosted some of the world’s top brands that night: Coca-Cola, AT&T, Pfizer, Unilever, and more. But more than that, we honored the 31-year legacy of Essence Festival and the generations of stories it continues to hold. 

This wasn’t just an event. It was a love letter to culture, creativity, and collaboration. A reminder that when creatives are trusted with the room, the results are unforgettable.

We’re grateful for every vendor, every partner, every late-night revision and early morning call that got us here. And we’re walking away more inspired than ever.

Here’s to more rooms like this. More stories made like this.

Want to see more? Check out our recap reel HERE.