Six Years of Allied Media Conference Branding and Communications

WITH ALLIED MEDIA PROJECTS

Collaborative design and production for annual conference branding.

The Allied Media Conference (AMC) was a transformative gathering that explored the intersections of media, art, technology, education, and social justice. The annual gathering, held annually in Detroit by Allied Media Projects, evolved over its two-decade history from a modest zine-focused event into a nationally recognized platform for media-based organizing and visionary community building. Each year, the conference brought together diverse voices to share tools, practices, and strategies that envisioned and cultivated a more just, creative, and collaborative world.

A woman carries a child into a building. Allied Media Conference branded flags flank the doors and branded decals adorn the glass windows.

In 2012, The Work Department began a six-year partnership with AMC to design and develop its annual visual identity and communication tools. Our approach to this work was guided by themes central to the AMC: connection, transformation, and participation. Through year-long participatory design processes, we collaborated with conference attendees and staff from across the country to understand their visions for the conference’s messaging and design. This iterative approach allowed us to craft visuals and tools that embodied the conference's values and addressed the needs of its growing community.

Each year, we developed a new visual identity that reflected the conference’s unique themes and spirit. These identities informed a suite of print and digital materials, including program books, wayfinding signage, social media assets, website graphics, and more. Our designs ensured that AMC attendees could navigate the event with ease while immersing themselves in a welcoming and inclusive environment. From the bold banners welcoming participants at the entrance to the detailed program books outlining the event’s complex schedule, every piece was designed to reinforce accessibility and connection. In addition, we developed a toolkit of visual assets, enabling conference speakers to brand their own content in alignment with the event’s identity—an open-source approach that amplified the AMC’s collaborative ethos and reach.

Our work extended beyond annual deliverables to create a foundational visual library and participatory design framework that could sustain AMC’s legacy. By building on the conference’s rich visual history and engaging participants in the design process, we created a platform for future iterations to evolve while staying true to its core principles.

Through this partnership, we helped AMC deepen its impact, ensuring that its visuals and messaging supported logistical needs while amplifying its mission to create transformative, community-driven change. In 2024, the Allied Media Projects sunsetted the AMC, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire and nourish communities for generations to come.

PHOTOS BY

Ara Howrani

Four people sit on a stage while a man who is standing translates in American Sign Language. An Allied Media Conference banner is on stage to the right. An image of the AMC 20th Anniversary logo is projected behind them.
Allied Media conference program books from 2012 - 2018
Three people face the camera, one is sitting. Two wear matching Allied Media Conference t-shirts and lanyards.
Three people sit in front of an Allied Media Conference poster. They are listening to something off camera.
3 Allied Media Conference zines that document the conference planning process.
Stack of Allied Media Conference 2015 program books.