New ChicagoMade Marketplace, Film Series, Panel Discussion Highlight City as Hub of Creativity and Innovation

ChicagoMade is a collaboration between the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, World Business Chicago, and others to highlight the city as an innovation center, global business destination, creative hub, and city of diverse and unique culture. The first ChicagoMade activations took place in Austin, TX during SXSW in 2014, and over the following 2 years the campaign continued to highlight Chicago as a creative hub. This video provides an inside glimpse of this year’s SXSW events.

This month, ChicagoMade also showcased Chicago artists and makers at the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park for the first time and is running locally-produced short films called “ChicagoMade Shorts” at the weekly Millennium Park Summer Film Series throughout the summer.

The ChicagoMade Marketplace included thirty Chicago artisans from across the city who displayed and sold their unique, high-quality, and affordable products. From chic clothing and custom jewelry to handmade arts & crafts and Indie music, the Chicago makers included: Ceramics by Leo, Peter Field Menswear, Foursided, Wicked Entertainment, and many more.

Additionally, a “Food For Thought” panel discussion at the Taste titled “ChicagoMade: Designing Experiences in Music, Fashion, and Media” featured creative luminaries Pugs Atomz, an internationally renowned rapper and Creative Director for Iridium Clothing Co.; Anthony Winfield, tour manager and Executive Assistant for Grammy Award winning rapper Lupe Fiasco, and Manager for Chicago rapper The Boy Illinois; and Annika Welander, Strategy Director & Partner at Someoddpilot, a creative agency responsible for developing brand identities The Second City and Pitchfork. The group discussed the latest trends in experience design, and the ways in which Chicago excels as a global hub of creativity and innovation. Jake Trussell, Creative Director for WBC, moderated the session.

“Chicago is home to game-changing leaders in art, music, and product design,” said Trussell. “We’re excited to bring together some of these artists and entrepreneurs in one place, giving them an opportunity to share their talents and stories with the hometown crowd.”

Throughout the summer, movie-goers at the Millennium Park Summer Film Series will also experience Chicago’s robust filmmaking talent with “ChicagoMade Shorts” in advance of each weekly feature film. The short-film series celebrates the city’s emerging independent film community and highlights entertaining work produced by talented Chicago-based artists.

For more information visit ChicagoMade.us.