Creative Services

We elevate your program's brand to maximize your impact.

We are the Aspen Institute’s in-house communications agency, dedicated to supporting your program’s unique goals. From comprehensive branding strategies and digital marketing campaigns to high-quality video and event production, we cover a wide range of needs.

Strategic planning is always covered by overhead, while our premium services—access to our full-time writer, social media specialist, graphic designer, audience research specialist, print and production and AV specialists, and a bench of trusted vendors and contractors—ensure you have the resources needed for success. From concept to execution, we manage everything, including sourcing talent and handling contracts, so you can focus on advancing your mission.

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Our Services

    • Strategic Planning:
      Our team partners with your program to define communications goals and identify your target audience. This foundational support, provided at no additional cost, ensures your program is well-positioned for success in all its communications efforts.

    • Aspen Institute Logo and Visual Brand Management:
      We ensure consistent logo usage and visual brand alignment across all print materials to maintain the integrity of the Aspen Institute’s brand.

    • Logo Development:
      We provide one standard logo for your program or initiative, ensuring it aligns with the Aspen Institute's brand guidelines.

    • Social Media Management:
      Strategy development for program-owned platforms and coordination with enterprise social media platforms for organic posts, paid campaigns, analytics, and more.

    • Platform Launch & Account Maintenance:
      Launching new platforms and ongoing maintenance.

    • Audience Targeting & Engagement:
      We develop strategies to grow and engage your audience.

    • Graphic Design:
      Custom design for digital reports, infographics, social posts, and toolkits.

    • Content Creation:
      Video Production of sizzle/highlight reels, social videos, GIFs, animations, and in-depth interviews.

    • Branding & Design:
      Brand decks and guidelines, and additional program or initiative logos.

    • Custom Virtual Event Graphics:
      We can create custom event materials for virtual and hybrid events, like animations and other event on-screen graphics.

    • Copyediting:
      Refining reports, white papers, newsletters, and other written products. 

    • Blogs, Op-Eds, and Columns:
      Strategic partnership on your thought leadership, including complete drafting and editing.

    • Social Media Content Creation:
      LinkedIn posts, Instagram captions, video content scripts.

    • Other Written Products: 
      Drafting and editing speeches, case studies, and interviews as well as reporting on events.

  • We support events in 3 phases: pre-production, day-of-event support, and post-event. In each phase, we offer support covered by overhead, as well as at-cost custom add-ons based on your needs. Learn more in the section below.

  • Our team is committed to supporting all programs, regardless of location. Whether you're based remotely or outside the DC offices, we provide the same high level of standard and premium services to ensure your program's communications are effective and aligned with the Institute's mission. We offer virtual consultations and remote project management to seamlessly integrate with your team’s needs, no matter where you are.

    • Digital Marketing Campaigns:
      Goal-setting, strategy, messaging, bespoke graphics, audience research, influencer campaigns, lead generation, and paid ads.

    • Program Microsites:
      Design, testing, user experience strategy, content updates, and analytics.

    • Program-Level Performance Dashboards: 
      Automated analytics dashboards that track your web, newsletter, and social traffic.

    • Custom Printed Event Collateral: 
      We can create custom event materials for in-person events, including banners, name tags, podium signs, badges, and backdrops. 

    • Books and Reports:
      We produce professionally finished publications that effectively communicate your program’s impact.

    • Print Procurement and Vendor Management:
      We can manage all aspects of print production, including sourcing trusted vendors, ensuring quality control, and meeting deadlines, so your materials are delivered on time and within budget.

    • Store/Swag Management:
      We manage and organize your program's branded merchandise through our online store, ensuring easy access to branded materials and swag.

    • Custom Program-Branded Stationery and Swag:
      We can design and produce custom-branded items, including stationery, folders, business cards, and swag. See here for additional event production support.

    • Program Marketing Collateral: 
      We can create print materials like brochures, mailers, invitations, and ads.

    • Custom Research Projects:
      Delineate audience targets, test optimal messaging, and refine content topics/priorities. Quantitative and Qualitative approaches are available.

Tiger Team Event Service Offerings

Creative Services’ Tiger Team offers targeted, time-bound support to Aspen programs to elevate the strategic design, execution, and impact of convenings in Washington DC—while easing the operational burden on program staff.

These offerings were shaped through conversations with program teams across the Institute, surfacing key opportunities to strengthen and streamline convenings support provided by Creative Services.

For large events and convenings outside of Washington, DC, please connect with Dulcy Kenner at Conference Services at dulcy.kenner@aspeninstitute.org.

    • Opt-in pilot offerings for programs

    • Designed to complement (not replace) program ownership

    • Focused on building consistently high quality events and Institute-wide

    • Fee-for-service with low, hourly rate of $110 and no overhead

    • Support at critical moments in event planning

    • More consistent quality and participant experience

    • Reduced operational lift for the program team

    • Clearer data on event outcomes and impact

    • We’re your partner in developing a foundational convening strategy, necessary for success

    • Clarifying event goals, audiences, and success metrics

    • Developing a high-level program arc and run-of-show

    • Recommending formats, facilitation approaches, and timing

    • Are early in planning or rethinking an existing convening

    • Want to elevate content quality and coherence

    • Need strategic input without full-scale event management

    • We’ll be your boots-on-the-ground, offering tactical assistance when and where you need it

    • Including but not limited to venue and vendor sourcing guidance

    • Standardized project planning and risk management tools

    • Budget frameworks and contracting support

    • Onsite coordination and post-event debrief

    • We’re your analytics partner, identifying actionable recommendations for future convenings

    • Upgraded event evaluation survey tools with metrics like attendance, engagement, and satisfaction

    • Summary dashboard and insights memo from the Tiger Team

    • Need operational lift for small-to-mid size events

    • Want consistent, high-quality execution

    • Are looking to better capture and communicate event impact

Events

Event production is a collaborative effort, bringing together expertise from our Events, Media Relations, Creative Services, and Enterprise Teams to ensure your in-person, virtual, or hybrid events are flawlessly executed and make a lasting impact. This integrated support ensures that every aspect of your event is handled with care and creativity. For some events, our team works with a third-party vendor called Architex, which gives our events an extra level of A/V professional polish.

We support events in 3 phases: pre-production, day-of event support, and post-event. In each phase, we offer support that is covered by overhead as well as at-cost custom add-ons based on your needs.

1

Pre-Event

    • Preparation and Planning:
      We collaborate with your program to understand event requirements, outline the flow, and determine technical needs, creating a timeline to ensure a smooth event.

    • Visual Identity:
      We provide a standard graphics package, maintaining a consistent look and feel across Institute events.

    • Pre-Recording Assistance:
      We support pre-recording needs to ensure content quality during the event.

    • Presenter Tech Checks:
      We ensure remote presenters are comfortable with their tech setup.

    • Platform Setup:
      For virtual or hybrid events, we manage the setup and operation of the Zoom platform.

    • Speaker Release Review:
      We review and suggest edits to speaker releases to ensure compliance with Institute standards.

    • Press Outreach:
      We’ll promote your event to relevant journalists, media outlets, and TV networks through advisories and direct outreach.

    • Press Management:
      For larger-scale events, we can help with media RSVPs and coordinate with networks on potential technical needs, either in person or via live feeds.

    • Custom branded lower thirds and branded intro/outro graphics bespoke to each program/event

    • Custom Graphics and Event Designs:
      We can create custom event collateral, such as banners, podium signs, badges, and digital or in-person backdrops.

2

Day-of Event

    • Onsite Support:
      Our event producer is present throughout your DC or Aspen event to ensure seamless execution.

    • Livestream Assistance:
      We oversee the livestream, troubleshooting any technical issues.

    • Press Management:
      For events with significant media presence, we can facilitate press needs on-site, such as checking in reporters, arranging filming locations, and coordinating interviews.

    • Bespoke Webinars:

      • Full Webinar customization and rush upload to YouTube

    • Live Shoots:

      • Custom shoots in our in-office studio

    • Equipment Use:

      • Access to in-house AV gear (no customization or dedicated tech)

    • Enhanced Accessibility: We can offer captioning, ASL interpretation, and multilingual support.

    • Teleprompter Assistance: We can provide teleprompter support for smooth presentations.

    • Live Social Coverage:
      We can provide a dedicated social media specialist to share real-time event highlights on your program's channels.

    • On-the-Ground Footage:
      We can capture dynamic event footage, including b-roll and interviews, for highlight reels and social media.

3

Post-Event

    • Basic Editing and YouTube Posting:
      We perform light video editing and post the finished recording to YouTube using the language you provide.

    • Social Media Clips:
      We create up to three 30-second clips for sharing on your program's social channels.

    • Segmentation:
      We break full events into smaller, shareable sessions.

    • Media Reporting:
      We can track coverage and provide a shareable earned media report for events that generate significant press.

    • Aspen Institute Branded Templates: Use of standard org-branded slide decks or title cards.

    • GFX Packages: Custom branded lower thirds and branded intro/outro graphics bespoke to each program/event

    • Optional add-ons available: Clipping services for social media, live event captioning, transcription services, custom shoots

    • Extended Content: We can create additional post-event clips for social media.

    • Highlight Reels:
      We can craft highlight reels to recap key moments for stakeholders and audiences.

    • Enhanced Promotion:
      We can develop and manage paid campaigns to increase viewership, website traffic, or newsletter subscriptions.

    • Comprehensive Insights:
      We can provide detailed reports on post-event engagement and viewer behavior.

    • Access to the LTN Studios:
      Available in both Aspen and the DC office for interviews and tapings, LTN is a customized studio capable of broadcasting live feeds to various networks for breaking news or quick turnaround conversations. Access requires prior booking and the use of an in-house producer.

4

Webinar Services and Late Fees

    • One standard tier webinar per month covered by overhead.

    • Additional webinars within the same month can be added for a subsidized fee based on scope (est. range between $1,500-$3,000).

    • All events (both virtual and in-office) should be submitted to the team at least 30 days prior to the to event date. Those submitted less than 30 days prior to the event will incur rush fee based on the scope of the event. 

    • For events that require an external production partner/vendor (Architex):

      • Any events submitted with less than 30 days notice will have 100% vendor costs covered by the program

      • Any Events submitted  with less than 14 days notice, all estimated pre-production costs will be billed at 1.5x the standard rate

Meet the Team