September 25, 2024 • Posted by Design Bay Area
“Mix It Up” was imagined by level as a way to have fun while strengthening community–building bridges and enabling cross pollination between local teams.
With San Francisco receiving adverse press in recent years, we wanted to host an event that would serve to highlight and build networks among talent. Our city still thrives within our neighborhoods, and we felt it was time to shine a light on our corner of it.
We want those familiar faces you see as you walk to work, to become friends. So, when you are grabbing that morning coffee, or waiting in line for lunch, we get to catch-up, hear perspectives and build resilient communities that can help each other flourish.
In November 2023, level hosted the first “Mix It Up, Mission Creek”. Individuals working in venture capital, production, marketing, design, photography, woodwork, jewelry, retail, and more, gathered in our studio to hang out, share stories, and build connections.
Fed by our talented neighbors, The Morris, and thanks to our incredible landlord (shout out Noah!) and the ever-supportive Design Bay Area, the event cost us under $400.
We’re looking forward to a summer and autumn filled with teams Mixing It Up! Read below to hear how you can organize your own mix it up event!
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MIXING IT UP…
- Rally your team. The goal is to make connections and build new friendships. So, before you do, ensure those you already have are all-in. Share the idea, gather their thoughts, and shape a vision for the event that keeps it fun and manageable for your own team.
- Do the legwork. Or use your keyboard… just get searching! Who is in your building? Who do you walk past on your way to lunch? Or on your commute? Does your neighbor know a creative team down the road? Set a realistically local net and cast it. Scour websites and search engines for contact details. Knocking on doors also works!
- Pick a date. Now you’ve got this far, and have a sense of who you’d like to reach out to, look at calendars. Be aware of your own looming deadlines, as well as any holidays or city events that may create a calendar clash.
- Select a spot. We strongly recommend keeping things simple and hosting at your place of business. If space is tight, see whether another local team may want to co-host, or if there is a local bar or cafe that is happy to create a corner for you to gather.
- Choose your color. The Mix It Up logo was designed by General Creative, and to keep things interesting we’re sharing a myriad of logo color options for you to use for your Mix It Up event. Dig through and select the hues which best suit your team, or use the .AI files to mix your own. As you upload these into invites and social media, you can type over the image to add your location title and add event details. Please tag: @leveldesignsf and @design.bayarea so we can give you virtual hi-fives!
- Get out there. Keep things easy on yourself: draft an email framework that you can lightly edit as you reach out to individual contacts. Remember, folks may not know who you are. Include a line about you, along with some website or social media links, so it is easy for others to do a light background check. Things to include:
- About you/your team, with some links to a website and/or social media.
- The goal around your “Mix It Up”.
- Proposed date and time.
- Request for email contact/s to share a formal invite with, OR provide a link that they can share internally to get RSVPs. We enjoy using Partiful for event invites (not sponsored!)
- Count the pennies. The idea is to have fun together–there does not need to be champagne flowing from faucets. Refreshments are a great way to tempt people after work, but this could simply be some beers and non-alcoholic options. If you know delicious neighborhood restaurants or cafes, ask them whether they’d like to attend, or sponsor, or partially sponsor, the event with some snacks. Ask those who RSVP’d if they have any good ideas about where to source food and drink–in towns like ours you’d be surprised at the connections that exist all around you.
- Set the stage. The big day is here! Prep the space for friendly first impressions. Some examples of things you might want to add to your checklist:
- Drink: Glasses, water, ice, non-alcoholic options, alcoholic options (if serving).
- Eat: Napkins, plates, cutlery… and the food!
- Remember: Bottle openers, sufficient toilet roll, soap in the bathroom, chairs and spots for people to sit down and chat.
- Light PR: Business cards, a slideshow of your team’s work, posters, samples out to look at, etc. This is as much about creating easy talking points, as it is to spread the word about your talents.
- Cleaners: If you have office cleaners, it can be helpful to set-up a clean the day before, and morning after the event.
- Say hello. It can be pretty overwhelming walking into a space where you do not know everyone. As people start to arrive, give them a warm welcome–let them know you invited them, ask where they’re from, get them a drink, show them the snacks… small talk can make a big difference.
- Give a shout-out. Once you have a good gathering, jangle your keys or ping a glass, and let everyone know you’re happy they’re there. Toot your team’s horn by telling folks what it is you do all day, and say thank you to anyone who helped make the event happen. Welcome more conversation, and then let everyone get on with the night.
- Keep in touch. Get those business cards out, or use LinkedIn’s QR scanning platform to get connected. This is about friendships and finding ways to help each other out. Send a short follow-up email, and when you see new and old faces on the street, give them a wave.
- Pass it on. Mix It Up can be adopted by any team, anywhere. We are all busy, but having an excuse to catch-up once or twice a year can make all the difference in building community.
WHO WANTS TO HOST NEXT?
STEP ONE:
- Download and use our template using the button below: YOUR TRIED AND TESTED KIT FOR CREATING COMMUNITY + CREATIVE CONNECTION. It’s that easy. Note: By downloading the template, you agree to our Community Guidelines
STEP TWO:
- Fill out our form/send us a message so we can offer resources, support and promote your mix it up event on our social media and our calendar.
HAVE AN IDEA FOR A DOWNLOADABLE KIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY?
We’re looking for additional resource kits to share with the local community! You can also contact us to partner on an event or project, to submit an event for our calendar, feature your product launches, brand or thought leadership. Have an idea or just want to say hi?
About level + mix it up:
Credits:
This project is a collaboration between level and DesignBayArea. We’d also like to thank the following contributors for the inaugural event:
MIX IT UP BRANDING: General Creative
FOOD: The Morris
PHOTOGRAPHY: Chloe Jackman Photography