Navigating Industry Disruption at MPI

TL;DR

When the pandemic hit, the largest association for Meeting and Event Professionals (MPI) faced unprecedented disruption. Unable to meet face-to-face, event professionals were furloughed, and the industry grappled with adapting to new and constantly evolving restrictions. Amidst this chaos, the MPI Women's Advisory Board sought to understand their community’s experiences and find ways to support them. Turning to Piccles, they created an interactive blog post that allowed members to express their feelings through art, fostering solidarity and engagement.

The Challenge

The pandemic severely impacted the event industry, leading to furloughs and a dramatic shift away from in-person gatherings. For MPI, maintaining member engagement became a critical concern. The Women's Advisory Board recognized the need to connect with their community on a deeper level to better serve them during these challenging times.

The Piccles Activation

Seeking an innovative solution, the Women's Advisory Board collaborated with Piccles to design an interactive blog post. This post invited members to draw their feelings in response to a series of prompts, providing a creative outlet for expression and connection.

Engaging Through Creativity

Participants were encouraged to draw how they were feeling about the current state of the industry and their personal experiences. This interactive approach not only engaged members but also allowed them to share their emotions in a unique and visually compelling way.

Capturing and Sharing Experiences

The response was overwhelming, with over 200 responses captured. These images were transformed into countless visual Mad-Libs and a powerful video that highlighted the collective experiences of industry members. The visual representations helped convey the solidarity and shared struggles within the community.

The Impact

The Piccles activation provided MPI members with a sense of connection and understanding during a tumultuous time. The interactive blog post and resulting video allowed members to see that they were not alone in their struggles, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

Conclusion

The collaboration between MPI and Piccles demonstrated the power of creativity and interactive tools in maintaining member engagement during a crisis. By giving members a platform to express their feelings visually, MPI was able to connect with their community in a meaningful way, highlighting the importance of solidarity and shared experiences. This showcases how innovative solutions like Piccles can help the events industry navigate disruption and maintain strong member connections.