001- AM to PM
Step into the emerging world of 13am with our inaugural monthly feature, 'AM to PM,' where I, George Ripton, the visionary behind 13am, take you on an exclusive journey through the month that was, our future aspirations, and an insider's peek into all things 13am.
In this month's edition, we reflect on the unveiling of our 13am Studio site, discuss our amazing lineup, delve into new content routes such as the 13th hour and our upcoming podcast. We also touch on our eagerly anticipated exhibition, as well as sharing insights into our future endeavors with 13am Crowd and 13am Academy.
In the genesis of our brand around August of last year, my vision was crystal clear – to cultivate a creative haven, a collective that pays homage to the often overlooked but immensely gifted creatives globally. Enter phase one: 13am Studio, a diverse platform showcasing the artistry of graphic and motion designers, 2D and 3D illustrators, graffiti, tattoo, and traditional artists, photographers, typographers, and beyond.
Hailing from 39 different nationalities, our collective is not just a fusion of creative disciplines but also a melting pot of cultures. Rigorous efforts were invested in handpicking talent, resulting in 87 remarkable creatives currently featured on our site, with three more artists set to be unveiled this week. Further exciting discussions are also ongoing, promising to elevate our roster well beyond the 100 mark in the coming weeks.
Our social channels made their grand entrance on September 23rd, and have been growing organically since this date. From introducing our artists through the 'Meet the Team' series, to us working through unveiling our collection of almost 300 pieces of art on our socials, post the December 5th website launch, we are steadily building our online presence.
As we stride into 2024, we’re now looking to shift up a gear, a unique series of video content is in the works to conquer Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube shorts. The '13th hour,' our new weekly blog, which delves into the captivating worlds of our artists, exploring their inspirations, dream projects, and creative processes was recently launched, (read the first five features here). And our new podcast on the horizon too, a strategic move to further diversify our content streams and tap into longer-form creative. This venture is pivotal in growing our reach and audience. Having already secured a studio location, we are currently in discussions with potential hosts, as we gear up to kickstart this exciting journey in the coming months.
Beyond the digital realm, we've been making waves in the UAE, from Dubai Design District, a space where the world of design, art and fashion co-exist, playing home to the biggest global, regional and local brands within these industries, to the Quoz Arts Fest, a diverse and dynamic weekend of more than 200 activations, bringing together more than 50 creative concepts from the region. Up next, we're gearing up for the Sikka Art & Design Festival, alongside Art Dubai in a few weeks time. Leading us seamlessly into plans for our inaugural 13am exhibition. Discussions with Dubai galleries are underway, setting the stage for yet another brand milestone in the near future.
But 13am isn't just about art; we're a movement with a mission. Plans are afoot for the next two crucial stages in the brand’s development. These consist of a pioneering creative agency built around a global freelance network (the 13am Crowd). Here, we’ll be working with some of the world’s leading brands and using our diverse group of creatives to collaborate on industry-leading responses to a variety of projects and briefs.
Furthermore, there will be the introduction of our 13am Academy, once again utilizing our one-of-a-kind network to offer pioneering courses, workshops, and online tutorship within the creative fields. The aim is to create a groundbreaking mix of creatives from various cultural backgrounds, giving everyone involved further opportunities and different platforms and markets to showcase their talent and, in turn, earn extra revenue. This is the essence of what makes the 13am collective truly unique.
George Ripton - 13am Founder