Handsome Ink Wins a 'Best Event' award at ILEA Austin Awards
Earlier this week, Handsome Ink was honored with two major nominations at the ILEA Austin Annual Gala and ASE Awards: Best Activation and Best Event.
Managed by the International Live Events Association, this prestigious gala celebrates the people, creativity, and collaboration that define Austin’s event and hospitality industry, honoring the work, talent, and relationships that make the community so dynamic. We were thrilled to hear that we were nominated for two categories: Best Activation and Best Event.
What is ILEA?
In case you were wondering, ILEA is “the principal community representing creative event professionals, globally.” They have 40+ chapters worldwide, and lucky for us, the sister chapter in Austin is teeming with talented professionals. This year’s gala theme was Shadows in Silk, inviting guests “into a space where elegance met edge,” with dark hues, moody lighting and hard edges.
Why Live Calligraphy & Hot Foiling Are Trending for Austin Corporate Brand Activations
If you’re an event planner you already know that a custom, tangible experience takes a gathering to the next level. Live calligraphy activations are having a major moment because they bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern experiential marketing.
And while we didn't take home the trophy for Best Activation (huge congratulations to our peers at Austin Scavenger Hunt!), being nominated alongside local peers proved that on-site personalization is one of the most sought-after guest experiences for high-end events today.
Behind the Win: 'Best Event' at ILEA Day of Education
And while we didn’t collect a win for Best Activation, we are thrilled to announce that Handsome Ink officially brought home an award for Best Event of the Year!
Full winning vendor line-up. Thanks to our friend Amanda for capturing this candid!
We won this thanks to our brilliant friendor and planner, Nikki Hsueh from Nikki Hsueh Events, who brought together an incredible team of local vendors to execute Transform: ILEA’s Day of Education in January. This full-day conference featured dynamic educational sessions, corporate networking, and an upscale evening reception. And calligraphy was a part of that.
Scalable Experiential Gifting in the Aura Lounge
Stationed in the VIP Aura Lounge, Handsome Ink provided our signature live hot foiling services, personalizing custom leather keychains in real-time for conference attendees.
P.S. — if you haven’t heard about hot foiling yet, peep this page to learn all about it and how to add a touch of gold to your next event. ✨
Bringing home our first official award is an exciting milestone, but our favorite takeaway was strengthening our deep network of elite Central Texas event professionals. Plus, if you’re currently designing an upcoming celebration and need vendor recommendations, we would love to connect you with the best in the business. Check out this ongoing updated page of our favorite local vendors.
And if you’re looking for calligraphy-specific services, visit our Contact Page on his award-winning studio (see what we did there 😉) can help you on your event planning journey. And if you’re a local planner looking to connect — coffee’s on us! ☕