Back in June, Stepney Studios opened its doors to some seriously smart humans. As part of launching our new Content Room and Master Edit Suite, we wanted to welcome people into the space in a way that felt interactive, interesting and, most importantly, fun.
We reached out to Hannah from HPC and from there, the HUMAN FIRST event was born. Inspired by Sam Davies’ podcast Humans Aren’t Robots, Hannah thought it made perfect sense to have Sam host a live conversation asking the big question… How do you stay authentic in the age of AI?
Sam, Hannah and the Stepney team pulled together a panel of speakers from totally different industries to make sure the conversation wasn’t stuck in one lane. We landed on three brilliant minds — Dan Levy, Jade Akamarre (Torres) and Daisy Buckland. Dan brought the business and innovation lens, Jade gave us deep creative and cultural insight, and Daisy brought the PR perspective. If nothing else, we knew they’d all be up for a good chat.
We also called on our neighbours at Bibo Bar & Eatery to handle the catering, while Alpha Box & Dice and Pirate Life took care of the drinks. Legends.
Then came the hard part… turning the space into an event venue. We dressed the walls with a mix of behind-the-scenes photos and artwork, including two stunning pieces from Jade’s own gallery — one painted by Jade and another by Charmaine Pwerle.
Cooper worked some magic in the kitchen too, adding new shelves and lighting to pull everything together.
The night was a success. We had a surprise guest, Cressida O’Hanlon MP, to open the event and of course Sam Davies leading the panel and the conversation with the crowd.
“Stepney Studios has evolved into a vibrant and dynamic creative hub for our community. It’s a purpose-built space where people can share stories, educate and offer professional insight. A cinematic, sensory space that makes the creative process more enjoyable and memorable.”
— Cressida O’Hanlon MP
The word we kept hearing all night? Intimate. The vibe made it easy for everyone to feel comfortable enough to join in the discussion, which was exactly what we’d hoped for.
We’re already thinking about the next one so keep an eye out for more info and a save-the-date.
Browse the gallery from the night
