Award-Winning Innovation with a Track Record of Impact
Over the past decade, What Works Studio has been recognized as a leader in innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative excellence. From launching citywide movements to transforming brand ecosystems, our work has consistently earned the attention of press, peers, and the communities we serve.
Innovation Awards
The Daily Record
Innovator of the Year Award, 2016
“Winners were selected based on their innovation’s originality, power, challenge, value and the quality of letters of reference. This award was for founding Light City Baltimore Innovation Festival.”
Entrepreneurial Honors
The Baltimore Sun
25 Women to Watch Award, 2016
The Baltimore Sun's "Women to Watch" awards recognize accomplished and influential women in the Baltimore area. Each year, the Sun selects individuals who demonstrate leadership, impact, and success across various fields, representing the diversity of the region.
Media + Community Recognition
Baltimore’s Beta City Awards
Silo Breaker Award, 2016
“The Silo Breaker award is given to a member of the Betamore community that actively works to break down silos between people and institutions in Baltimore. This year the Silo Breaker award was given to the team behind Light City Baltimore. Light City demonstrates efforts that are a critical component of what Betamore seeks to do — illuminate the collective wisdom and experience of our community for the purpose of entrepreneurship.”
Baltimore Magazine
Best of Baltimore Award Winner, 2016
Light City wins “Best Category Buster” Award
“This interactive art and innovation festival (the first of its kind in the U.S.) lined the harbor in art installations and performances – and people came by the [hundreds of] thousands.”
Expertise.com
Best Social Media Marketing Agency in Baltimore, 2020 and 2022
“What Works Studio has been identified and published in our article of the Best Social Media Marketing Agencies in Baltimore.”
Smart CEO Magazine
Brava Award, 2016
The Smart CEO Brava Awards celebrate women business leaders who combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community. These female CEOs have become exemplary leaders in their companies and the community.
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore
2016 Downtown Baltimore Award, 2016
Awarded to a select group whose work has impacted the community in a considerable way.
“Brooke Hall and Justin Allen, Founders of Light City: This award is much-deserved recognition of your creation of Light City Baltimore – and its tremendous success.”
Best Of Baltimore Awards
Baltimore Magazine
Best of Baltimore Award Winner, 2013
What Weekly Magazine wins "Best 'Zine Award.
"Documenting the city's renaissance, What Weekly's collective of artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and writers produce media 'dedicated to telling the positive stories about Baltimore.' The mission: 'to create positive social change by amplifying the good stuff.' What we really like about What Weekly are the killer images and photography."
Baltimore Business Journal
40 Under 40 Honorees, 2016
“For Allen and Hall, Light City was primarily meant to be an innovation center. They wanted the festival to drive innovation and economy in the city. And it did. Light City brought over 400,000 attendees and contributed $33.8 million to the local economy.”
Baltimore Innovation Awards
The Creative Group of the Year award was presented during Baltimore Innovation Week, recognizing the group's creative contributions to the city's innovation.
Mayor's Certificate of Recognition
City of Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
"On behalf of the citizens of Baltimore, I am pleased to present this certificate to What Works Studio in recognition of your contribution to our local economy. Your continued success is essential to providing jobs, promoting economic growth, diversifying our economy, and reaching the vision of growing Baltimore City by 10,000 families. As Mayor, I was pleased to feature What Works Studio as a simple way of saying thank you for your contribution to Baltimore's economy."
Baltimore Magazine
Best of Baltimore Award Winner, 2012
What Weekly Magazine wins "Best New Magazine”
"The online mag's tagline is 'Documenting the Baltimore renaissance,' and few outlets do it as well as What Weekly, which launched last year. Covering broad stretches of the city's arts and cultural scenes, from the Transmodern Festival to the recent Scapescape, its dispatches are filled with lush photos and frontline accounts from events that are often overlooked by mainstream media. While many of us are quietly proud of Baltimore's reputation as a home for experimental artists and musicians, What Weekly is giving them a broader voice."
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