Celebrating 50 Years of
Austin City Limits

2024 commemorates a half-century of musical history as Austin City Limits (ACL) marks its 50th year. As the longest-running music television program, ACL has not only captured the essence of live music but has become an institution in itself, shaping the cultural landscape of music television. To honor this milestone, Austin PBS, launched a traveling activation that encapsulates the spirit of ACL's inception and evolution over the years.

At the heart of the celebration is the homage to the original stage where it all began, with Willie Nelson's iconic performance. The traveling activation features a modular trailer showcasing vintage TVs playing pivotal moments from ACL's history. Jonathon Stevison, Merchandising Director, Austin PBS, described it as an "IG moment with educational activation surrounding," bridging the gap between nostalgia and contemporary engagement.

The goal of the activation was to connect ACL's rich heritage with modern-day viewers, offering a journey through its illustrious past to the vibrant present. Rather than merely stamping logos on merchandise, our team focused on creating a unique, private-label collection that embodies the essence of ACL. Our team spent days ideaing and drawing inspiration from the nostalgia of the 90’s during multiple creative brainstorm sessions. We drew inspiration from the vintage TV stack and infusing elements of 90’s grunge and rock music, our design team aimed to strike a balance between classic allure and contemporary flair.