5 Reasons You Should Start Creating Mock Campaigns
Most recently, I created a mock campaign for Howard University x Jordan Brand who announced a 20 year partnership in August. As a student at Howard University and avid Jordan Brand lover, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to design branded digital stickers for Instagram users as a way to encourage brand awareness and engagement for the partnership.
Increases Visibility
Garnering visibility on social media is not always easy. Especially for artists, sometimes just sharing a piece of artwork doesn’t do the trick for people. When people utilize social media however, there is always something that prompts them to interact with a post whether it be liking, commenting, sharing or saving it. A lot of times, they’re promoted to interact because the post in somehow, relates to their interest. By designing mock campaigns, you’re able to broaden your audience and even solidify the connection with your present audience by establishing a shared interest. Creating quality content is bound to gravitate the right people. Also, always remember that one “right” person to see your work for your life to completely change!
Hones Problem Solving Skills
If you’re someone who wants to collaborate with brands, its important to showcase why brands should work with you in the first place. It’s one thing to design something just because it looks cool but it’s another to design something cool with a purpose. When designing mock collaborations and/or campaigns, you’re able to approach design as a way to problem solve. When brainstorming, I always start by asking myself “What are needs within the brands community?” or “What gaps need to be bridged?”. By assessing these questions, you can ensure that you’re creating a design that is relevant to the brands needs and further, displaying how your design can be an asset to their community. Essentially, you want to help brands understand why they should work with you!
Showcases Versatility of Skills
If you’re a multi-disciplinary artist like me or have even been hoping to diversify your artistic skills, creating mock collaborations and campaigns are a great way to display the your capabilities. For example, if you’re someone who is interested in styling, photography and digital design, creating a mock campaign that involves all of these skills allows you to showcase your skillset in a centralized way. The same goes for those with various design styles. Providing tangible examples assist brands in seeing how your skillset can specifically fit within their vision.
Showcases Versatility of Interests
If you’re commonly known in one sector of design, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase all of your many interests. For example, thus far in my career, I’ve partnered with several brands in the sports and entertainment field including Nike, Kyrie 11, ESPN, the NBA and the New York Knicks. According to my track record, it’s probable that my audience would assume my field of interest is most likely sports. Wrong. In the spirit of transparency, I actually don’t know that much about sports (but I’ve grown largely to appreciate sports culture). I am also an immense lover of fashion/style, toys, music, and all things design.
In order to relay my interests to my audience, creating mock campaigns for a brand like Lego, who is outside the scope of my normal clientele, illustrates the versatility of my interests. This is a great way to remove yourself from the box that others have subconsciously placed you in. People are oftentimes unaware that you’re interested in something until you tell them. Use the opportunity to do so in a creative way!
Advertises For Free
The upside about posting on social media is that you are able to advertise your services! Any time you post your work, you are concurrently advertising the services and skillsets you provide as an artist. The best part is that it’s at absolutely no monetary cost to you to gain that visibility and your next potential client (unless you choose to boost your post). Use this to your advantage!