The Spark Design Studio Brand Design Challenge

In 2022 I worked with colleagues from Academic Outreach and Innovation to create the Spark Design Studio Brand Challenge where student teams competed to create the first-ever brand platform for the maker space housed within The Spark building on campus. Across 12 weeks they were mentored by an alumni-owned agency and received mentorship, feedback, and 1:1 attention. The winning team went on to serve as interns for the agency in support of project implementation.

@rebkacooney

Excited to officially kick off The Spark Design Studio Brand Challenge in @MurrowCollege COMSTRAT476 Consumer Insights & Branding. A partnership w/alumni from @Heart & Social #brand #experientiallearning #gocougs

♬ Are You Ready – DJ GETDOWN
@rebkacooney

More from #476Brand and The Spark Design Studio Brand Challenge. Excited to have @Heart & Social join us this week for presentations and coaching! HUGE value for students. #experientiallearning #create #brand #consumerbehavior #MurrowInAction #gocougs @murrowcollege

♬ This Is a Work of Art (Sketchy) – Dubskie
@rebkacooney

Lighting that fire 🔥 = every educator’s dream. #476Brand The Spark Design Studio Brand Challenge week 7. @MurrowCollege @heartandsocialmedia #learnbydoing #experientiallearning #competition #inittowinit #teamwork #gocougs

♬ Light That Fire – Oh The Larceny
@rebkacooney

Great job #476Brand @murrowcollege teams! Amazing brand showcase presentations today! Best-of’s and winners announced next week. So, so proud. 😎Thank you judges from The Spark and @heartandsocialmedia – you make such an impact on these students. #experientiallearning #brand #proudprofessor #gocougs #murrowinaction

♬ Cool Kids (our sped up version) – Echosmith
@rebkacooney

Meet the students of 476. #MurrowInAction #experientiallearning #heartandsocialmefia #branding #brandchallenge

♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral – WZ Beat
@rebkacooney

Look who found their way back home! @heartandsocialmedia doin’ their thing in @murrowcollege #476Brand talkin’ about brand strategy. Here as coaches and mentors for The Spark Design Studio Brand Challenge. Thank you so much Brianna and Christina for your generosity and wisdom! #experientiallearning #brand #consumerbehavior #murrowinaction #gocougs

♬ School of Rock (Teacher’s Pet) – The Original Broadway Cast of School of Rock
@rebkacooney

#476Brand weeks 7-8. Creating and innovating at The Spark Design Studio. Putting ideas to work and fostering new career pathways. #MurrowStudentSuccess #gethired #brand #creativity #experientiallearning #gocougs

♬ Happy – Pharrell Williams
@rebkacooney

Bubbling over with gratitude. Thank you @heartandsocialmedia for everything this semester. Your devotion to @murrowcollege students is incredible! #476Brand #480Advertising #gocougs

♬ original sound – insideamyschumer
@rebkacooney

This is what progress looks like. The Spark Brand Design Challenge week 4! #476Brand #experientiallearning #workhardplayhard #gocougs #MurrowInAction

♬ Work Hard, Play Hard – Phat Flava
@rebkacooney

As it was and all that is to come. Alumni and students reunite for another amazing session with @heartandsocialmedia guest lecturing and mentoring the @murrowcollege #476Brand students on week 6 of The Spark Design Studio Brand Challenge. #experientiallearning #brand #lovewhatyoudo #professorsoftiktok #gocougs

♬ As It Was – Harry Styles
@rebkacooney

Tech ✅ day in 476Brand. Final presentations 11.3.22 at The Spark Atrium! So proud of their work these past 12 weeks. #gocougs #brand #experientiallearning #onstage @murrowcollege @heartandsocialmedia

♬ Let’s Do This – Outskrts

Project Details

  • Five teams were formed to compete in the Brand Design Challenge. Together they are creating a 10-part suite of materials that includes strategy, vision, visual identity, and design mock-ups for the re-imagined Spark Design Studio.
  • Their iterations are under review across several weeks but all teams will present their final recommendations and concepts the first week of Nov. They will be judged by Heart & Social Media + leaders from WSU Academic Outreach and Innovation
  • The “winning” team will not only receive prizes and see their concepts come to fruition within the Design Studio via signage, collateral material, website, swag, etc. – but they will also be given the opportunity to join Heart & Social Media as interns during spring semester to gain first-hand experience in implementation.
  • Heart & Social Media will take the lead in preparing the winning team’s concepts for production – working in partnership with the stakeholders from The Spark building.