在白手起家之后, Plymouth Creative is already busy juggling a growing roster of diverse clients. The agency is an outgrowth of a new Plymouth 市场营销 and Design Agency course and is staffed by students, 由经验丰富的教师指导, and is dedicated to providing exceptional service at no cost.
“我爱这门课!22岁的克里斯蒂娜·史蒂文斯说, an interdisciplinary studies major who is concentrating on both graphic design and marketing. “It really speaks to my skills and is helping me develop them.”
Stevens and other upper-level students are practicing what they have learned through prior coursework. Interdisciplinary agency teams are set up to work with community businesses and nonprofits on a full range of potential assignments, 包括制作营销材料, 运用社交媒体, 网站创建与拓展, 在线广告和电子邮件活动, 摄像, 公共关系和活动策划, 市场调研.
Plymouth 市场营销 and Design Agency’s three faculty members model the synergy produced by combining different strengths and talents for students who similarly hail from different disciplines. Professor Pamela Anneser’s professional graphic design repertoire is complemented by that of business faculty members Denise Hutchins and George Pettinico, whose respective areas of industry expertise include organizational and strategic communications, 活动策划, 以及数字营销和消费者行为, 等.
“这是非常先进的技术, not only to bring together such an interdisciplinary group of students and professors but to run an agency that handles this wide a swath of purposes,佩蒂尼科说. “Having all three of these great professors critique my work is really great,” adds Stevens.
The course can be taken for two semesters in order to ensure project continuity. Stevens is among the returning students who are anticipated to play leadership roles this spring.
Waterville Valley Resort is one of two local ski areas that are now agency clients. “They are excited to work with us to come up with marketing ideas to better connect with college students in general,佩蒂尼科说. 社交媒体影响者战略正在制定中. The plan is to identify young ski and snowboard enthusiasts who have good online profiles and followings, then to equip them with GoPro cameras to capture high-quality action. The influencers will receive free half-day passes in exchange for posting their content.
The agency is also working with Gunstock Mountain Resort on several projects, including an ambitious “Fire and Ice” event to tout the slope’s night skiing. 激光表演, 火炬游行, 烟火, and fire pits for marshmallow toasting are some of the “fire” options under consideration, and ice sculptures and snowman contests may be among featured “ice” activities. However it shakes out, it’ll be a fun and highly promotable party.
“It’s been a great experience working with students in PSU’s 市场营销 and Design Agency class,克里斯汀·洛奇说, Gunstock的销售和营销总监. “学生们对在市场营销领域工作感到兴奋, and they have created top-notch marketing content for us to use.”
With its focus on project-based work that extends beyond the walls of the classroom, interdisciplinarity that involves students from different majors, 使用低成本或免费的课程材料, the course fits neatly within the University’s Cluster Learning model. Students also get real-time, real-world feedback on their work. “They will soon be seeing the social media messages they created on Gunstock’s sites,佩蒂尼科说. “It’s really motivating for students to see the fruits of their labors become reality.”
“The course exemplifies Cluster Learning,” confirms Stevens. “I have some classmates who have never taken a graphic design course and others who have never taken marketing, and they’re learning to work with those with much different skill sets. “
其他项目包括 设计汽车包装 for “vehicle to grid” cars that will eventually enable PSU to upload electricity to the New Hampshire Electric Co-op (NHEC). 学生们正在识别供应商并确保报价, 并将很快展示他们的发现和概念. Another involves re搜索 for the University’s 通信 and 市场营销 Office. Plymouth Creative will be proposing social media refinements based on focus group takeaways gleaned from fellow students.
“We wanted to create a real-world experience to prepare students for their careers,佩蒂尼科说. “By creating this agency that offers a lot of services to real clients with real deadlines, 学生们对自己的职业生涯有了一定的认识.”
Stevens is among the students taking the course again next semester and is excited to keep working on the draft Plymouth Create website. “The best thing for a senior like me to do is actually work, producing pieces they can show clients after they graduate.” She and her classmates will also have a portfolio of course-specific work to introduce as they begin their careers.