It’s 2024, your student project does not speak for itself. This is your guide to give your work the spotlight it deserves on social media [with a free framework].
Let's talk about that killer project you've been pouring your creativity into. Seriously, it's a gem in your portfolio. But here’s the thing: if you're not sharing it on social media, it's like having a party and not sending out invites. Trust me, you don't want your masterpiece gathering dust in the endless inbox of a design chief. You want to differentiate from your peers right?
Yifei Li - Designer Featured on Automotive Design Planet
↳ Do check This Vision Next EV Concept by Yifei Li
Now, I know what you're thinking. "But, I don't have a massive following or industry connections!’’ Forget about vanity metrics, let’s focus on impact first, and growth will follow. And hey, I know the industry and those pesky NDAs. But while you still have the freedom to share your work, let's make the most of it. Because once you're knee-deep in the corporate world, those portfolio crafting days will probably become a distant memory. But also don’t let it collect rust in the garage. Ah, the sweet graduate life… I’d pay to go back. No. No, I wouldn’t.
I'm here to help you optimize your design project for social sharing to ensure it gets the visibility it deserves. Let’s start with some core vocabulary and why it matters.
Storytelling
Your ability to extract anecdotes from your process is the key to connecting to people. People tend to stop scrolling to read stories rather than user manuals. Use it to your advantage by sharing more of your projects online on your social media, Behance and media publications like Automotive Design Planet
Student Section of Automotive Design Planet
Consistency
How often you show up for your community is essential. Being consistent helps build a loyal community and wakes up the algorithm. When you’re not active it’s harder to build momentum. This applies when posting AND when engaging with others.
Engagement
Back to basics - social media is meant to be just that - social. Engage with other creators, make friends, and ask for feedback. This is the beauty of networking. Have fun & learn consistently. Treat them like you’d treat a dear friend. We don’t leave friends hanging.
Distribution
Distribution is what amplifies your message. It is all about splitting your projects into bite-size portions, to make them easier to digest. This is crucial in a world where the average user spends 3-7 seconds reading a post. That's just facts.
Your work deserves more than a single post
Now that you have these essential tools, allow me to walk you through one of the most common mistakes that are stopping you from being consistent and making the most out of your projects: lack of distribution. Picture this: I'm sitting at my desk, doing marketing things. Suddenly, one of my design buddies comes up to me for content advice. ‘‘I’ve already published my project, what else can I post?’’ It's a common thing. And every time, it breaks my heart.
Instagram Screenshot of an Italian Designer Fabio Bilotta
↳ You should also check the Pininfarina Formula Concept by Fabio Bilotta
Because you’ve got talent for days. You put all your energy into top-notch projects, fine-tuning every detail. But when it's time to showcase your work online, it's all crammed into a single post. Now —I love a good gamble. But would you walk into a casino and put all your chips in a single hand? I don't think so.
Five questions: your framework to unlock social stories.
Use these to break down your project into small pieces of content that you can easily distribute on socials. These are the core questions that will help you extract narrative to feed your content calendar:
1. What was your inspiration and approach for the project?
2. What problem does your design solve for the target audience?
3. What are the key design features and characteristics that set your project apart? UX, Form & Function, aesthetics… all of that.
4. Can you share any stories about challenges faced during the design process and how you overcame them?
5. How do you envision the future of your project and what impact do you hope to achieve?
Now you should have the full picture of it. Make sure you mix and match different types of projects! And don’t forget to pair each topic with relevant eye-catching visuals, I’ll trust you on that.
You’re doing great!
Keep pushing.