Exercise 12: Social Media

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Objective:

You will design two versions of a social media post for a brand or cause of your choice—one static and one animated—using Adobe Express. The goal is to create visually engaging posts that can be used as part of a social media campaign. The static post will focus on layout, typography, and imagery, while the animated post will bring elements to life through motion. This exercise will help you understand how both static and animated content play important roles in social media marketing, and how motion can enhance engagement.

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Instructions:

1. Choose a Brand or Cause:

   • Select a brand or cause to focus on for this campaign. It can be an existing company, a nonprofit, or even a personal project. Consider the tone, style, and visual identity already associated with this brand or cause.

   • Think about the message you want to convey. Are you promoting a product, event, or raising awareness for a social issue? What’s the main goal of the campaign?

2. Plan the Concept of Your Campaign:

   • Develop a clear message or theme for your social media post. What do you want the audience to feel or do when they see your post? Examples could include a product promotion, a charity event announcement, or a lifestyle-related post that reflects the values of the brand.

   • Decide how you’ll break this message into two different visual formats: one static image and one animated post. The core message should remain consistent, but the format will change how it’s delivered.

3. Design the Static Post:

   • Using Adobe Express, design a static social media post that communicates your message. Focus on:

     • Layout: How you arrange text and imagery to catch attention quickly and communicate your message clearly.

     • Typography: Choose fonts that fit the tone of the campaign—whether bold and striking or subtle and elegant.

     • Imagery: Use photos, illustrations, or icons that align with the message and reflect the brand’s identity. Think about how to make the visuals eye-catching and engaging.

     • Call-to-Action (CTA): Make sure your post includes a clear call-to-action. Examples might include "Shop Now," "Learn More," or "Join Us Today."

4. Animate Your Post:

   • Create a second version of the post that adds animation using Adobe Express’s motion tools. You can animate text, images, or other graphic elements to bring the design to life.

   • Think about how motion can enhance your message:

     • Text Animations: You might have the headline or CTA slide into view, fade in, or pulse for emphasis.

     • Image Motion: Consider having the product or key image zoom in, rotate, or subtly move to capture attention.

     • Timing: Ensure the animation enhances the post without overwhelming it—short, simple animations tend to work best on social media.

   • The animated post should maintain visual consistency with the static post but use motion to grab attention in a different way.

5. Create the Final Designs:

   • Ensure both your static and animated versions feel like part of the same campaign—using the same color schemes, typography, and overall visual identity.

   • Your static post should be strong on its own, and your animated post should add another layer of engagement, showing how the message can be enhanced with motion.

6. Present Your Campaign:

   • Submit both the static and animated posts to Canvas, and complete a reflection on the following:

     • Concept and Messaging: Describe the concept behind your campaign and how you translated that into visual design.

     • Static Design Choices: Explain your decisions around layout, colors, typography, and imagery in the static version.

     • Use of Animation: Reflect on how motion was used to enhance the message in the animated version and why you chose certain animations.

     • Engagement Strategy: Discuss how you think the animated post will increase engagement compared to the static version.

 

Tools/Materials:

• Adobe Express: Use its static design and motion tools to create both versions of your post.

• Imagery, colors, and typography that reflect the brand or cause.

• Keep the visual identity of both posts consistent while leveraging the strengths of both static and animated design.

 

For Submission:

• Upload your Adobe Express share links (or your .jpg and .mp4 files) for both the static and animated versions of your social media post to Canvas.

• Ensure your designs reflect a cohesive campaign that effectively communicates your message in both formats, showing how motion can enhance the visual impact.