Overview
The Hippo’s Best Of special issue announces the winners of the publication’s annual February Best Of survey. These local “best of” surveys are an important part of community life, celebrating local culture and supporting the local economy. It was a privilege to contribute to this issue each year during my time at the Hippo.
Objectives
- Developed the annual Best Of theme and refreshed marketing collateral with distinctive creative concepts and branding.
- Applied the theme across all Best Of marketing materials to ensure a cohesive campaign.
- Introduced new promotional strategies based on market trends to increase survey participation and engagement.
- Created and updated client advertisements highlighting award winners and recognitions.
- Designed the editorial layout of the Best Of issue, using infographics and photography to showcase key results and insights.
Approach
Each year, I began by reviewing previous Best Of themes and color palettes. The goal was to create something that felt connected to past campaigns without repeating them. I looked to current trends, internet culture, and unexpected ideas for concepts that would capture readers’ attention.
Once a theme was selected, I applied it across existing marketing collateral, using fresh creative to attract attention while reinforcing the familiar Best Of brand and survey experience.
Working with the sales team, I developed ad campaigns for new and returning winners, ensuring each advertiser maintained a distinct voice within a crowded special issue.
The final step was designing the cover and editorial layout, translating the annual theme into an engaging print experience. Infographics helped highlight key statistics and winners while adding levity to a survey many readers took seriously.
Client
The Hippo Press
Role
- Graphic Design
- Copywriter
Software & Platforms
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- G Suite
- Issuu
- PlaceIt
Deliverables
- Annual campaign theme development
- Logo, badge, and website graphic updates
- Print marketing materials, including posters, flyers, certificates, and banners
- Social media campaign design and promotion Best Of cover design and editorial layout
- Infographic design and data visualization
Best Of 2023
Best Of 2023 embraced a bright neon aesthetic with bold, high-contrast visuals. My involvement was more limited that year as I transitioned to other projects, but the campaign reflected my growing understanding of contemporary social media marketing. During this period, I also began experimenting with animated social media content, using tools like Placeit to create more dynamic and engaging promotional assets.
Buttons & Badges
Print Ads
Posters & Signs
Social Media: Campaign
Best Of 2022
Best Of 2022 celebrated the three major cities of Southern New Hampshire—Concord, Manchester, and Nashua—highlighting the restaurants, attractions, and local businesses that make them destinations for date nights, family outings, and everyday adventures. The campaign combined vibrant city-focused visuals with an online marketing strategy that leaned into edgy, timely humor to engage audiences across social media.
Buttons & Badges
Print Ads
Posters
Social Media: Campaign
Social Media: Countdown
Best Of 2021
Best Of 2021 was designed around the idea of a post-pandemic relaunch, encouraging readers to reconnect with local businesses and community favorites. Of the campaigns I worked on, it was the least successful in terms of engagement. It remains difficult to determine whether the theme and visual direction failed to resonate with audiences or whether broader challenges—such as reduced community reach and lingering pandemic disruptions—limited the campaign’s visibility and impact.
Buttons & Badges
Social Media
Print Ads
Sell Sheets
Posters
Web Graphics
Best Of 2020
Best Of 2020 was the first year I led the project from concept to completion. After several years of more subdued visual themes, I wanted to push the limits of color on newsprint by using 100% cyan, magenta, and yellow to create a vibrant neon-inspired aesthetic. The bright palette helped the campaign stand out and gave it a more energetic feel. In hindsight, I would have chosen a bolder typeface and a more flexible theme, but overall the campaign was successful and established a strong foundation for future Best Of projects.
Infographics
Badges
Sell Sheets
Posters
Print Ads
Social Media
Web Graphics
Similiar Projects
Different Projects
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