Web Students Motivate Industry Leaders with Online Game
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Web Design & Interactive Media students attending The Art Institutes International Minnesota have created a Web site that allows participants to compete for prizes while promoting their upcoming portfolio show and graduation. The class wanted to develop a Web site that would grab the attention of industry leaders, potential employers, and the Web design and interactive design community.
On the website, http://wedesigninteractivemedia.com/fall09, students showcase a new bar coding system called a QR barcode and, for the purpose of the Web site, allow participants an opportunity to meet each soon-to-be graduate through welcome videos, pictures, portfolio websites, or the students’ LinkedIn accounts. To get the word out, the students created business cards and distributed them to industry professionals at the 2009 Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association (MIMA) Summit. The students also market their Web site by microblogging at twitter.com/@wdim_mpls and sending out direct mailers to all of the interactive agencies in the Twin Cities area.
During the 11-week quarter, the students send out a weekly game and offer prizes donated by the local business community. All game participants are entered into a drawing and will be entered into a grand prize drawing. Winners can collect their prizes at the Web Design & Interactive Media program’s portfolio show and reception on December 17, 2009 at the Living Room, located at the W Hotel in the Foshay Tower (821 Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis). Winners must attend the event in order to receive their prize.
“The students have shown an entrepreneurial spirit with this campaign. They’ve acquired their own resources, contacts, and have promoted their event on their own,” says Anj Kozel, Director of Communications at The Art Institutes International Minnesota. “In this struggling job market, guerrilla marketing will often get the attention of the industry leaders, especially those who may be hiring, as it demonstrates creative problem solving, resource development, and management skills.”