Background
As Creative Marketing Lead for NIU Adobe Club, I'm responsible for driving student attendance to workshops that teach creative software skills. When I joined, the club was small and inconsistent. My goal was to build awareness, create a recognizable brand identity, and prove that design workshops could genuinely help students prepare for career fairs and job searches.
Core problem
Students didn't know Adobe Club existed, and those who did weren't sure why they should attend. We needed to:
Build brand recognition on campus
Communicate clear value (not just "learn Photoshop")
Drive consistent attendance across multiple events
Position the club as a career asset, not just a hobby
I designed all event marketing materials using Adobe Express, creating a cohesive visual system that's bold, approachable, and impossible to ignore. Each flyer highlights tangible outcomes—like "Build Your Own Portfolio" or "Design Custom Stickers"—not just vague workshop descriptions.
Event series designed:
Build Your Own Portfolio Workshop: Taught students to craft visual narratives using Adobe Express, with the 5 best portfolios earning $100
Designing Custom Stickers: Hands-on workshop where students walked out with physical, custom-made stickers
Post Career Fair Follow-Up Strategies: Partnered with SHRM to teach recruiter follow-up best practices and professional email signature design
Results and Impact
40+ students attended our most recent event, a significant increase from previous semesters. The workshops consistently deliver on their promises—students leave with portfolios, custom stickers, and job-ready email signatures they can use immediately.
Campus visibility: I pitched Adobe Club to a class of over 100 students, explaining how creative skills differentiate candidates at career fairs. The response validated that students want these skills—they just needed someone to show them the path.
What's next: I'm working to grow the club even further and applying to become an Adobe Student Ambassador. The goal is to make Adobe Club a must-attend resource for any NIU student serious about standing out in the job market.
What I learned: Marketing a student org isn't about fancy design—it's about showing people exactly what they'll walk away with. "Learn Photoshop" doesn't motivate anyone. "Build a portfolio that helps you get hired" does.