This is the best all around contest we’ve seen in a long time.  From concept to execution this campaign took an integrated marketing approach that required thought, planning and effort from multiple teams, but the results were more than worth the effort.

We were approached by Sneaker Academy in late September 2009 to help create a “Mascot Design Competition” for a non-profit local event called San Diego Science Festival organized by UC San Diego.  SA was looking to build their own solution, but a mutual friend presented our product and it seemed like a better fit for a few reasons.  Here were their concerns:

1. They needed something turn-key
2. They wanted something simple & engaging
3. They liked the on-demand product integration – meaning kids could submit a design, and but their creation on a t-shirt of other products during the contest
4. They had an Oct. 1 launch deadline, so we had about 10 days (NO PROBLEM!)

The concept, as developed by SA, was to create a mascot drawing contest that area students and local designers could participate in to create the official mascot for the festival.  The contest ran for two and a half months and generated the following results:

1. 201 participants
2. 328 submissions
3. 413,000 votes

All submissions were voted on by the San Diego community.  The top submissions were then voted on by a final panel of judges to determine the grand prize winner…

"Albert Globestein"

SA had a professional artist re-draw the design to use in their marketing…

SD Science Festival Mascot

“Artistic Hub’s voting application provided a great platform to support our Marketing and PR strategy for the San Diego Science Festival. We planned a surprise unveiling at the winner’s school which extended Festival exposure and credibility in the community through media coverage and an on-campus presence. Most importantly, the contest was fun for everyone involved.” – Jessica McKimmie, Chancellor of Sneaker Academy Marketing

Just one last note: the “surprise unveiling” involved bringing in the actual mascot from the San Diego Padres MLB team to hand over a $1,000 check to the winning student.  What a great touch!

Thanks to Sneaker Academy for making this campaign a great success!

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