Illustration of a person running, showing one leg extended. They wear blue sneakers. The background features colorful, swirling clouds and dynamic lines, conveying motion and energy.
Illustration of a person running, showing one leg extended. They wear blue sneakers. The background features colorful, swirling clouds and dynamic lines, conveying motion and energy.
Illustration of a person running, showing one leg extended. They wear blue sneakers. The background features colorful, swirling clouds and dynamic lines, conveying motion and energy.

Translating Olympic energy into Partner engagement

Translating Olympic energy into Partner engagement

Translating Olympic energy into Partner engagement

Created @

Created @

Created @

Project overview

Designed to energize and motivate Appfire’s lower-tier partners, this campaign brought together strategy, storytelling, and timely creative direction. I led the design and art direction, building a fully on-brand system rooted in the Appfire design language while introducing an Olympics-inspired visual approach and messaging to coincide with the real event happening at the time. This thematic foundation helped create a sense of momentum, ultimately driving meaningful participation across the partner ecosystem. The campaign exceeded Q3 2024 engagement goals by 10% and generated 30+ net new contacts who previously had little to no contact with Appfire.

Role

Lead Designer

Date

2024

Team

Anna P.

Melissa H.

Robin G.

Skills

Art Direction

Illustration

Web Design

Illustration of three gold medals with stars. Central medal has the number 10 and blue ribbons. Orange and purple ribbons on either side, on a black background.
Illustration of three gold medals with stars. Central medal has the number 10 and blue ribbons. Orange and purple ribbons on either side, on a black background.
Illustration of three gold medals with stars. Central medal has the number 10 and blue ribbons. Orange and purple ribbons on either side, on a black background.

Driving engagement through a weekly system

To encourage deeper participation from lower-tier partners, the campaign was designed as a multi-week engagement program built around a simple but motivating premise: complete weekly activities, earn points, and unlock rewards. Each week introduced a new task revealed directly on the landing page, giving partners a reason to return and keeping momentum steady throughout the campaign's run. To guide partners through the experience, supporting touchpoints were created across multiple channels, including targeted Google ads and weekly email announcements that drove traffic back to the landing page. The final deliverables included a centralized landing page to act as the campaign hub, weekly email communications, Google ad sets, and custom swag items tied to point-based prize tiers. Together, these components formed a cohesive system that made the campaign easy to follow and engaging from start to finish.

Collage of web pages showcasing a 'Partner Sprint to Success' event. The design features bright graphics, achievement badges, and prize illustrations, conveying a sense of achievement and collaboration."
Collage of web pages showcasing a 'Partner Sprint to Success' event. The design features bright graphics, achievement badges, and prize illustrations, conveying a sense of achievement and collaboration."
Collage of web pages showcasing a 'Partner Sprint to Success' event. The design features bright graphics, achievement badges, and prize illustrations, conveying a sense of achievement and collaboration."
Event poster for Appfire's Partner Retreat, May 13-15, 2025, Edinburgh, Scotland. Features geometric shapes, tartan pattern, and cityscape images.
Event poster for Appfire's Partner Retreat, May 13-15, 2025, Edinburgh, Scotland. Features geometric shapes, tartan pattern, and cityscape images.
Event poster for Appfire's Partner Retreat, May 13-15, 2025, Edinburgh, Scotland. Features geometric shapes, tartan pattern, and cityscape images.

Balancing consistency with competitive energy

Crafting the visual direction required striking the right balance between Appfire’s established brand system and the competitive energy of an Olympics-inspired campaign. The work needed to feel unmistakably “Appfire,” yet introduce a sense of momentum and friendly rivalry that supported the campaign’s theme. To achieve this, I used medal tiers as a core visual device for communicating point values. Each weekly activity on the landing page was paired with its medal tier, and the corresponding weekly emails mirrored that same imagery in their hero sections. This created a clear, repeatable visual language that helped partners immediately understand the value of each task and reinforced continuity from week to week. Another key challenge was ensuring the entire system worked across both dark and light mode, an essential requirement of the Appfire brand. Every component, from illustrations to typography and hero graphics, was designed with flexibility in mind. Maintaining contrast, clarity, and consistency across both environments added complexity to the design process, but ultimately resulted in a polished, accessible campaign that felt fully aligned with the core Appfire brand.

Set of digital ads promoting Appfire's Partner sprint. Main elements include a gold medal with a blue ribbon, confetti, and a "Join the sprint" button.
Set of digital ads promoting Appfire's Partner sprint. Main elements include a gold medal with a blue ribbon, confetti, and a "Join the sprint" button.
Set of digital ads promoting Appfire's Partner sprint. Main elements include a gold medal with a blue ribbon, confetti, and a "Join the sprint" button.
Set of digital ads for Appfire with the text "Boost your partner power! Engage with Appfire and unlock valuable partner benefits." Includes a gauge symbol and "Start now" button on a blue and black background.
Set of digital ads for Appfire with the text "Boost your partner power! Engage with Appfire and unlock valuable partner benefits." Includes a gauge symbol and "Start now" button on a blue and black background.
Set of digital ads for Appfire with the text "Boost your partner power! Engage with Appfire and unlock valuable partner benefits." Includes a gauge symbol and "Start now" button on a blue and black background.
A black T-shirt displays a hand holding a colorful torch, surrounded by stars. Nearby, a sticker sheet sheet shows various Appfire-themed icons and logos against a blue background.
A black T-shirt displays a hand holding a colorful torch, surrounded by stars. Nearby, a sticker sheet sheet shows various Appfire-themed icons and logos against a blue background.
A black T-shirt displays a hand holding a colorful torch, surrounded by stars. Nearby, a sticker sheet sheet shows various Appfire-themed icons and logos against a blue background.
An illustrated hand holds a glowing torch with multicolored flames against a starry night sky with soft, swirling colorful clouds add a sense of hope and inspiration.
An illustrated hand holds a glowing torch with multicolored flames against a starry night sky with soft, swirling colorful clouds add a sense of hope and inspiration.
An illustrated hand holds a glowing torch with multicolored flames against a starry night sky with soft, swirling colorful clouds add a sense of hope and inspiration.

Delivering on lasting Partner engagement

The results reinforced the strength of the approach. By leading the design and art direction, I shaped a campaign system that not only met expectations but surpassed them, by exceeding Q3 engagement goals by 10% and generating 30+ net new contacts from partners who had never previously engaged with Appfire. What made the outcome even more meaningful was the sustained momentum that followed. Instead of fading after the campaign concluded, engagement from these targeted partners continued into Q4—a critical outcome given that roughly 80% of Appfire’s revenue is partner-driven. This proved that the campaign didn’t just deliver a one-time lift; it helped strengthen ongoing relationships that directly support the long-term health of the business.

The results reinforced the strength of the approach. By leading the design and art direction, I shaped a campaign system that not only met expectations but surpassed them, by exceeding Q3 engagement goals by 10% and generating 30+ net new contacts from partners who had never previously engaged with Appfire. What made the outcome even more meaningful was the sustained momentum that followed. Instead of fading after the campaign concluded, engagement from these targeted partners continued into Q4—a critical outcome given that roughly 80% of Appfire’s revenue is partner-driven. This proved that the campaign didn’t just deliver a one-time lift; it helped strengthen ongoing relationships that directly support the long-term health of the business.

Credits

Hero Illustration and Sticker Design

Anna P.

Sr., Channel Marketing

Melissa H.

Director, Channel Marketing

Robin G.

A collage spells "25" with blue patterns, Scottish landscapes, a bagpiper, an eagle, and sheep. Text reads "Appfire Partner Retreat."
A collage spells "25" with blue patterns, Scottish landscapes, a bagpiper, an eagle, and sheep. Text reads "Appfire Partner Retreat."
A collage spells "25" with blue patterns, Scottish landscapes, a bagpiper, an eagle, and sheep. Text reads "Appfire Partner Retreat."

/ Shaping the experience behind Appfire's premier event

/ Shaping the experience behind Appfire's premier event

/ Shaping the experience behind Appfire's premier event

  • 8

    years of experience

  • 100%

    invested in the details

  • 1

    eye of the tiger

Seeking new role

Back to top

Small details.

Big impact.

© 2025 Tom Hayes. All rights reserved.

Designed and built with ♥

00:00:00
  • 8

    years of experience

  • 100%

    invested in the details

  • 1

    eye of the tiger

Seeking new role

Back to top

Small details.

Big impact.

© 2025 Tom Hayes. All rights reserved.

Designed and built with ♥

00:00:00
  • 8

    years of experience

  • 100%

    invested in the details

  • 1

    eye of the tiger

Seeking new role

Back to top

Small details.

Big impact.

© 2025 Tom Hayes.

Designed and built with ♥

00:00:00