ART DIRECTOR.DESIGNER.PHOTOGRAPHER
This annual Core Group Christmas contest promotion was sent out to clients and potential clients. The contest changed every year but was always a fun and playful holiday theme. The object of the contest was for the participants to guess which celebrity was retouched into the image and if they guessed correctly they would receive a prize. The contest was a collaborative effort of the Core Group team, art directors, management, retouchers, and illustrators. The contest was sent out as an email blast close to the holidays, it consisted of multiple parts; a teaser, the contest challenge, a reminder, clues, details, rules, the contest webpage, the contest answers, the winners notification, and a holiday card with the prizes. This promotion gained notoriety over the years with clients and always had a great response from participants. Three of the five contests are shown below.
xmas albums contest
This Christmas contest was created as a holiday promotion for the Core Group, a boutique art studio specializing in retouching, illustration and cgi. The contest was a collaborative effort of the entire Core Group creative team, all the artists took part in altering various retro Christmas albums to include modern singers. This promo was engaging and received a great response from contest participants.
...guess who?
The albums above were retouched to replace the original artist with a modern singer. The object of the contest was for the participants to guess which celebrity was retouched into the image and if they guessed correctly they would receive a prize. The contest was sent out as an email blast close to the holidays, it consisted of multiple parts; a teaser, the contest challenge, a reminder, clues, details, rules, the contest webpage, the answers, the winners notification, and finally a holiday card with the prize for the winners.
Santa Baby...
rockin around
The Christmas Album Contest was created in 2019 as a holiday promotion and it received a great response from the participants.
Chris Grant, Sherry Havercamp, Rob Chope, and Mike Tiderington
COLLABORATION:
Responsible for concept creation, project management, distribution of work, finding stock and source imagery, art direction, retouching select imagery, designing layouts for the various contest portions, including the teaser, challenge, clues, answers, winner notification. As well as copy collaboration and editing, and final distribution to participants.
Original - Burl Ives
Closing Message
This section provides a cheerful holiday closing statement, and reiterates the three easy steps of the contest goals and how to win. This section also provides details about the bonus and the official contest rules.
Album #7 - Ariana Grande
Retouched by Natalie Jean
Album Contest - Clues & Bonus
This was the "Clues & Bonus" portion of the Christmas Album contest. There were two more layouts, one with the original contest challenge, and another with the answers.
Banner Art
This was created as the top banner for the contest promotion. It included a splice of Gwen Stefani & Judy Garland, later included in the contest. Banner illustration put together by Natalie Jean
Contest Steps
These basic steps were spelled out in an easy bulleted list for the recipient to immediately understand the contest goals and how to win.
Opening Copy
This simple copy summarized the contest promo. Copy collaboration by Natalie Jean & Chris Grant.
Album #1 - Rhianna
Retouched by Sherry Havercamp
Original - Eartha Kit
Album #3 - Justin Timberlake
Retouched by Rob Chope
Original - Frank Sinatra
Album #4 - Adam Lambert
Retouched by Mike Tiderington
Album #6 - Eminem
Retouched by Mike Tiderington
Original - Frank Sinatra
Album #8 - Gwen Stefani
Retouched by Sherry Havercamp
Original - Judy Garland
Album #9 - Jay Z & Beyonce
Retouched by Rob Chope
Original - The Carpenters
Album #10 - Lizzo
Retouched by Rob Chope
Original - Bing Crosby
Album #11 - Usher
Retouched by Sherry Havercamp
Original - Nat King Cole
Album #12 - Bruno Mars
Retouched by Mike Tiderington
Original - Elvis
Album #2 - John Legend
Retouched by Natalie Jean
Original - Bing Crosby
Album #5 - Adele
Retouched by Natalie Jean
Original - Brenda Lee
Original - Mariah Carey
Banner GIF
This eye-catching gif was the top banner art for the contest promo and was sent out via email on the contest challenge. Created by Natalie Jean.
Teaser
The teaser was created to be sent out participants prior to the contest. Created by Natalie Jean.
Winners Notification
The winner announcement was sent out after the contest was completed to winning participants.
Reminder
The reminder was sent out prior to the contest deadline. When the button was clicked it would take the view to the contest webpage with the clues, bonus, and contest details.
Holiday Card Labels
These labels were created to be sent out with the prizes and a limited edition holiday card.