As part of my MBA program, I’ve had the opportunity to develop full branding and marketing strategies for a variety of hypothetical companies that my peers that I created, taking projects from concept to execution. These experiences involve creating every element of a brand, from logos, color palettes, icons, and typography to social media campaigns, email marketing, apps, and other digital touchpoints.
Beyond visual design, I also develop comprehensive marketing plans, including audience research, campaign strategy, content planning, and phased execution. Below, I’ve included two of my favorite projects, Stride and CompanionFull.
Stride is a subscription-based athletic and athleisure apparel service that my team of three peers and I developed as part of our MBA branding projects. Inspired by companies like StitchFix, Nuuly, and Rent the Runway, Stride was designed to help men effortlessly refresh their wardrobe with high-quality, performance-driven apparel tailored to individual preferences. The goal was to make it simple for customers to stay stylish, comfortable, and ready for any activity.
For this project, I led the development of the full visual identity, including the logo, typography, and color palette, and translated the brand across multiple channels. I created email mockups, social media posts and ads, and a mockup of the brand’s presence on Instagram and Facebook. Our team opted for a minimal, sleek style inspired by brands like Nike, and I executed these designs using Photoshop and Illustrator.
For the final presentation, I produced mockups showing the launch of the brand’s posts and ads, as well as influencer collaborations. This included compositing our branded packaging into existing content to show how the brand could integrate seamlessly into social media campaigns. The project allowed me to combine strategic branding decisions with hands-on creative execution, demonstrating the full process of building a new brand from concept to presentation.
For another MBA project, my peers and I created CompanionFull, a subscription-based app that helps pet owners stay connected with their veterinarians from home, providing access to reliable articles, visit results, and other resources to support pet care.
I led the creation of the brand’s full visual identity, including the logo, typeface, icon set, color palette, patterns, and imagery, translating the brand across digital and mobile platforms. We chose playful, vibrant colors inspired by the energy of a dog park, and designed icons to represent common veterinary topics, such as the best dog and cat food, health tips, and where to find supplies. These design elements were integrated into app mockups and sample content, bringing the CompanionFull brand to life in a cohesive, engaging, and user-friendly way.
Ashlyn Howe 