LSC-CyFair Art Students Create Marketing Campaign For Cy-Fair VFD

From Lone Star College Cy-Fair

CYPRESS, TX — Who will add a new suit to your wardrobe and become a volunteer firefighter in the new year? The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department (CFVFD) will find out when they incorporate Lone Star College-CyFair student-designed campaigns and tag lines in their recruitment efforts.

Professor Julie Wells’ students recently presented Captain David Padovan, CFVFD Public Information Officer, with several original marketing options for CFVFD recruitment campaigns as their ARTC Design Communications II final project.

Students conducted research for their project by visiting Station 11 and attended meetings to interview Padovan and CFVFD firefighters .

“This project provided an opportunity for them as a designer, to choose one little nugget, quote, or take away and run with it to make an entire recruitment campaign,” said Wells.

The campaigns tapped into desires of different target audiences from volunteers who desire to make a difference, answer the call or add a new suit to their wardrobe while showcasing the personality and lifestyles of these everyday volunteer community servants.

Touching on the impact of safety measures in firefighting, one campaign focused on a technology aspect of their masks, radio communications equipment and apparatus.

Padovan said the students far exceeded his expectations. Padovan was especially pleased with the uniqueness of the taglines and creative imagery of the multiple campaign concepts, and collateral pieces such as posters for local business storefronts, postcard mailers for community residents and handbills to pass out at events.

“They knocked it out of the park,” he said. “The variation will help keep our recruitment efforts fresh.”

The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department serves one of the largest growing residential areas in the Greater Houston area, so recruiting volunteers is a year-round necessity.

The student projects will provide new print and digital material that the department's Public Information Officers can cycle through to reach different, yet specific target audiences.

Wells’ students were not only graded on the concept development, design execution, and the professionalism of their physical and client presentation, but they gained real-world experience and materials for their portfolio.

Padovan said each student will receive a letter from the Fire Chief thanking them for their contribution, and continually informed about how the campaign will be used for future recruitment efforts.

To learn more about becoming part of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Firefighting team, attend a Thursday meeting at any of the 13 stations or email pio@cyfairvfd.org.

For information on the Visual Communication programs at LSC-CyFair, email Julie.M.Wells@LoneStar.edu.

Image: Lone Star College-CyFair students partnered with Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department to design marketing concepts for volunteer firefighter recruitment efforts. From left are James Lange, Justine Clapp, Stephaney Kennedy, Capt. David Padovan, Karen Uribe, Maricela Wilkinson, Katherine Carney and Rachelle Rabke. (LSC-CyFair)

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