SayPro Select the Designer for the Month: At the beginning of each month, identify and reach out to the designer who will be featured in the interview.

SayPro Select the Designer for the Month: Curating Talent for Each Month’s Feature

The process of selecting the designer for the month is one of the most important steps in the SayPro interview program. Each designer featured in the interview represents the program’s mission to showcase diverse talent, innovative design thinking, and creative journeys from various design fields. Careful selection ensures that SayPro’s content remains fresh, relevant, and engaging for its audience. Below is a detailed guide on how to identify and reach out to the designer for the interview each month.

1. Define Selection Criteria

Before selecting the designer for the month, it is essential to have a set of criteria that aligns with SayPro’s objectives and the interests of the audience. The selection criteria should be broad enough to allow flexibility in the types of designers you feature, but focused enough to ensure each designer meets key standards of relevance, creativity, and experience.

Key Criteria to Consider:

• Creative Excellence: The designer’s portfolio should demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship, innovation, and originality in their work.
• Diversity of Design Disciplines: Ensure the selection process features designers from various design fields (e.g., graphic design, UX/UI, fashion design, industrial design, architecture, etc.) to maintain variety and cater to different audience interests.
• Relevance to Current Trends: Choose designers who are actively shaping or influencing current design trends, technologies, or methodologies.
• Professional Recognition: Look for designers who have earned industry recognition, such as awards, notable collaborations, or published works.
• Unique Perspective or Story: Seek designers with interesting personal or professional stories, such as unconventional career paths, inspiring challenges they’ve overcome, or unique approaches to design.
• Audience Appeal: Select designers whose work resonates with the SayPro community. Consider feedback from past interviews, audience engagement, and popular design trends.

By setting clear criteria, SayPro ensures that the designers selected for each month’s feature contribute to the overall vision of the program while keeping the content dynamic and engaging.

2. Research and Identify Potential Designers

Once the selection criteria are defined, the next step is to research and identify potential designers to feature. This phase is about scouring various platforms, events, and design communities to find candidates who meet the established criteria.

Where to Find Designers:

• Design Platforms: Websites like Behance, Dribbble, and Coroflot are excellent sources for finding talented designers showcasing their work.
• Social Media: Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and even TikTok can be great platforms to discover emerging and established designers, especially those who have built an engaged community or share behind-the-scenes insights into their design process.
• Design Awards and Competitions: Look for winners or notable participants in prestigious design competitions (e.g., AIGA Design Awards, D&AD Awards, Red Dot Design Awards). These designers often have a recognized track record.
• Design Conferences and Festivals: Events like Adobe MAX, SXSW, or Awwwards can offer opportunities to identify speakers or participants who have made notable contributions to the design field.
• Industry Blogs and Publications: Websites like Design Milk, CreativeBloq, and The Dieline feature profiles of leading designers and innovative studios.
• Referrals: Ask for recommendations from other designers, collaborators, or industry insiders who may know of up-and-coming talent or noteworthy professionals.
• Design Agencies and Studios: Reach out to design agencies or independent studios who have noteworthy projects or standout designers who could contribute unique insights.

Maintain a database or list of potential designers who meet SayPro’s criteria. This list can be built over time, ensuring that there are always candidates ready for future months.

3. Evaluate Candidates and Narrow Down Selection

After gathering a list of potential designers, evaluate each candidate based on how well they meet the selection criteria. At this stage, focus on narrowing down the options to one designer per month, ensuring that you have a diverse range of voices and styles represented throughout the year.

Key Considerations for Evaluation:

• Work Quality: Review the designer’s portfolio and body of work for consistency, innovation, and overall aesthetic.
• Relevance to Current Trends: Does the designer’s work align with or influence current design trends? Are they exploring new technologies or methodologies in their practice?
• Storytelling Potential: Does the designer have an interesting personal or professional story that would engage SayPro’s audience? Their background, challenges, and achievements can provide valuable insights during the interview.
• Audience Fit: Consider your audience’s preferences and past interactions. Would this designer appeal to the target demographic based on their design style or area of expertise?
• Availability and Willingness: Ensure that the designer is available for an interview and open to participating in the SayPro program. Be mindful of their schedule and commitments.

Example Evaluation Matrix:

Once you have narrowed down your options, select the designer whose work, story, and impact on the industry align best with the goals of the interview series.

4. Reach Out to the Selected Designer

After identifying the designer for the month, it’s time to make contact. Craft a personalized outreach message that clearly conveys the purpose of the interview, the benefits of participating, and why you’ve selected them for the feature.

a. Crafting the Outreach Message

• Introduction: Introduce yourself and SayPro, including the mission and goals of the interview program. Briefly mention the focus on celebrating talented designers and sharing their stories with a wider audience.
• Why Them: Personalize the message by explaining why you specifically chose them. Mention aspects of their portfolio or story that resonated with SayPro’s values and why you believe their insights would be valuable to the audience.
• Interview Details: Outline what the interview entails (format, length, potential topics, and how it will be conducted). Mention if it will be in person, over video, or audio.
• Benefits of Participation: Highlight the exposure they’ll receive through SayPro’s digital platforms (website, social media, email newsletters) and the opportunity to share their expertise with a broader audience.
• Scheduling: Suggest a few dates or times for the interview and ask for their availability.
• Call to Action: Invite them to respond with their interest and let them know you’re happy to answer any questions they may have.

Sample Outreach Email:

Subject: Invitation to Be Featured in SayPro’s Designer Interview Program

Dear [Designer’s Name],

I hope this message finds you well! My name is [Your Name], and I’m the [Your Position] at SayPro, an online platform dedicated to sharing inspiring stories and insights from creative professionals like yourself. Our monthly Designer Interview Program highlights the work, journey, and unique perspectives of talented designers from a variety of disciplines.

After reviewing your incredible portfolio and learning more about your work with [specific project or design style], I would be honored to feature you in our program. Your design approach and innovative work would resonate deeply with our audience, and we believe your insights would inspire many.

The interview is typically conducted [interview format—via Zoom, in person, etc.], and we’ll cover topics like your creative process, challenges you’ve faced, and your views on the future of design. It would be a [15/30/60]-minute conversation, depending on your schedule.

If you’re interested, please let me know your availability in the coming weeks, and I’d be happy to coordinate the details. We’re excited about the possibility of showcasing your talent and creativity to our community.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
SayPro

b. Follow-Up

If you don’t hear back after a week or two, send a gentle follow-up message to ensure they received your initial email and remind them of the opportunity to participate. If they’re unavailable or uninterested, thank them for considering the invitation and keep them in mind for future months.

5. Finalize Details and Schedule the Interview

Once the designer accepts the invitation, move forward with finalizing the interview details:

• Confirm the date and time for the interview.
• Provide any additional information they might need, such as a list of potential questions, topics, or the technical setup (e.g., Zoom link, equipment needed).
• Discuss logistics regarding the format of the interview (e.g., video or audio), including any necessary prep for visuals or branding during the interview.
• Ensure they’re comfortable with the release terms, particularly regarding how the content will be used and distributed.

6. Prepare for the Interview

Once everything is confirmed, begin preparing for the interview by researching the designer’s background, work, and key themes. Craft tailored questions based on their expertise and career to ensure a deep and insightful conversation.

By following these steps, SayPro will continually feature talented and diverse designers who inspire the audience and elevate the brand’s reputation in the design community.