Digital Creators

Dive into the world of digital storytelling, marketing and design!

Digital Creators is a free introductory course designed to help Hawaiʻi residents develop essential skills for a career in digital marketing and graphic design. In this course, you will learn storytelling, marketing, and design fundamentals and explore a culturally-grounded approach to digital creation in the context of Hawaiʻi.

This beginner course is tailored for individuals who aspire to enter the marketing or design industry and acquire new skills to support local businesses and organizations. No prior experience is necessary!

Fall 2024 Class Details

There are three cohorts: Virtual, Maui Hybrid, and Puna (Hawaiʻi island) Hybrid. All cohorts will meet virtually together every Tuesday.

Every other Thursday, the hybrid cohorts are required to meet for an additional in-person session to work on their projects. Mandatory in-person kickoffs for Maui and Puna have also been scheduled during the first week of class. Date and details below.

Virtual Cohort

September 24 – December 3, 2024 (11 weeks)
Meets every Tuesday from 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Zoom

Maui Hybrid Cohort

September 24 – December 10, 2024 (12 weeks)
September 26: mandatory in-person kickoff
Meets every Tuesday from 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Zoom AND every other Thursday from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Wailuku (location TBD)

Puna (Hawaiʻi Island) Hybrid Cohort

September 24 – December 5, 2024 (11 weeks)
September 25: mandatory in-person kickoff
Meets every Tuesday from 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Zoom AND every other Thursday from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Kamehameha Schools in Keaʻau

Applying to Maui or Puna?

Thanks to the generous support of the County of Maui and the City & County of Hawaiʻi, participants of the Maui and Puna hybrid cohorts qualify to receive the following:

A 1-year Canva Pro subscription (valued at $120)
A $500 stipend upon completion of the course
An invitation to a month-long internship upon completion of the course. This internship will run from January through February 2025 and will provide an opportunity to apply your skills on projects for local companies.

In order to qualify for the $500 stipend, participants must:

Be residents of Maui or Puna
Complete all assignments by their deadline
Present their final project in person at the hōʻike (last class)
Attend both the virtual and in-person sessions, not missing more than 3 classes total

The Maui and Puna hybrid cohorts have extremely limited spots. If you are not selected for the hybrid cohort, you can elect to be considered for the virtual cohort. Participants of the virtual cohort are not eligible for the items listed above.

Elevate Your Digital Skills

Social Media Marketing

Plan and produce a social media marketing campaign

Content Creation

Craft engaging content for social media with storytelling techniques

Graphic Design

Learn design fundamentals and get started in Canva

Why You Should Join

Develop skills for a career in digital marketing or graphic design
Cultivate a culturally-grounded approach to marketing and designing in Hawaiʻi
Gain career insights from industry professionals
Receive direct feedback on your projects from kumu and peers
Join a community of fellow Hawaiʻi digital creators!

Curriculum Overview

Module 1

Storytelling as a Foundation for Creating In and For Hawaiʻi

Module 1 will introduce students to the power of mo’olelo and its relevance to marketing and design in the context of Hawaiʻi. This module will encourage you to explore your kuleana as a digital creator in Hawaiʻi and apply concepts of place-based design toward ethical content creation.

Module 2

Intro to Graphic Design

Module 3 will acquaint students with fundamental design principles and best practices through hands-on projects using Canva. You will gain an introduction to typography, color, and visual identity design (branding).

Module 3

Intro to Social Media Marketing

Module 3 will introduce students to the fundamentals and best practices of social media marketing. You will explore key areas such as campaign strategy, content planning, and branding.

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By the end of this course, you will have produced a social marketing campaign and brand deck for a Hawaiʻi-based company.

Who is This Course For?

This course is for you if you:

Are an adult or high school senior that currently resides in Hawaiʻi*
Want to launch a career in marketing and design
Want to develop new skills to support Hawaiʻi-based companies (including your own!)
Have little to no experience in marketing or design

* While any Hawaiʻi-based adult or high school senior is welcome to apply, preference for enrollment will be given to Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders as part of our commitment to support and uplift the indigenous communities of Hawaiʻi.

General Requirements:

Must commit to attending all sessions (virtual + in-person for the hybrid cohorts)
Must be able to spend 3-8 hours outside of class each week to complete assignments
Must be able to manage projects and meet deadlines
Must be able to communicate clearly and professionally

Technology Requirements:

Must have access to a computer
Must possess baseline technology literacy:
- Able to navigate a web browser to access websites
- Able to navigate computer file system to store and retrieve files
- Able to navigate Google Drive (to access and upload class files) OR be comfortable learning this tool through online resources
- Able to navigate Slack (to communicate with instructors and peers) OR be comfortable learning this tool through online resources
Must have access to Canva:
- You can make a Canva account for free, although a Pro subscription is recommended.
- You can choose to use another design software you are comfortable with, but note that we will only be providing instruction for Canva.

Ready to embark on your creative journey?

Applications open on July 30, 2024. Check back soon!

Questions?

Contact Jess Manapul, Program Manager at jess@purplemaia.org

Scholarship & Support