Microsoft + Stranger Things teaser campaign
As the designer at Hey, I worked on part of a teaser campaign by Microsoft to promote the premiere of Stranger Things 3, which is set in 1985, or the year of the first Windows operating system. I created social media skins and posts for Microsoft Design that were inspired by an 80s aesthetic, and vintage Microsoft UI and branding. These designs were rolled out as part of a multi-channel effort to promote both ST3 and Microsoft.
Social headers
We presented to the client a range of options and their accompanying inspiration, ranging from pop culture to Windows 1.0 UI elements to original print ads. The client ultimately chose the last option, which was a recreation of a poster made by Microsoft in 1995 to celebrate a 10-year anniversary, also employing a 1980s aesthetic.
social media Gifs
For the social media content, we proposed three gifs. One showed a desktop view of Win 1.0 with the calendar set to July 1985. The second was a play on “turning back the clock,” showing Windows UIs flashing back to 1.0 along with the original clock app. Lastly, we presented a modified version of the original Win 1.0 puzzle game, where all the numbers read “1985,” which the client selected.
live post
The post and header went live on Twitter in July 2019 in conjunction with the premiere of Stranger Things 3 on Netflix. Per our recommendation, Microsoft Design also changed their profile picture to the original Windows logo “O,” also known as “the blibbet.” The ad campaign received social media engagement and press in publications like The Verge, PC Magazine, BGR, and Paste Magazine.
