Social
for
Designers
By Maya Kaplan
- Creativity
- Visibility
- Opportunity
Pilot cohort · 5 designers · 8 weeks
Your work deserves to be discovered.
An eight-week pilot for five designers and artists who want to find their voice on Instagram: what to show, what to leave out, and how to actually get found.
Led by Maya Kaplan, fashion and textile designer and researcher.
Why I’m doing this
I was stuck at 1,000 followers for years.
Followers · @mayakaplandesign
Drawn to scale
I’m Maya, a fashion and textile designer and researcher. I shared my work on Instagram for years and went nowhere: no growth, no opportunities. I wasn’t engaged, I didn’t make the time, and I wasn’t sure why I should bother.
Then one day I decided to put myself out there and present my work in a way I never had before. My posts went viral. I gained 38K followers in four months, and I finally understood how to use social media.
So I went deep into the algorithm. After many trials and plenty of errors, I found what works best. And I noticed something: everyone who teaches social media speaks to everyone. Nobody speaks to designers.
What I learned
As a designer, knowing how Instagram works isn’t enough. You have to know how to tell your story, what to show and what not to, and how to present your work. Beautiful images alone won’t do it.
Instagram is where the industry looks.
Most professionals in design spend part of every day on Instagram, looking for inspiration, ideas and innovation. It’s the main channel where they discover artists.
Once I understood that, doors started opening faster than I could walk through them. I left my corporate job to do this full time, because I couldn’t say yes to everything from inside a full-time role.
Skipping Instagram isn’t neutral. It means passing up the biggest free showcase for your work you’ll ever get.
What opened up for me
- Public speaking
- Exhibitions
- Design & consultancy jobs
- Paid brand collaborations
And that’s only the start.
Afraid? Embarrassed? Not sure where to start?
Many of my designer friends told me exactly that. I get it, I was stuck for years. But being embarrassed is quietly costing you your biggest opportunities, and once you understand how it works, it’s easier than you think. The first wins push you forward, and you’ll be on the ride.
The pilot
Eight weeks. Five designers. Your own voice.
Every designer and artist has their own methods and their own voice, and what worked for one won’t necessarily work for another. I learned that by testing format after format myself.
People can teach you the algorithm. Nobody can tailor it to your creative voice and your niche. That part you have to find yourself.
That’s why I’m taking only five designers: so we can find our voices together, and learn from each other.
We meet once a week for 90 minutes, for eight weeks. Every session, each of you puts real work on screen and gets feedback from me and the group.
In the sessions, I will
- Share what I know about the algorithm
- What works, and what doesn’t.
- Show you when and what to post
- For your work, not for everyone’s.
- Find your voice and your format
- I’ll get to know your work and guide you to the way of showing it that fits you best.
- Teach you to read Instagram Insights
- What matters, and how to improve it.
- Turn views into opportunities
- What to do when a brand, curator or client writes to you, and how to make your profile work like a portfolio.
- Set up a WhatsApp group for all of us
- To support each other, share insights and lift each other’s engagement.
- Length
- 8 weeks
- Meeting
- Weekly, 90 min
- Group size
- 5 designers
- Selection
- By application
- Price
- Pilot price
This pilot is for you if…
- You’re a designer or artist who actively creates.
- You have work you’re able, and want, to share publicly.
- You’re ready to put yourself out there. Nervous is fine.
- You’ll commit to the process if you’re chosen.
If that’s you, nominate yourself below.
Apply
Nominate yourself.
Answer the questions below. I’m choosing five designers based on your answers, and I’ll get back to you personally.
Excited for this. Talk soon! — Maya
Nomination received
Thank you!
I’ll read every nomination and get back to you personally.
— Maya