Hero image from FFT’s recruiting campaign, featuring the chef leadership team.
Branded Design Systems for Recruiting + Team Growth
Recruitment Campaigns • Social Design • Program Branding • Talent Marketing
Built at Food for Thought: branded design systems supporting hiring, culture, and continued learning
TL;DR
Branded systems built to support both hiring and continued learning. This work spanned social recruiting content, career storytelling, and FFT University—an internal program designed to help team members grow within the organization.
MY ROLE
Creative Direction, Visual Identity, Messaging Strategy, Art Direction, Content Strategy
PEOPLE
2x Visual Designers
1x Marketing Director
1x Web Developer
To support FFT’s people-first mission, I created design systems for two distinct but connected initiatives: FFT Careers and FFT University. FFT Careers focused on external recruiting and building brand-aligned content to show what ‘a day in life’ is like at FFT across roles and locations. Meanwhile, FFT University served current team members, offering workshops and growth opportunities supported by branded materials, signage, and event creative.
Together, these systems helped unify the voice and visuals behind how FFT recruits, trains, and supports its teams. From social posts to workshop banners, every touchpoint was designed to reflect the brand’s high standards, strong culture, and belief in investing in its people.
FFT Careers & Recruitment Collateral
We brought the brand to life by capturing real team members across kitchens, cafes, and events highlighting the energy, camaraderie, and pride that define the FFT experience.
Instead of relying on generic job posts, we created visual stories that reflected the company’s culture through photography, headlines, and tone. Every piece was designed to feel honest, inviting, and aligned with the brand’s creative standards.
The result: content that showed what it actually feels like to work here, and why it matters.
FFT Careers Social & Collateral Branding
A bold, people-first campaign designed to attract talent, showcase culture, and highlight career benefits across social and hiring touchpoints.
Strategic Social Recruiting Across Platforms
FFT Careers’ presence spanned LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, using social to attract talent while showcasing culture. Recruiting content mixed with behind-the-scenes storytelling to humanize the brand, with Instagram posts cross-shared to Facebook for expanded reach. This approach built visibility and drove stronger talent engagement across channels.
FFT Career’s social presence across Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn positioned as a driver of recruiting and culture. Staff-focused events promoted across channels to reinforce the brand as a workplace of choice.
A strong content pipeline shaped through collaboration with culinary team members, with cross-account features spotlighting creativity and broadening reach. Partnerships framed as authentic, amplifying internal voices and elevating visibility into life at FFT.
FFT University
Events + Marketing
FFT University was designed for every team member, but the impact reached far beyond the room. These hands-on workshops were open only to employees, promoted internally to spark participation and create connection. After each session, we shared the story externally through social, capturing the energy, collaboration, and unexpected moments that made each event special.
The content was rich because it was real. Different walks of life, different roles across the company, all coming together to learn something new. Whether it was a grazing board class or a floral workshop, it always brought people closer and showed the heart of FFT’s culture in action.
FFT U: Holiday Grazing Board Workshop
This hands-on class brought together chefs and team members for a little wine, a lot of fun, and some serious charcuterie skills. The event was promoted internally with signage and digital invites, and the energy carried over to social where we showcased the action through Instagram and LinkedIn.
Led by our in-house culinary experts, each participant built their own unique spread while learning chef-level presentation tips. The vibe was collaborative, a little scrappy, and entirely joyful—reminding everyone that personal growth can be creative, hands-on, and delicious. This was more than a class, it was an experience that celebrated learning, connection, and a shared love of good food.
Internal Signage + Digital Promotion: Holiday Grazing Boards
Designed bold, seasonal graphics to promote FFT U’s hands-on grazing board workshop. Communicated event details clearly to drive RSVPs and position the session as a festive, skill-building experience.
Instagram Social Post:
Holiday Grazing Boards
Shared engaging video content of the workshop in action, highlighting chef-led tips and the creative energy of participants. Positioned the class as both fun and educational, reinforcing FFT’s culture of learning.
LinkedIn Social Post:
Holiday Grazing Boards Recap
Showcased participants’ finished boards and the collaborative event vibe. Positioned FFT U as a work home for culinary creativity that builds skills and community.
FFT U: Valentine’s Workshop
This double-header event offered two hands-on creative experiences: a floral arrangement class and a chocolate bon bon workshop. Hosted at MAE District and open to all FFT employees, it brought together team members from across departments to connect, create, and have fun.
The event was a chance to build culture through shared experience. Social recaps highlighted the team spirit, diverse perspectives, and creative energy on display. Whether arranging bouquets or handcrafting sweets, the vibe was warm, welcoming, and entirely FFT—showing how a workplace can also be a place for self-expression, learning, and real connection.
Internal Signage + Digital Promotion: Valentine’s Workshop
Promoted internally with custom graphics and clear event details to drive RSVPs and build buzz around the hands-on floral and chocolate-making experience.
Instagram Social Post:
Valentine’s Workshop
Shared behind-the-scenes clips of employees making bouquets, spotlighting the collaborative energy and highlighting FFT’s culture-first approach to employee engagement.
LinkedIn Social Post:
Valentine’s Workshop Recap
Showcased photos and takeaways from the event, positioning it as one way FFT invests in its people through creativity, community, and connection beyond the day-to-day.
Promoting Culture and Credibility Through Social
We leveraged LinkedIn and Instagram to promote FFT University not just as a benefit for employees, but as a powerful brand awareness tool. These posts gave us the chance to show how seriously we take learning, collaboration, and culture across all levels of the company.
By highlighting our internal events and hands-on workshops, we created engaging content that resonated with both potential recruits and clients. These moments helped tell the broader FFT story—one built on curiosity, creativity, and people who genuinely love what they do.
LinkedIn Social Post:
Internal Training Program
Highlighted FFT University’s holiday workshop as a cornerstone of employee development and culture. Positioned the program as a way to foster creativity, collaboration, and skill-building, while reinforcing FFT’s investment in talent and long-term growth.
Instagram Social Post:
Culinary Classes
Featured hands-on learning at FFT University, with team members decorating seasonal cupcakes and pizzas. Positioned the content as approachable, fun, and skill-driven, reinforcing FFT’s culture of training and continuous improvement.
LinkedIn Social Post:
Masterclass Series
Spotlighted FFT’s culinary masterclasses, led by chefs sharing advanced techniques with employees. Framed the content as both professional development and culture-building, demonstrating FFT’s commitment to excellence from kitchen to client.
Bringing the Brand to Life Across Every Touchpoint
From social storytelling to sales-driven collateral, this body of work showcases how strategy, systems, and smart creative come together to move a brand forward. Each piece was built to flex for the moment while reinforcing FFT’s voice, values, and vision—whether the goal was to convert, educate, or inspire.