Marketing Assistant
Design a new limited-edition pop in collaboration with a partner brand that aligns with House of Pops’ values.
Section A: The Brief
Careers can start with one email, here's yours.
Welcome to the House of Pops experience!
I’m Alan from Astranda, and I’ll be your mentor for this experience. I’m excited to have you join as a Marketing Assistant. This is your chance to explore what it’s like to work in marketing and create a new limited-edition product.
You’ll start by exploring House of Pops and and their collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (see attachment), and then create your own pop that celebrates the UAE.
Remember to aim high, stay on track, and present your ideas professionally. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
Section B: The Job
Step into the role.
Marketing Assistant
Level: Entry-Level
Duration: ~21 Hours
Result: Performance Report
Role Description: Support the growth of House of Pops by designing engaging campaigns and content.
Key Performance Indicators: Measuring how well you can share the company’s story through your work.
Key Deliverables
By the end of this experience, you will have created:
Here are some key details to keep in mind as you work:
Why is this important: Partnerships help House of Pops share its mission with new audiences
Expert tip: It’s all about how you tell the story — hook your audience, show the problem and lead them to the solution
Section C: The Workflow
Phase 1: Discovery
Step 1.1 - Research
The Company
All new Marketing Assistants start by visiting the official House of Pops website. Read about their story, mission, products, and blog. Pay close attention to how they talk about their values and how those values connect to their products and brand image. Take notes on how the company uses storytelling to show who they are and what they stand for.
Source: www.houseofpops.ae
Brand Collaborations
Now, dive into their collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah TDA. Look closely at the flavour choice, packaging, and key visual of the campaign. Then, search for ads, videos, and news articles about this campaign. Notice how the partnership tied the product to a specific place and lifestyle.
Source: House of Pops x Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
It’s also helpful to hear from the teams behind the House of Pops and Ras Al Khaimah TDA collaboration. Listen to what they say about what matters most to their brand and their campaigns. Think about the key points they focus on and what you can learn from them. What do their stories teach you about storytelling, brand teamwork, and building strong partnerships?
Source: House of Pops x Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Source: Magnum
Research Report
To finish, look back at what you’ve researched. Gather all your insights from this activity and create a one-page Research Report, including three lessons you’ll apply in your own process (focus on how they worked, not just the theme). These lessons will form the foundation of your future work.
Partnership campaigns are one of the smartest ways for House of Pops to share its mission with new audiences. By studying how they connect flavors, stories, and visuals to brand values, you’ll learn how a simple idea can scale into a campaign. These insights will help you think like a marketer and creator, not just a student.
Deliverable Due
Step 1.2 - Partnership Story
Partner Selection
Your challenge is to find a brand collaboration that highlights the magic of the UAE and reflects the values of House of Pops. Explore the country’s treasures — museums, heritage sites, national holidays, festivals, and landmarks — and look for a partner that shares the spirit of creativity, wellness, sustainability, and community. Dig deeper by checking social media, videos, articles, and past collaborations in food, fashion, or tourism to see how others have told their stories. Ask yourself which option feels authentic, shines a light on the UAE, and could inspire a campaign that excites people.
Partnership Story
Once you’ve gathered ideas, choose the collaboration that sparks your imagination. Write a one-page Partnership Story that explains who the partner is, why you chose them, and how they connect with House of Pops and the UAE. Describe the storyline the collaboration will tell, bring it to life with a product or campaign idea, and show the impact it could have in inspiring people, creating buzz, and celebrating the UAE. Keep it clear, simple, and exciting so that anyone who reads it finishes with the thought, “Yes, let’s do this.”
Deliverable Due
Phase 2: Design
Step 2.1 - Flavour Card
Flavour Experiments
Your next task is to create a Flavour Card. This should include three things: a creative flavour name, a short story of about 80–120 words that brings the flavour to life, and a recipe concept that uses only natural ingredients. To get started, research House of Pops’ existing flavour combinations and notice how they balance fun, creativity, and wellness while always staying true to their values.
Remember, this is a brand that prides itself on using only natural ingredients and colours, nothing artificial. That’s what makes every flavour feel fresh, healthy, and authentic. Your Flavour Card should capture that same spirit, showing how your idea could fit right into the House of Pops family.
Source: House of Pops
We recommend creating three to five Flavor Cards instead of just one. Once you have them, interview a few classmates, friends, or family members to see which flavor excites them the most. This feedback will help you understand which idea connects best with people.
Source: www.houseofpops.ae
Deliverable Due
Step 2.2 - Key Visual
Key Visual Creation
Deliverable Due
Step 2.3 - Packaging
Packaging Set
The next step is to think about packaging for your flavour idea. Packaging is more than just a wrapper, it is the first thing customers see and a big part of how they experience the brand. For House of Pops, packaging is especially important because it reflects their values. All packaging must be plastic-free and compostable, which means it can break down naturally without harming the environment. This is a key part of the brand’s commitment to wellness and sustainability. When you design your packaging, focus on making it simple, natural, and eye-catching while keeping it eco-friendly.
For the full packaging set, design both the front and back of a single-pop box as well as a four-pack box. You may also choose to create a custom design for the stick to help tell your story.
Remember, the best packaging protects the product, tells the story of the flavor, and shows customers that House of Pops cares for both people and the planet.
Source: House of Pops x Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Deliverable Due
Step 2.4 - Landing Page
Landing Page Concept
The next stage is to design a landing page that tells the story of your collaboration to launch the new flavour on the House of Pops blog. A landing page is a single webpage that focuses on one goal, in this case introducing the collaboration and making people excited to try the product. For this proposed collaboration, you can follow the design of the House of Pops blog below.
The page should include a strong headline, the key visual you created, and a short story about how the collaboration came to life. Add clear details about the flavour, the partner you chose, and why it connects to the values of House of Pops and the magic of the UAE. Make sure there is a clear call to action, such as “Try it now” or “Discover the flavour,” so that visitors know what to do next. Think of your landing page as the digital stage for your launch, combining story, visuals, and action in one place.
Source: House of Pops
Deliverable Due
Phase 3: Launch
Step 3.1 - Distribution Plan
Campaign Distribution Plan
Your next task is to create a one-page Distribution Plan. This is the roadmap for how you will share your new flavour with the world. Start with the launch moment by describing how and when the flavour will be introduced to customers. Next, outline the partner channels, such as the partner’s social media, events, or locations where the collaboration can be promoted. Include ideas for working with influencers who connect with your target audience and can spread the story in an authentic way. Research and list the most suitable influencers in your plan.
Press Release
Now it is time to write the press release that will launch your collaboration. Start with a strong headline that names both partners and grabs attention, followed by a short opening paragraph that explains who, what, when, where, and why. Add context about the collaboration and describe how it connects to House of Pops’ values and the UAE. End with a short background section on both partners. Keep it clear and concise so journalists can quickly see why it is newsworthy.
Deliverable Due
Step 3.2 - Proposal Deck
Present Your Concept
Your last step is to create a 7-slide proposal deck to present your idea to House of Pops. This deck should clearly tell the story of your idea, starting with the inspiration behind it, introducing the chosen partner, and showing how it aligns with House of Pops’ values and the UAE. Include your flavor concept, key visual, packaging idea, landing page, distribution plan, and press release. Keep your slides simple, visual, and focused on the big picture. Alongside your slides, write a short script that shows how you would present each part of the deck. This will help you have a clear and concise message and ensure your proposal is even more convincing.
Remember, the most important part is how you tell the story — facts will inform, but a strong storyline will inspire your audience to say yes!
Source: House of Pops
Deliverable Due
Congratulations on completing the House of Pops Marketing Assistant experience. More importantly, you’ve delivered professional-quality work that reflects the foundational skills every brand looks for in marketing and brand development.
Here’s what you’ve achieved through your deliverables:
Collaboration Research: You explored brand partnerships and identified opportunities that align with House of Pops’ values and UAE market trends.
Limited-Edition Product Concept: You created a fresh idea that connected brand storytelling with local culture and customer excitement.
Packaging Design Mockups: You translated creative ideas into visuals, showing how brand identity comes to life on the shelf.
Distribution and Media Plan: You demonstrated how to get the story out — from landing page to PR and influencer campaigns.
Proposal Deck: You pulled it all together into a professional presentation designed to win buy-in from decision-makers.
These deliverables mirror the real outputs of roles such as Marketing Assistant, Brand Coordinator, Product Marketing Associate, or Campaigns Executive, and even entrepreneurs. Employers want more than theory, they want proof of execution. You now have it.
Once you submit your final work and receive feedback, add it to your CV/LinkedIn under Projects as: “Astranda × House of Pops — Marketing Assistant.”
Quick reminder, please follow the Submission Guidelines below to finalize your completion.
This is a meaningful step toward a career in business. We’re proud of your progress, and you should feel confident knowing you have what it takes to keep moving forward. Keep stacking achievements and experiences that set you apart.
Regards,
Alan
alan@astranda.com | Head of Partnerships
How to Submit
Submit your work, get feedback, certificates and more.
Submission Guidelines
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Enter your details below:
How to Submit Your Work (via Google Drive link)
Put everything in one folder
Name it:
Astranda_[ExperienceName]_[YourFullName]_[School]Include your docs, slides, videos, images, and any source files.
Upload to Google Drive
Open Drive → New → Folder (use the name above) → upload your files.
If your work is in Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, make sure each file has a clear title.
Set sharing permissions
Right-click the folder → Share → General access: Anyone with the link → Viewer.
Important: Do not require sign-in and do not give edit access.
Double-check by opening the link in an incognito window—if you can view it without logging in, you’re good.
Copy your sharable link
Right-click the folder → Copy link.
Email your submission
Subject:
Submission: [ExperienceName] – [Your Full Name] – [School]Body: Paste the link and write a professional email including these details - Name: [Your Full Name], School: [Full School Name], Experience: [ExperienceName], Drive Link: [paste your view-only folder link]
Final checks before sending
The link opens without “Request access.”
All files load and play (videos, slides, etc.).
File names are clear and professional.
No personal data you don’t want shared.
Receive feedback
We will examine all your submitted materials
We will reply with your Performance Report and Certificate of Completion via email within 7 days
We will also share your next experience to continue your progress towards your dream career
If you want to try a different career path, please email alan@astranda.com.
Tips
Large videos? Upload to the same folder (don’t attach to the email).
Multiple versions? Keep only the final in the root folder; move drafts into a “Drafts” subfolder.
Keep a backup copy for your records.
