11 Fresh Ideas From Back-to-School Events

See how Pottery Barn Kids, Kipling, and Teen Vogue prepared students and parents to go back to school.

Beth Kormanik
August 26, 2014

As children—and their parents—returned to schools and college campuses, brands sought to capture their attention with creative back-to-school activations. At events across the country, marketers put new spins on school style using familiar items such as lockers, notebook paper, and the classic green apple. Here's a look at some of the most inspiring ideas.

Kipling Miami Store Opening
Guests at the Kipling store opening at the Miami International Mall on July 12 could pose in a 'back-to-school flashback' photo booth.

Guests at the Kipling store opening at the Miami International Mall on July 12 could pose in a "back-to-school flashback" photo booth.

Photo: Courtesy of Kipling USA
Kipling Miami Store Opening
YouTube singer Megan Nicole posed in a bleachers vignette set up for Kipling's Miami store opening.

YouTube singer Megan Nicole posed in a bleachers vignette set up for Kipling's Miami store opening.

Photo: Courtesy of Kipling USA
'Teen Vogue' Back-to-School Event
Teen Vogue hosted a back-to-school event Saturday at the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles that included fashion presentations, a beauty lounge from Nordstrom, and nail art stations. The event's signage was designed in the style of classic black-and-white composition notebooks.

Teen Vogue hosted a back-to-school event Saturday at the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles that included fashion presentations, a beauty lounge from Nordstrom, and nail art stations. The event's signage was designed in the style of classic black-and-white composition notebooks.

Photo: Dan Steinberg/the Americana at Brand
'Teen Vogue' Back-to-School Event
Activities included a number of D.I.Y. craft stations such as one in which students could decorate notepads with patterned washi tape.

Activities included a number of D.I.Y. craft stations such as one in which students could decorate notepads with patterned washi tape.

Photo: Dan Steinberg/the Americana at Brand
Pottery Barn Kids Back-to-School Preview
To preview its line of back-to-school gear, Pottery Barn Kids hosted a media event at Haven's Kitchen in New York. A display of lunch boxes and thermoses had a classic school motif: a green apple.

To preview its line of back-to-school gear, Pottery Barn Kids hosted a media event at Haven's Kitchen in New York. A display of lunch boxes and thermoses had a classic school motif: a green apple.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Pottery Barn Kids Back-to-School Preview
Personalized gift bags came in brown paper bags decorated with the event's hashtag.

Personalized gift bags came in brown paper bags decorated with the event's hashtag.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Pottery Barn Kids Back-to-School Preview
Chef Sam Talbot led a cooking demonstration of healthy lunchbox-friendly foods such as almond butter banana jam sandwiches with carrot chips. Shadow PR planned the event.

Chef Sam Talbot led a cooking demonstration of healthy lunchbox-friendly foods such as almond butter banana jam sandwiches with carrot chips. Shadow PR planned the event.

Photo: Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids
Style Saves Back-to-School in Style Event
At its Back-to-School in Style event August 16 and 17, nonprofit Style Saves created a department-store-like environment at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Signage for each of the stations—which offered free clothing, haircuts, face painting, and vision screening—had a notebook paper motif.

At its Back-to-School in Style event August 16 and 17, nonprofit Style Saves created a department-store-like environment at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. Signage for each of the stations—which offered free clothing, haircuts, face painting, and vision screening—had a notebook paper motif.

Photo: Ralph Notaro
Style Saves Back-to-School in Style Event
At the event, Miami-Dade Public Schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho posed with photo booth props.

At the event, Miami-Dade Public Schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho posed with photo booth props.

Photo: Ralph Notaro
Pandora Internet Radio's Back-to-School Concert
Amazon Student, a loyalty program for college students, was among the brands with activations at the Pandora Internet Radio back-to-school concert August 9 at Santa Monica Pier in California. Stoelt Productions produced the event.

Amazon Student, a loyalty program for college students, was among the brands with activations at the Pandora Internet Radio back-to-school concert August 9 at Santa Monica Pier in California. Stoelt Productions produced the event.

Photo: Vero Image
Pandora Internet Radio's Back-to-School Concert
At the event, which targeted college students, the Art Institutes set up a giant canvas that guests doodled on with branded Sharpie markers.

At the event, which targeted college students, the Art Institutes set up a giant canvas that guests doodled on with branded Sharpie markers.

Photo: Vero Image
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