Sex.Life
ZM Podcast Network
Promotional Screen for Sex.Life for NZME Reception.
"Sex.Life is a podcast that will take you on a wild journey to expose what goes on behind the locked gates of a secret sex school in rural New Zealand. Join somatic sexologist Morgan Penn as she puts her body on the line and shares the jaw dropping experience with ZM's Hayley Sproull."
In collaboration with ZM, the internal marketing team, iHeartRadio, and hosts Morgan & Hayley, I played a key role in launching the brand’s newest and most exciting podcast.
Project Background
Spotify Mobile Podcast Screens
This project marked my second deep dive into the world of digital audio and podcast marketing. It was an incredibly fun and dynamic challenge—while the podcast’s risqué nature required careful navigation of strict advertising parameters, the bold imagery from the photoshoot provided plenty of creative inspiration.
I joined the project after the initial photoshoot and brief, taking on the task of developing its visual identity. Starting with the podcast tile, I then rolled out a full suite of promotional collateral to support the launch.
As of May 2023, Sex.Life became the highest-ranking debut podcast on the Triton Pod Ranker since its debut at #15. It currently boasts 32,604 listeners and 44,418 monthly downloads. Seeing these numbers and knowing our collective efforts helped drive such a strong launch is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Credits
Ross Flahive,
ZM Content Director
Jennifer Pryor, Senior Marketing Manager –Audio
Jacquline Davis, Marketing Manager – Audio
Xanthe Williams - Creative Director
Joseph Senior - Image retouching
Wider iHeartRadio Team
Project Name
ZM's Sex.Life Podcast
Role
Graphic Design
Development
Image manipulation
Promotions Roll Out
Project Date
13/04/2023
Development
The design underwent multiple iterations (as seen above), all centered around the host’s image and a 1950s housewife aesthetic, as per the brief. This project was particularly enjoyable as it allowed for a more creative visual exploration. Initially, we experimented with a doily motif to mirror the tablecloth in the image before evolving into a playful Jetsons-inspired housewife look. This approach led to the creation of the headline lockup, drawing from 1950s typography with a subtle nod to Barbie.
As a highly collaborative project, we initially faced a creative challenge—balancing the direction marketing and I were taking with the vision the hosts had in mind. Ultimately, we found a vibrant, fun, and balanced middle ground, refining the design to focus on the lockup and imagery. This streamlined approach proved especially effective during the promotional phase, giving me more flexibility to adapt layouts across different specifications.
Sex.Life iHeartRadio Podcast Home page & Episode Page
Sex.Life ZM Homepage
NZME Billboards
NZME Billboards
NZME Billboards
With a tight deadline to launch alongside the first episode, this project had a more streamlined set of promotional assets compared to previous campaigns. However, since it was a digital audio product hosted on online platforms, we strategically focused on digital-only assets, avoiding print to ensure a seamless user journey and maximise audience reach.
By prioritising out-of-home, social, and digital assets, we were able to generate excitement online through teaser content and engaging social posts from the hosts and ZM’s profile, effectively building momentum ahead of the launch.
