Becky Bullard - Portfolio
Before starting my civic engagement career in 2017, I worked in advertising, marketing, and PR for a range of corporate clients, government agencies, and non-profits. The sampling you see here offers some favorite work samples from throughout my career.
Democrasexy
Democrasexy is based on the principles of “pleasure activism” as popularized by adrienne maree brown. Not only do we seek to advocate for pleasure, especially for marginalized groups, but we also aim to “make the revolution irresistible,” as Toni Cade Bambara said. Democrasexy was born in response to the Texas abortion ban taking effect in 2021.
I came up with the concept and the name and worked with a talented local designer to create the branding. Democrasexy’s audience is primarily women and queer folks in Texas, with the lip-shaped logo offering a more sensual take on the idea that we need to speak up for ourselves.
We often develop additional brand pieces and initiatives in response to cultural and political moments — like this subtly suggestive “pride bois” sticker as a queer response to the conservative “Proud Boys,” or the “A Woman’s Place Is in the Mojo Dojo Casa House of Representatives” shirt I created after the Barbie movie came out. Merch sales help fund Democrasexy’s work.
Client
Democrasexy
Years
2021 - 2025
The Civic Mystics
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, the Center for Artistic Activism (C4AA) offered me a grant of $40,000 to design and execute an election turnout program in Texas. I collaborated with C4AA, URGE Texas, Deeds Not Words, and a host of local culture-makers to design a creative GOTV program.
With widespread ambivalence about the candidates at the very top of the ticket before Biden stepped down, we were concerned that voter turnout would be low. Tapping into an increased interest in the mystical arts, we created The Civic Mystics — a civic action group for folks who are also into astrology and tarot.
With support from our team, members gained knowledge that's hard to find elsewhere — like how different offices on our ballot can impact the issues we care about locally. Then they informed and inspired their own circles to turn out to vote or take other civic action using social media and printed content we provided them. We ultimately distributed more than 2,000 custom tarot cards with election info, engaged more than 100,000 Texans with our social media content, and got 10,000 Texans to verify their voter registration status.
WIRED Magazine and renowned astrologer Aliza Kelly both wrote about the campaign.
Client
Democrasexy
Year
2024
Creative Events
I’ve become a sought-after event producer in Central Texas — The Austin Chronicle has called me a “local event empress” and the owners of Austin’s most beloved LGBTQIA+ bar, Cheer Up Charlies, have told me “no one produces political events like you.”
It was an honor and a pleasure to collaborate with the Working Families Party to produce a creative, soul-nourishing election night party in 2024 that raised funds for supplies for our unhoused neighbors and introduced a couple hundred folks to the work of Democrasexy and WFP.
Click here or on the image to the right to watch a recap of that event.
Client
Democrasexy
Year
2024
Guerilla & Experiential Marketing
The Austin affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure was looking to educate the Austin community about their contributions to breast cancer care right here at home – 75% of their fundraising goes to help women in Austin with breast cancer screenings and care. To reflect their ties to Austin, I came up with the idea to knit bomb some of Austin’s biggest icons with huge, pink bras, including Maria of Maria’s Tacos, the giant Peter Pan at Peter Pan Mini Golf, the Hutto Hippo and others. The campaign garnered lots of positive press coverage for Susan G. Komen Austin, as well as an ADDY and a national PR award.
Work completed while at Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing in 2009.
When the City of Austin hired Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing to gain support for its tobacco-free initiatives, we knew we had to appeal to Austin’s unique sensibilities. Playing on Austin’s fondness for kitschy food trailers, I came up with the concept and name for the “Ashtrayler” – an eye-catching, Austin-specific means of bringing attention to the cause. The Ashtrayler visits health and wellness events around town, and people are encouraged to sign the affixed ashtrays with a pledge to remain (or become) tobacco-free.
Austin’s “Live Tobacco-Free” campaign seeks the support of the community for a healthier city where citizens can enjoy public spaces without inhaling second-hand smoke.
Market Research & Branding
Throughout my career, I’ve conducted extensive market research and internal interviews at companies to gain insights that were instrumental in developing brand strategy.
For example: LSO is a regional package carrier with some of the highest on-time delivery rates and the industry's lowest damage claim rates. But even though their service was friendlier and more fastidious, they were struggling to compete against the giants in their field: FedEx and UPS. In my time at Door Number 3, I worked to help tell the unique LSO brand story, beginning with market research and an analysis of customer data and culminating in a brand refresh.
After crunching data both qualitative and quantitative, I worked to establish a strong brand positioning rooted in LSO's unique "reasons to believe," such as their delivery personnel's creative problem-solving and the great care they take with packages. To highlight LSO's accommodating, personal touch I gave them a new, friendlier tagline: It's All in the Delivery.
Finally, the key customer-facing elements, packaging (envelopes and boxes) and fleet, were redesigned to showcase a commitment to shipping.
Additional creative digital work below…
This bill explainer video reached more than 13,000 folks and drove more than 100 folks to submit public comments against a proposed state law that would negatively impact married women (and many others). Click to view on Instagram.
My "Dates with Politicians" series is a fun way to reveal the factual actions of elected officials in an engaging, funny format that keeps people watching and wanting to know more. Click to view on Instagram.
This explainer on how to become a delegate got dozens of sign-ups for Democrasexy's "How to Become a Delegate" info sessions!
When I was the Communications Manager for the Texas Sierra Club, I launched a TikTok account and began building it (but unfortunately had to leave after only a year). But we saw good engagement from the start!
This is a link to a report I put together after running a successful video ballot guide social media campaign on a shoestring budget.