Tomorrow, together

Learning how to combat a pandemic, one block at a time. The Blockdown Simulator Minecraft map explains the importance of social distancing during a health crisis.

As the world’s largest dairy exporter, Fonterra has historically relied on face-to-face activity to drive sales. With the pandemic ceasing such visits, an alternative shop window was required.

Ajaz Ahmed speaks on new-style creativity in an ever-changing world due to the impact of Covid-19. Ajaz said, “There’s a new era of innovation, hope, progress and optimism.”

Google and A.C. Milan are bringing the stadium experience to the homes of football fans, allowing them to follow the match in real-time with Google Nest technology.

In collaboration with AKQA, Nike has created a digital workout series offering a space to compete against pro athletes through weekly challenges. Cristiano Ronaldo set the first with an ab workout.

To promote face-covering in the fight against Covid-19, Time Out and Grey Mexico created 100,000 free copies of Maskgazine. The special edition features a page that can be used as a face mask.

For the first time ever, the Elton John AIDS Foundation 29th annual Academy Awards Pre-Party is virtual. AKQA and Elton John have decided to make the event virtual so that people from around the world can join.

With the rise in mental health awareness in the Middle East peaking due to Covid-19, AKQA partnered with Safe Space to provide emotional wellbeing support in the Arabic language for Google Assistant.

Covid-19 has accelerated the need to understand a person’s health history quickly. Executive Director of Business Development and Technology David Justus provides an inspiring case for leveraging technology to exchange personal data.

To bring people together in the absence of events, Nike has launched a colouring book that soars to life in AR. Made in partnership with our teams in Tokyo, Shanghai, and New York.

Grey London is encouraging pub-goers to get vaccinated via beer mats. The coasters are distributed to independent pubs that are lacking in financial support due to the pandemic and see the vaccination as the key to survival.

AKQA’s Tokyo studio has collaborated with YouTube to create informative videos to encourage people to learn about Covid-19 vaccines on the official YouTube Japan channel. The videos feature local health authorities and popular Japanese content creators.

AKQA Berlin and Gurgaon launched the Pilot’s watch collection online for IWC. The immersive site showcases eleven new watches through bold design. The ability to view pieces in 3D enables a remote audience to appreciate every detail.

An immersive 360° experience built in celebration of the limited-edition car. With Covid-19 restrictions limiting dealership appointments, a digital focus offers an alternative for in-person viewings and a needed dose of escapism under lockdown.

YouGov has recognised Grey New York’s Science Will Win campaign for Pfizer as one of the most effective. People paid close attention with Pfizer’s Ad awareness increasing by 66% in 2020.

AKQA’s São Paulo studio created a film to show that you can live all the experiences of Tomorrowland, even alone. The film also launches the #doubletheline in Brazil, a global initiative to increase diversity and inclusion in audiovisual production supported by AKQA.

Executive Creative Director Grey Africa Glenn Jeffrey shares his thoughts on how the world of automotive marketing is evolving as a result of the pandemic; car companies are moving more budget towards digital marketing.

Covid-19 has been a catalyst to the emergence of personal diagnostics and testing market. The fundamental change has been seen among all populations, Executive Strategy Director Grey Group Health and Wellness Ankit Vahia shares his perspective.

Ad Club Insider features GCD Grey Group Margaret Russo as she explores how marketers should plan for the unprecedented school year ahead - as a result of Covid-19, marketers will need to be thoughtful, flexible, and acutely aware of the dichotomy of daily life.

Strategic Planning Director Grey Juan Manuel De Borja speaks to Campaign Asia about the economy in the Philippines. He shares insights on how brands have prospered during the pandemic by the easing of successive lockdowns.

Grey GCD Ron Lewis looks back on a year like no other. Advertising has become more empathetic, as brands realised communications could not enter audiences’ lives without acknowledging what people are going through.

To support the launch of the new Google Nest, AKQA designed a virtual music experience, multicolour smart bulbs interacted with the device, bringing the atmosphere of a live concert to the homes of two million viewers.

Promoting community and creativity during a time of social distancing, our Melbourne team has created the Work From Home radio station, WFH FM, as a way to stay connected.

TikTok has surged in popularity during the pandemic. Grey CCO Owen Dougherty tells the story of why P&G and Grey successfully partnered with TikTok to bring a safety message to young people.

A list of 21 emerging trends that have the potential to change our trajectory for 2021. Be hopeful for what comes next, from the hearts and minds of people across the AKQA family.

The Bondfire is a centrepiece for sparking conversations near or afar. Each phone becomes a 3D log, and when stacked together, creates a fire with the comforting sound of crackling flames, evoking warmth.

Chief Creative Officer Grey New York Justine Armour speaks to SHOOT about her perspective on creativity in the year to come. Justine says: “We’re heading into this year wanting to make the most of it all.”

Our London studio partnered with Nike to help Hackney Laces feel connected during in lockdown. ‘Deck of Queens’, was sent to each member. The Jacks, Queens and Kings are replaced by female fans, captains and managers. The cards feature physical and wellbeing challenges.

Grey LATAM President Diego Medvedocky and Itaú Argentina Marketing Manager Carolina Belzunce discuss banking mobility on WPP TV, including the delivery system that brings pension payments directly to retirees.

Brazilian buildings are being lit up with video projections, to encourage the ones in the safety of their homes to donate for the homeless.

Chief People Officer AKQA Amy Oliver speaks about crafting a hybrid model of remote and in-person work. Amy said: “We’re going to use video conferencing and other technologies because they will help knit us together: our people and our culture.”

Nike teamed up with our São Paulo studio to create Air Max Cloud, using augmented reality to offer exclusives in the sky. The platform encourages people to use their window as a canvas for creativity amid the pandemic chaos.

Grey Chief Strategy Officer AMEA Måns Tesch speaks to Campaign Asia about nine themes that will shape creative output coming months. Måns said: “the pandemic made many shed old norms that didn’t make sense in the first place.”

Commercials will need to be more rigorous to avoid creative fumbles, “Every marketer is being very careful right now because of all the tumultuous events around the world,” said John Patroulis, Grey’s Worldwide Chief Creative Officer.

Chief Communications Officer of Grey Group AMEA Huma Qureshi speaks to Aurora. Huma says marketers need to ramp up the customer experience as Covid-19 has accelerated the shift from physical stores to digital shopping by five years.

Our team in São Paulo partnered with Google to celebrate the world’s healthcare professionals. The film was created from concept to licensing, editing and delivery in just five days and has had over 21 million views.

Our team in Italy worked on the launch of Casa Buonanotte, an initiative promoted by WPP to raise funds for the Italian Civil Protection. For forty nights, a well-known face from sport and entertainment will read a classic bedtime story.

Branding in Asia caught up with Terence Leong, the newly appointed Executive Creative Director of AKQA Tokyo to discuss his new role and the future of advertising amidst Covid-19.

David Roth, CEO The Store WPP EMEA and Asia recently interviewed Managing Partner, Brain Vella, on how retailers are increasing their digital footprint. They discussed how services are being extended and how workspaces are adjusting.

In the context of a global quarantine, Nike needed a way to drop the new Air Max to the sneaker community at home. With direction from our Portland team, three fresh female artists created art for a new augmented reality game.

Managing Director, Sam Sterling, writes for Forbes about life after the pandemic. Sam said: “We can take the view that things will be uncertain, or we can take steps now to build a robust business.”

Porto Seguro is the leading destination for graduation trips in Brazil. With the pandemic, the trip was cancelled, but our São Paulo studio found a way to change this. Ruffles recreated a virtual version of the entire city of Porto Seguro inside Fortnite.

Ankit Vahia Executive Strategy Director of Pharma/Health and Wellness at Grey shares how the healthcare industry has accelerated digitisation due to Covid-19.

Chief Creative Officer Hugo Veiga, released ‘Vai Ficar Fixe’, from his alter ego – Gohu. MTV said: “The coolest song from quarantine.” All profits will be donated to fight Covid-19.

Experience Designer, Jiapeng Song and Head of Technology, Steven Gutteridge, speak to Muse about emerging from the pandemic stronger. They Explain: “It’s the most trying of circumstances which create the most interesting outcomes.”

Global Marketer Jax Porter discusses the social impact of the Covid-19 vaccine on the Black community. Lead by Executive Vice President Yolanda Haynesworth at Grey Health & Wellness.

Elle Décor Italy hosted a digital summit on the future of the workspace with Managing Director AKQA Italy Umberto Basso. Umberto said: “We just entered in a new, virtual, stone age.”

Berghs School of Communication hosted a festival with the theme, ‘how does one say yes in this time of no?’. Creative Director Anthony Lui provided insight on how our Berlin studio is assisting clients, plus advice on opportunities for graduates.

Our team in London came up with an initiative to help South Africa’s shelters for women and children. Every Kotex or Huggies product purchased in the Uber Eats app, will be matched and donated to a shelter. 50,000 units have been donated so far.

Jeremiah Emmanuel BEM; youth activist, entrepreneur and author, speaks about his unique journey, the valuable lessons he’s learnt along the way, and the impact that he’s seeing Covid-19 having on the youth of today.

The team in Sweden worked with H&M Home to launch their autumn collection, showcasing new items mixed with timeless pieces. The campaign promotes DIY projects that anyone can do from home during lockdown.

Deakin University’s Open Day was reinvented by our Melbourne studio into an immersive online event. The website was rebuilt to meet the needs of a digital audience. Total site visits almost doubled last year’s campus event.

Managing Director, Alisia Muscat, speaks to B&T about leading through a crisis. Alisia said: “We’ve empowered the team to lead the way, tell us how best we can stay connected and motivated.”

Our team in Paris has created a playful experience for those who have kept their current incomes during the pandemic, and are saving money as they are stuck at home. Data determines users’ savings, inviting them to donate a percentage.

To help Danish bars come back strong after the lockdown, Carlsberg is offering “adopt a keg”, which they can fill up virtually from home and exchange for beer in a real bar as soon as they’re able to open again.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the annual IBM Think conference took place, virtually. Our San Francisco team digitally reimagined two activations, supporting AI and Data. The AI Ladder and IBM Cloud and Red Hat.

Managing Partner Simon Jefferson, speaks to Top Interactive Agencies about his career and Covid-19. Simon said: “it has accelerating online trends we’ve seen over the past 10 years”.

IWC were due to reveal the new Portugieser collection at Watches and Wonders, an event cancelled by Covid-19. Our teams in Berlin and Shanghai combined to achieve a global virtual launch, allowing exploration of the collection in augmented reality.

Managing Directors, Sam Sterling and Alisia Muscat swap stories and strategies about dealing with Covid-19. Sam Sterling said: “We chose to look to where we want to be and navigate towards that, so our decisions were made in that light.”

A central hub for people to give to their favourite spots, ‘Just for Funds’, aggregates all GoFundMe donation links in one easily accessible place.

President and CCO Keith Cartwright speaks to Campaign about launching a new agency during the pandemic, audacious creativity, and if the industry is delivering its DE&I promises.

To help users stay fit and well at home during the pandemic, the aio app is currently available free of charge. Our Copenhagen team created the app, and is assisting in building awareness.

Dr Adam Kucharski; TED Senior Fellow and author of ‘The Rules of Contagion: Why Things Spread and Why They Stop’, explores how the principles of a virus can be applied to businesses.

Together with AKQA, Nike has launched a documentary series featuring real runners, from their homes. All content has been directed and filmed remotely using smartphones.

Facing cancellation given the current conditions, Salesforce partnered with our Australian studios to convert their World Tour purely online, in just 14 days.

Experience Designer, Jiapeng Song, recently took part in a discussion for China Connect. The session covered what experiential marketing will look like beyond the pandemic and if the changes will be a temporary trend.

Our media team has assisted Uber with the delivery of content urging riders to stay home while they shift efforts to helping healthcare workers and those in need.

In partnership with our team in Tokyo, Nike has launched NTC Live Training; an Instagram and YouTube live-streamed series featuring athletes and influencers giving tuition from home.

Managing Partner, Brian Vella writes about embracing the slack in the system. Brian explains: “As some projects get put on hold there is more time to explore innovation, adapt and grow.”

In response to the Covid-19 US stimulus bill, AARP and our Washington DC studio quickly created a calculator to help people understand what financial support they could receive.

A project kickoff reimagined – originally scheduled to be an on the ground event, in less than two weeks our team in Shanghai redesigned all sessions to be accessed online.

To support the hospitality industry, Campari Group donated $1 million to Another Round Another Rally. To announce the donation and craft a message of hope, our New York team executed a social initiative.