VANS X BLUE NOTE
Product launches people remember.
Vans would come to us with a product launch. Our answer was always the same: an idea more memorable than the shoe itself. Here are two of the many launches we’ve built stories around.
VANS DQM GENERAL
The ask. Write a concept that brought four elements together: the Vans Era, Blue Note Records, pro skater/jazz musician Ray Barbee, and music producer/Blue Note CEO Don Was. We had one week.
The idea. Skateboarding is just as improvisational and conversational as jazz. We built the film around that connection, with Ray Barbee showing what happens when jazz and skateboarding collide.
VANS X ELIJAH BERLE
a new pro classic
The ask. Celebrate Elijah Berle turning pro for Vans: a new pro with a fresh take on an old classic.
The approach. We were on the road shooting Pretty Sweet with Spike Jonze and Ty Evans, so we made it happen in the middle of a completely different project. Sometimes it pays to be nimble.
The music. Through our network of friends across music and culture, we reached Sleigh Bells and licensed their song “Demons” at no cost to the brand.
Why It Matters to Us
A product launch has a short shelf life. A good story doesn’t. Whether we have a week to write a concept or a few days between shoots, we bring ideas that make people care about the product, and the relationships that help brands get more out of every budget.