
AREA19 | ADIDAS
Copa19 Launch EventFor the launch of the Copa19, the rebirth
of adidas footballs most iconic leather boot,
we created Area19. An event experience
at a secret location in the heart of Milan.
An exclusive event experience enabled
120 football journalists to experience
the key features of the boot within a series
of installations highlighting all the
different aspects of the boots design.
The experience featured a barefoot
experience in total darkness, feeling
the advanced cushioning technology
of the boot within a massive ball bath
as well as a reactive rain room
highlighting the water resistant
attributes of the boots materials.
Further we created the AI persona K:A:Y
(because of the k-leather you know 😉).
K:A:Y's voice guided the audience through
the underground research facility,
explaining each experience and providing
context to the boots design.
Several physicals installations have
been created to explain the origin
of the fingerprint like design of the boot.
The experience climaxed when Paulo Dybala
himself revealed the boot.
- Clio Sports Award Gold -
EXPERIENCE
01CONCEPT
02
INSIGHT
Lesser players play the game.
COPA players feel it.So we’ll launch the new boot in a way
that feels unique
to the COPA franchise - by owning touch,
and focusing
on how the boot feels.
IDEA
A cutting-edge sensory experience where people don’t just
learn
about the innovations of the boot - they feel it.
The strength of Copa has always been in the feel of the boot,
so
we’re going to double down on this with a launch experience
that
forces attendees to focus on what makes the Copa special.
The experience would start with a guided navigation through
multiple rooms, each one focussing on a different new feature
of
the boot. The catch? The bulk of the experience will be in
relative darkness.
Attendees would feel their way through each
room learning about
what they were touching, and the amazing tech behind it.
From a
room covered in X-Ray K leather,
to a floor cushioned with soft
pod inlays, people would
experience each feature in a tactile
way they’d never forget.
The tour would culminate with a jaw-dropping reveal of the boot,
that finally sheds light on its astonishing design.





INTERFACE DESIGN
03K:A:Y
We created K:A:Y, a visually animated AI persona, guiding the guests though the experience.
Remeber, this was created back in 2019,
way before the AI capabilities we are able to use now.
Back then we had to create a simulation in order to create
the perfect futuristic illusion to this one of a kind experience.
K:A:Y was scripted and written by me and then digitalized though text to speech.
We then visually animated the voice and projected K:A:Y’s presence onto screens
and walls all over the location.
The AI is called K:A:Y linking back to k-leather,
the core material of the Copa19 boot.


ELEVATOR
04Laboratories are deep submereged into ground, right?
We successfully simulated this experience using sound and light.
The elevator ride became a futuristic experience.
A screen simulated a fast
elevator ride over several
floors.
In reality the ride
only went down one floor.
The human mind is funny like that...
We simulated fast, passing by numbers on the display
and amplified the experience through light and sound.
What a ride.



HIGHLIGHT INSTALLATION
05The key product display for the Copa19 boot.
With its design inspiration coming from the human fingerprint,
we created this futuristic 3D light installation.




Partner in crime
Lead creative
Markus Sablatnik
K:A:Y Visualizing
waltz binaire
Sound design
Kling Klang Klong
Technical set-up
Bright
Lead creative
Markus Sablatnik
K:A:Y Visualizing
waltz binaire
Sound design
Kling Klang Klong
Technical set-up
Bright
Special Thanks
To the whole Liganova team.
The designers, artworkers,
construction teams,
hands, loaction scouts
and many more.
Special guest
Paulo Dybala
The trusting collaborators @
Johannes Leonardo
adidas football
adidas global events
Clio Awards
for awarding us with
a Clio Sports Gold Award
To the whole Liganova team.
The designers, artworkers,
construction teams,
hands, loaction scouts
and many more.
Special guest
Paulo Dybala
The trusting collaborators @
Johannes Leonardo
adidas football
adidas global events
Clio Awards
for awarding us with
a Clio Sports Gold Award
© Markus Sablatnik