V2 worked with AkzoNobel on a strategic project to understand the needs and desires of its new and future consumers in the area of home decoration. What we found was a Pinterest generation who were able to define interior style in clear detail through the careful curation of images, but then found the task of purchasing paint and navigating DIY stores to be a jarring, painful and disconnected experience.
New ways to fulfil and deliver paint for an on-demand world where convenience and immediacy are key. New levels of customisation around not just the paint but the packaging, delivery and service experience.
We needed to create a seamless journey where the customer can effortlessly move between the digital and physical experience. To do this we worked alongside Analogue Folk who developed the complete online experience and with Springetts who implemented all our packaging and tester designs.
Joining the dots between inspiration and delivery
Dulux Customer Centre
V2 turned 6,400 square feet of disused space into a high-tech customer centre for AkzoNobel and its Dulux brand. The space allows retailers to immerse themselves in the customer experience and view product innovations before they go to market. The multifunctional environment was designed to inspire, educate and engage not only AkzoNobel customers but also its staff.
“We're really excited about this new facility, which is designed to inspire customers by delivering a real step change in the customer experience. It will also help to cement our place as an industry leader in technology and design and enable us to work collaboratively to unlock future growth in our industry.”
Matt Pullen, Managing Director of AkzoNobel UK & Ireland
Offering a completely immersive experience, the centre includes an innovation lab and living zone which brings current and future decorative trends to life.
Other features include a showcase store environment, as well as indoor and outdoor hospitality spaces. All spaces have been designed to be easily updated with a new season colour palette, interior trends and new products. The centrepiece is the virtual reality installation, which gives retailers the chance to create and trial potential store layouts so they can instantly weigh up the impact, convenience and fit of different in-store display options before products hit the shelves.
“Our product and service offer can now be more tailored to individual customer needs, the centre will enable us to help customers visualise and experiment with new design options and is the perfect showcase to lift the lid on product and service innovations before they come to market.”
Matt Pullen
Panasonic
A longstanding relationship between Panasonic and V2 has resulted in a wide range of products for its skincare group as well as for its Lumix and Technics brands.
Recently we have become more involved in a completely holistic approach that starts with research and strategy and moves all the way into marketing and communication. So as well as designing the products we are creating marketing campaigns which include advertising, social media content, instore visual merchandising, packaging and exhibition spaces.
Vitamin K-Lamp
We always relish the opportunity to work with true craftsmen and the K Lamp is a perfect example of this with its Stoke-on-Trent production. Handmade using techniques that have been unchanged for generations to a quality that is renowned around the globe.
Stoke-on-Trent has been shaped by the pottery industry for over 300 years. Wedgwood, Moorcroft, Aynsley, Burleigh, Dudson, Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Doulton, and Royal Stafford are just some of brands you will find in the city.
LG Partnership
V2 has supported LG’s design team for over a decade with more than 20 projects in the last ten years. Initially in the area of domestic appliances, TV, audio and mobile devices, and in recent years looking at automated products, robotics and new B2B territories. The scope has been wide ranging from research, strategy, creative direction and vision work to mechanical innovation and prototyping.
“V2 Studios, with its diligent and delightful manner based on extraordinary passion for design, has never failed to exceed my expectations and has continued to provide truly meaningful inspiration. Based on the strong trust, collaborating with V2 Studios and Andy is one of the easiest and the most comfortable parts of my job and I always look forward to working on a new interesting project with them.”
LG Chief Global Design Manager
Dropmix
DROPMIX is a dynamic and fast-paced music-mixing game where players blend popular songs from well-known artists to create unique mixes. The game uses a pack of physical cards with embedded NFC chips and a specialised electronic game board which connects to a mobile device via Bluetooth.
So, how do you play DropMix?
Each card in DropMix represents a different part of a song – like vocals, bass, drums, keyboards etc. As you place cards on the electronic DropMix board you will hear a custom mix start to take shape in real-time. Different modes allow you to play in different ways – freestyle, head to head and team mode, with points awarded for the best mixes and tactical play.
Vitamin Pitch Pendant
In 2004 brothers Chris and Andy Vernall simultaneously founded V2 and Vitamin. The businesses were created with the intention of inspiring and educating each other. V2 with its very strategic, research focused approach contrasted with Vitamin which was about the open exploration of materials, processes and spontaneous ideas. Vitamin designs, manufactures and sells its own range of lighting, furniture and accessories.
Pitch Pendant
The pitch pendant is the latest product in the Vitamin range to be created by our V2 design team. Two overlaid spun forms allow the light to be easily angled and adjusted.
Virgin Media
The creation of the product brand language for Virgin Media with a product range including a set top box, remote, router and TiVo.
V2 Visualisation Studio
V2 has a dedicated service producing ultra-high quality CGI visuals for product, automotive, UX, environments and vision work. Our output is used for packaging and marketing (including print, digital and video).
