Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark
The future of the Arctic, in the hands of its youth.
Arctic Future Challenge. A pan-Arctic innovation competition, built from a blank page.
The Challenge.
How do you get young founders in eight Arctic countries to see their region as a place to build a business, and make a competition launched by four governments feel like it belongs to them?
The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs launched the idea at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland in October 2019. Twelve months later it had to be a brand, a platform and a community, across a region where politics is never far from the surface.
Solution.
1. Brand and visual identity
We conceptualized the Arctic Future Challenge brand and developed its complete visual identity: the snowflake mark, a palette of Arctic blues and teal, typography and a pattern system that could carry the name across every channel.
Built to outlive the first round: the competition was delivered with a framework, platform and branding ready to run again.
2. Website and communication
We built the website and ran the competition's communication from start to finish - social media, mailing lists and press releases - for a call that went out to young people aged 18 to 29 across the Arctic.
Given the project's geopolitical sensitivity, we kept stakeholders in four governments aligned at every step, so the message stayed one message.
3. Films and the virtual award show
When 2020 moved everything online, so did the finale. We produced the teasers, the finalist films and the full streamed award show, hosted by Arctic Circle on 26 November 2020, where the three regional winners were announced.
Results.
Strategy & concept
Deeply involved in the strategy and concept creation, from the minister's launch to the final award.
Managing communication channels
All communication for the competition: social media, mailing list management and press releases.
A brand built to return
A competition framework, platform and identity handed over ready for future rounds.
One pan-Arctic network
Finalists, jury and partners from eight countries brought together under one name.
Putting Arctic youth on the map as founders.