The new convention center of Milan, is getting built as we speak. Scheduled for inauguration in May 2011, it will be the largest in Europe, and it will enjoy the latest technologic facilities worldwide. The new center aims to become a reference venue for international conferences and events.
Designed and projected by architects Mario Bellini and Pierluigi Nicolin, the buiding is characterized by a bright well lighten clear roof.
The owner of the convention center is the Fiera Milano Foundation, a private entity performing functions of public interest, supporting and promoting the organization of fairs, conventions and events.
The property will be managed by Fiera Milano Congressi, company belonging to the Fiera Milano Foundation.
WHAT IS IT ?
In this step you will find information about the Brand Builder, who is asking you to propose a Solution for the challenge. He introduces himself (as a Brand of course :) The more you understand about the Brand, the more chances you have to create what is wanted.
IMPORTANT: There is a possibility that the Brand Builder prefers not to disclose who he is, usually for confidentiality reasons. Such Briefs will be published in an anonymous way. In this case the Brand Builder will say as much as he feels comfortable saying.
Here are two EXAMPLES
In case there is no problem with disclosing the identity (VISIBLE):
“NMN -No More Nicotine- is a Brand that promises to counteract the damages to the skin that can be caused by smoking. NMN is distributed in pharmacies and drugstores and its price positioning is middle-high; it is mainly promoted through professional endorsement and is not massively advertised.”
In case the Brand doesn’t want to disclose his identity (ANONYMOUS):
“Brand counteracting the damages to skin caused by smoking. Its products are distributed in pharmacies and drugstores with a middle-high price positioning; they are mainly promoted through professional endorsement and are not massively advertised.”
In summary: Who is your client (in a visible or “anonymous” way :)
We are asking Creators to develop the logo and the name of the new convention and events center. The name and/or the logo must recall the city of Milan.
Adding a short payoff is possible whenever the name and logo are directly calling for the convention center in Milan.
Last but not least we are asking the concept outline, to be drafted following the scheme available in attachment A.
WHAT IS IT ?
This is the task the Brand Builder asks you to accomplish. If you don’t understand it, you are completely out of luck !
EXAMPLE
“We ask the Creators to develop a print advertising campaign in order to increase Brand’s visibility. It will be used in national magazines this spring.”
In summary: It’s the objective of the client, therefore your objective too !
We are mainly speaking to an international audience, the usual convention attendees including:
- Doctors, scientific researchers (carrying out research in medicine, biotechnology, genetics, informatics and telecommunications etc.)
- Business professionals (companies, multinationals and big corporations) that come to the center for company meetings, conventions etc.
- Professionals of the culture sector (museum operators, libraries)
We also target the associations of the professionals described above.
The international and Italian convention organizers picking a new and strategically
positioned venue, situated only minutes away from the center of Milan, are also part of our
target.
The national and international public events organizers (concerts, consumer events)
WHAT IS IT?
People that the Brand Builder wants you to entertain and persuade to think, feel or do something using your creation. Usually you will read about their age, sex, social level and behaviors. You should always keep that information in mind while creating, as the target audience is the final recipient of what you create.
EXAMPLE
“Smoking girls and women who would like to quit smoking but can’t. Usually health-conscious adults who care about their looks. They feel guilty about smoking because they know it is harmful. They read books about it. This is a real problem for them: it’s like “My brain wants something, but my body acts of its own accord”. They don’t relate to my brand, they are just waiting for a trustworthy “helping hand”.
In summary: Get under their skin !
The new convention center must be perceived and recognized as the big conventions and international events center, based in Milan - a world metropolis.
WHAT IS IT?
The thing that the Brand Builder wants to make the target audience think/feel/do because of your creation.
Here are some very concrete examples:
∞ Some things people can think/feel:
- There is a new Brand (or product or idea or...) out there
- This Brand is better than the alternatives or than it used to be
- This Brand is worth paying more for
∞ Some things people can do:
- Start buying the Brand’s products
- Buy the Brand more often
- Stock more products of the Brand in their outlets
The above written examples are very concrete whilst often the proposition of the Brief is emotional. That’s even better as it can be more inspiring!
EXAMPLE
“We’d like to encourage smokers to use NMN in order to minimize the damage to their health while they are keeping giving up smoking (especially if they’ve already tried and failed before).”
In summary: Get inside their brain !
Because it has flexible spaces, it is equipped with leading edge technology, it is practical and functional while easy accessible thanks to its central location. And because is big, very big.
18.000 seats,
1 auditorium with 1.500 seats,
1 plenary with 4.500 seats,
about70 modular rooms with 10 to 2.000 seats capacity,
54.000 square meters of exhibition area,
15.000 square meters of clear roof.
WHAT IS IT?
This is the key to achieving the objective. It is what supports the proposition and makes it believable. Usually it is a rational statement.
EXAMPLE
“Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage to your appearance. A recent study took several pairs of identical twins where one twin was a lifelong smoker and the other had never smoked. The smokers’ skin was a quarter thinner than that of non-smokers, and in some cases there were differences of up to 40%. NMN contains thinning-blocking anti-oxidants which counteract the effect of nicotine on the skin.”
In summary: You are looking for arguments? You’ll find them here!
- Welcoming
- Modern
- Original
- Spacious
- Technological
- Versatile
- Big
WHAT IS IT?
It’s who the Brand is. Yes... who!
Treat the Brand as a human being, as it has its own personality. To know the personality of the “client” is fundamental in order to provide a tailor-made job. So, read carefully the listed adjectives...
EXAMPLE
“Scientific, trustworthy, result-oriented, ‘a party’ to achieve your goals.”
In summary: Imagine the live person !
The name and logo will be displayed on the building, on the inside orientation signs and on all communications tools, above the line and below the line (ads, outdoor, website, flyers, releases, brochure, invites).
To promote and increase awareness, nation and International wide, an advertising campaign will be put in place, including all specialized magazines of the events and conventions sector and also international press coverage (the Financial Times, the frankfurter, le monde, el pais).
WHAT IS IT?
A list of places (or media, or things) where the target audience will see the outcome of your creation. In this step sometimes the Brand will also acknowledge you how much he plans to invest into production. This information will give you an insight whether to create a BIG project or make it small... :)
EXAMPLE
“This campaign is going to appear in lifestyle- and health-focused women magazines of New Zealand, during the spring of 2009. We plan to invest 500,000 USD, which means approximately buying 100 single pages.”
In summary: Consider the medium !
MUST
• Recall the city of Milan,
• Apply the logo on various corporate materials (letter heads, website, brochures etc,)
• Forget and detach yourself from the name and logo used until now for the convention center – MIC Plus (see attachment B for the logo)
• We don’t want any mentioning to fiera, fairs
• We don’t want any reference to the property owner, Fiera Milano Congressi, nor to its logo
For further info related to the project please visit:
http://www.micplus.it/?lang=it
http://www.fieramilanocongressi.it/Home_it.html
Attachments:
A. Concept scheme
B. List of main International convention centers
C. Photos and project render
If the Brand has preferences or technical requirements that your Solution has to match, you will find them here.
Here are some items that you may find in this section:
∞ Guidelines or mandatory inclusions (do’s and/or don’ts)
∞ Business objectives
∞ Market and competitors overview
∞ Good and bad samples
Depending on the Brief, you may also find some files attached with a logo, pictures of product(s), a template that you should use in order to submit your ideas, or any other file that the Brand wants to share with you. So, study the attachments before starting creating.
In summary: Anything else you need to know (not written in the 7 steps before) !
