Who we are — Castore

Castore is a premium sportswear brand, born in Britain, that is blowing up around the world.

It is rare for an underdog to come out the shadows and take on the major players, but Castore have done just that. At their best, their products stand proud next to global giants like Nike, Under Armour and Adidas, and the brand is seen by billions on the chest of elite sportspeople from Formula One to the Champions League.

Who we are — venturethree

We are venturethree, an independent global brand company. Together with our partners, we imagine new futures and make them real, using the power of brand.

We believe that our world needs new leaders. And that brand is their most powerful tool for imagination and influence. Propelled by creativity and amplified by technology, brand is deeply human. When placed at the heart of a business, it drives everything: strategy, innovation, experience, culture. We help leaders use the full power of brand to unite people, accelerate progress and make impact now.

Who we are — Creative shift

Creative Shift is based within the University of the Arts London (UAL) and delivers a extracurricular program that targets students from underrepresented groups.

Join us to get access to the creative industries, find paid work opportunities, get involved in co-created projects or live briefs and develop your professional skills and know-how.

Our programme prioritises students from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education and in the creative industries. Click here to find out more and see if you are eligible to take part in the exciting opportunities that Creative Shift offers.

Creative Coach — Abraham Asefaw

Throughout this project you’ll be working with our creative coach Abraham Asefaw. Through interactive sessions, he’ll guide you on how to break down this live brief, develop your designs, and pitch your ideas to our industry partners v3 & Castore.

Abraham Asefaw is an entrepreneur specialising in building and investing in new businesses. He co-founded The Pop-Up Agency, which led him to work with industry giants such as TBWA, Facebook, Coca-Cola and Adidas.

In addition to working with some of the largest brands in the world including Google, Netflix, and Condé Nast, Abraham is also involved in two leading creative schools: as a chairman of Hyper Island, and as a lecturer at Central Saint Martins.

THE BRIEF

The CONTEXT

We believe that better never stops.

We architect and engineer elevated, precision sportswear in partnership with ambitious teams and exceptional athletes from around the world. Everything we do uplifts athletes and gives them the edge they need.

The audience

Our core target is the All-in Outlier. Defined by their fiercely independent spirit and an uncompromising need to achieve, the All-in Outlier lives to discover who they are and what they are capable of by relentlessly challenging their limits and embracing their passions.

The TASK

Castore is not cutting through and connecting with female audiences. This is a growing and hugely valuable market that our brand should win with. It is feared our fame through men’s sport have made us appear too masculine. 

Create something that will transform how this audience will think about and engage with Castore.

This requires more than a well-designed seasonal collection. This must be a creative and bold brand story that captures hearts and minds.

In your teams, identify who the new woman in sport is and how we talk to her. Uncover, write, express, and pitch an idea that you believe will step-change brand perceptions with our desired audience.

These ideas can be realised anyway you see fit - product innovation, PR stunts, social purpose initiatives. Anything.

The best ideas will be those big enough to campaign across multiple channels.

Ideas must be born from a true customer insight and be true to our brand positioning and lives our principles.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Engagement with a real client on a brand challenge.

Access to venturethree’s world class creatives. They will mentor and support you throughout the process.

Potential paid internship(s).

Real-world experience for your portfolio.

Develop your professional skills and improve on your presentation style.

Key information

Programme Details

  • 10-week learning programme

  • Delivered in person at the UAL campus and industry locations (London-based) 

  • Only 15 places available for selected students

  • You will work in small teams with your peers

Bursaries

A small financial bursary will be available to successful applicants to help overcome any barriers in taking part in this live brief.

For more info contact Sat Sehmbey via email s.sehmbey@arts.ac.uk

Teaching Dates

Sessions will be every Thursday for 10 weeks.
From: Thursday 18th January 2024
To: Thursday 21st March 2024
Time: 14:00 – 16:00

If you have any other questions or queries, please contact Sat Sehmbey from the Creative Shift team s.sehmbey@arts.ac.uk

Click ‘Apply’ to view full details of the industry live brief and application form.

Good luck and we hope to see you in Jan 2024!