Bola is a design institute which uses behavioral research as a premise to its projects.  We believe that in investigating and understanding what happens in society in order to develop ideas which are in tune with its aspirations. This is the foundation for what we call meaningful design. We work with the same research methodologies used by our sister-company, Box 1824, and with a multidisciplinary structure that includes anthropologists, semioticians, photographers and, naturally, designers.

Google Maps: ação de lançamento no Brasil

April 30th, 2008

A hot air balloon resembling the shape of the pin used to point locations in Google Maps flew over São Paulo on 30 November, 2007. The action was a collaboration with agency Live AD, and it marked the launching of the Brazilian version of the website. The pin that marked virtual maps was actually shaped like a balloon in the first place, and visually it was already an icon in people’s minds. So, it would be easily recognized, even without the explicit name of the brand — which was essential in order to comply with the Clean City Act, which restricts advertisement in public places. The flight course and video can be seen on Google. Cameras on the balloon and two helicopters recorded the movement of cars, people passing by, buildings, etc. It had been eight years since a balloon had flown over São Paulo, due to the problem of air traffic. This called even more attention to the action, granting it three minutes of prime time Sunday television, on Globo TV’s Fantastico. Check out a quick making of in YouTube.

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