SXSWestworld

Westworld is a luxury theme park where guests go to live out their wildest fantasies. So, we replicated that experience by recreating Westworld at a secret location during South by Southwest (SXSW). Our campaign promoted the event not as an HBO activation but as an immersive, real-life trip to Westworld.

We meticulously crafted each step of the experience. Guests booked reservations at DiscoverWestworld.com and completed a personality archetype assessment before and were free to explore over 90,000 sq. ft. of space and interact with the AI hosts played by over 60 actors. A 444-page script drove the narrative of SXSWestworld and brought the park to life. Fans scoured the park for hidden season two clues and provided social media reach at a global scale. No two guests had identical experiences.

We designed and illustrated all onsite collateral and signage as part of the “in-world” voice of Delos, the corporation that runs Westworld in the series. Each piece teased the upcoming season, fueling online buzz. Guests sent postcards from the Sweetwater Post Office, to receive them right before the premiere. Personalized letters, full of "easter eggs," awaited guests, revealing deeper narratives. We conceived and treated the entire event as a film set, using Delos-themed content to expand the park's narrative and tease the second season, amplifying the activation's reach beyond the physical experience, sparking conversations on social platforms. SXSWestworld became the most talked-about event, with buzz extending far beyond Austin.

Owned social media content was funneled through a “leaked” security footage lens to enhance the narrative and expand conversation around the activation beyond the park walls.

Notable Awards:
GOLD Outdoor Lion in the Immersive Experiences category at Cannes 2018
GOLD Clio Award in the Branded Content category at the Clio Awards 2018
SILVER Clio Award in the Branded Entertainment category at the Clio Awards 2018


Client: HBO
Agency: Giant Spoon
Senior Producer: David Jacobsen
Associate Creative Director: Josh Yeston
Theatrical Director: David Wally
Senior Art Director / Content & Experiential: Ignacio Linares
Illustrations: Ignacio Linares
Cinematography: Ignacio Linares & Brais Revalderia
Still Photography: Ignacio Linares & Matt Lief Anderson
Social Content Editing and Postproduction: Ignacio Linares
Content Producer: Will Morel
Social Media Strategist: Elysha Beckerman

See full cast here

Next
Next

Black & Unlimited - Walmart