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Red Rocket staff had an opportunity to “work” our 15’ x 10’ booth during the Marathon’s trade expo for four days. This hands-on experience proved to be a worthwhile investment. Our entire team developed a true appreciation for the amount of energy required to participate in a trade forum: from erecting the static display to bestowing the virtues of Red Rocket’s creative abilities to passers-by. Red Rocket’s clients will truly benefit from our experience, as we’ll be even more sensitive to their trade show needs.

It wasn’t all work—as several of the Red Rocket team were able to participate in the runs – rocket and all!

Recreating the BMO Vancouver Marathon

The organizers for the BMO Vancouver Marathon established goals for 2009: to increase event participation and build awareness locally and internationally. To help accomplish these goals the event’s image needed a complete overhaul. Such a task requires savvy, understanding and creative talent.
Red Rocket was selected as the creative agency to reinvent the image of Canada’s largest marathon.
 


It all starts with a solid foundation—the event logo. This icon becomes the central-point from which all other creative elements are defined. Stylized illustrated runners form the shape of British Columbia’s provincial flower—the Dogwood. The four colours represent the multi-cultural fabric of Vancouver, as well as the four distances associated with the race: 42.2 km; 21.1 km; 8 km and the Kids MaraFun. Red Rocket also conceived the unique tagline “Experience the Energy” written to appeal to participants, supporters, and spectators alike.

Posters
The poster became the cornerstone for many of the event’s promotional items. Featuring confidant, energetic athletes, it was designed to appeal to the Marathon’s target audience. Colourful overlay panels, combined with a variety of inset photos, gave the event its unique look.


Brochures
With four separate races on offer, and more than 14,000 participants, all informational literature needed to be detailed and precise, yet reflective of the engaging and fun atmosphere of the event. Maps, schedules, entry forms, the works. Delivering on this meant smoother sign-ups, a higher turnout and less confusion on race day.


Website
The race website needed a modern makeover to ease on-line registration and streamline presentation of event information. The Marathon's colourful and user-friendly website now ushers more registrants through the sign-up process than ever before—which was a main goal in retooling their web presence. www.bmovanmarathon.ca


Signage
In celebration of the event, Vancouver's Burrard Street Bridge and Georgia Viaduct light poles were fashioned with more than 200 innovative street banners that could be read from both sides. Just one of the many clever ways Red Rocket was able to maximize the event profile.

Medals
Marathon medals are coveted keepsakes for any committed distance runner. We designed seven specially cast and epoxy-coloured medals with a different coloured lanyard for each event. The thick medals have substance making them more appealing while broadening recognition of the event's revitalized brand.

Red Rocket applied the new brand to several event elements. The above list details just a few of the items we were responsible for creating and executing.

Our other recent success with BC Alpine Ski Association and the Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports (aka Disabled Skiers Association) clearly demonstrates that Red Rocket Creative Strategies is leading the pack when it comes to designing and executing effective awareness programs.