07 USAF

Exposition

The USAF Armament Directorate is a division that focuses on the development and implementation of innovative technologies in the field of national munitions capabilities. The directorate’s mission is to harvest, mature, demonstrate, and transition the best ideas into disruptive technologies that can be matched with the needs of our troops to create future weapons concepts. They are committed to creating digital, open-system architectures and optimizing these concepts through testing and analysis before transitioning them into production and delivery to the troops.

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Compelling Event

In an age where technology is rapidly evolving, the USAF Armament Directorate recognized the need to stay ahead of the curve. They knew that in order to effectively communicate and engage with their audience, a strong online presence was indispensable. This realization was the call to action; it was the spark that ignited a fire of innovation and determination. The USAF Armament Directorate reached out to us at Fri3nds Agency, seeking not just a facelift for their online platforms but a complete overhaul. They wanted to utilize the latest technologies and creative strategies to create an immersive and interactive experience for their audience during their flagship events and beyond. This marked the beginning of a partnership that was about to take the Directorate to new heights.

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The Process

Our process began with a series of meetings with all key stakeholders where we defined our goals and expectations for an ambitious brand refresh. Under the creative direction of Tesa Lau, CEO of Accomplices, who urged us to "Make it pop" and "Go Bananas", we were reminded that we were building a product for the heroes who lay their lives on the line for our freedom. This fueled our creative juices and helped us focus on the user persona.

We developed a scalable brand guide that encompassed all the requirements and created a rebrand for their main website along with brand refreshes for their slate of 14 yearly events and their marketing campaigns.

We built the pages in Webflow, utilizing stunning 3D assets, unique animations, and interactions that provided the WOW factor without compromising speed and quality. We maintained oversight of the delivery for the remainder of the year.

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The Outcome

We created a platform with custom landing pages, live brand activation moments powered by QR codes, and exceptional copy provided by the Accomplices team. The platform featured an online chat for attendees to follow the events and view highlights curated by the on-site team.

Details of what we made include:

A scalable Webflow component system of over 300 components

Custom 3D animations and interactions that work seamlessly in multiple resolutions

Full integration of marketing platforms with HubSpot, Campaigner, IBM UStream, and Vimeo

Interactive Design Prototypes for rapid approval

The platform received praise and acclaim from attendees and sponsors alike, bringing even more attention to the Armament Directorate program. For two years in a row, the joint forces of Accomplices and Fri3nds Agency have been empowering the USAF to grow their programs and interactions with the industry.

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The Impact

The impact we made on the client was tremendous:

95% Event growth year over year

Over 6200 total attendees in 2 years

These numbers are a testament to the powerful collaboration between the USAF Armament Directorate, Accomplices, and Fri3nds Agency.

At Fri3nds Agency, weare immensely proud to have been a part of this transformative project. The USAF Armament Directorate now stands as a shining example of how creative technology can revolutionize an organization’s presence and capabilities. We were not just rebranding; we were part of something bigger – empowering those who safeguard our freedoms. With a combination of our innovative approach, the guidance of Accomplices, and the forward-thinking vision of the USAF Armament Directorate, we achieved a synergistic collaboration that exceeded expectations. As we continue to support the Armament Directorate and celebrate the remarkable results, we are eager to bring this experience and dedication to future clients. Together, let’s make the world pop and go bananas with creativity and innovation.

USAF - Accomplices

About Accomplices

Accomplices is led by Tesa Lau and a range of “a-team” superheroes that dream up ideas that push against the status quo and then bring them to life. For over X years they’ve been the preferred partner for the USAF Armament Directorate program.

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The Challenge

RadCat, an amazing creative agency, introduced us to Accomplices, and asked us to help them change the way the USAF Armament Directorate program related to technology. Our goal was to power their flagship events and usher the new era of hybrid and online events.

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What we are doing

• Creative Technology Strategy
• Custom code solutions
• Brand Refresh
• Updated collateral
• Webflow Build and page upgrades

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The Results

• 95% Event growth YOY
• 32 of industry recognition
• 6200+ of total attendees in 2 years

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1. From really good to amazing

Great expectation management is the cornerstone for a successful engagement. We met with all key stakeholders and defined our goals and expectations for an ambitious brand refresh. Tesa gave us the 2 most beautiful directives: “Make it pop” and “Go Bananas”. So we went off to the races to bring the most creative and interactive experience to our client.

2. The quality and innovation they deserve

We kept front and center that we were building a product for the people that lay their life on the line for our freedom. It needed to represent how they push the boundaries of what's possible while staying true to the guidelines of the USAF.

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3. Seamless experience all around

From the time the events are announced, we focused on a frictionless interaction. We created custom landing pages and connected them with QR codes and great copy provided by the Accomplices team. On the day of the event, attendees were able to follow online chat and view highlights curated by the team on site.

4. New heights for the USAF

2 years in a row of praise and acclaim from the attendees and event sponsors are leading to even more eyes onto the Armament Directorate program. The joint forces of Accomplices and Fri3nds want to empower the USAF to grow their programs and interactions with the industry. 

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