Airbus

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Design Inc are proud to have been behind the highly successful Airbus Helicopters advertising campaign.

Airbus is a major global aerospace business and leading helicopter manufacturer and, based on our historical work for Bombardier Aerospace, Design Inc was invited to pitch for a new global helicopter advertising campaign.

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Airbus Helicopters magazine advert showing helicopter on spoon illustrating business aviation marketing concept

The brief

We were invited to pitch for the global Airbus helicopter advertising campaign against 4 other agencies including the incumbent Publicis.

Airbus was looking for an international campaign with creative motifs developed initially for each of the main 5 rotary aircraft deployments or missions – these being: military, medical, police, business, oil & gas plus we were requested to develop an ‘innovation’ and an ‘after sales’ service advert.

The adverts would be used in traditional printed and digital media in aerospace, aviation and mission sector related titles.

Airbus helicopter campaign posters for law enforcement and search and rescue showcasing mission-specific aviation solutions

Airbus Helicopters business and special operations adverts featuring helicopter on spoon and military aircraft branding visuals

Airbus helicopter oil and gas and surveillance campaign with helicopter on fuel nozzle and binoculars concept imagery

The approach

We set out to create the Airbus Helicopters advertising campaign that demonstrates how Airbus looks at things differently. We juxtaposed existing client-supplied imagery of the helicopters with ‘super-sized’ props to create ambiguous images full of impact and intrigue.

A high-quality fountain pen is used to represent business, a petrol pump for oil & gas, a blue light for law enforcement and a medical kit for EMS. The military mission advert developed for the pitch strikingly featured a Tiger attack helicopter in a face-off with a wasp.

During the campaign’s duration additional mission motifs including a life-ring for Search & Rescue (SAR) and night vision goggles for Special Forces were developed.

In addition to creating simple but standout ads with cut-through we set out to develop a campaign that would also translate well into digital and animated media for delivery across range of different platforms and channels.

Airbus military helicopter on binoculars representing surveillance and defence aviation capabilities

Airbus search and rescue helicopter on lifebuoy symbolising emergency response and lifesaving aviation services

Airbus military helicopter on camouflage surface highlighting special operations and defence aviation campaign

The outcome

This flexible and cost-effective to produce campaign ran for 5 years. 2 years longer than planned and it was significantly robust to continue through 2 Airbus Group rebranding exercises.

The Airbus Helicopters advertising campaign has been seen around the world in prominent positions on aviation magazines like Flight International, in specialist sector publications and in animated form on media and major international aerospace aviation exhibition websites like HAI Heli Expo in Houston.

During the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) Flight Global conducted research including advert recall. Reader response showed the campaign was one of the most memorable in the industry for a number of years.

Airbus went on record stating that helicopter sales ‘doubled’ in the six months following the campaign launch. Although we won’t attempt to take all the credit for this – the development of the helicopter advertising surely helped?

Airbus Helicopters corporate brochure cover design with helicopter and robotic hand, aviation branding mockup

Open Airbus Helicopters brochure showing helicopter landing on serving tray concept, global service messaging layout

Airbus Helicopters military helicopter brochure spread with soldier using binoculars, defense aviation content

Airbus Helicopters brochure interior featuring helicopter timeline, safety performance and aviation innovation history

Airbus Helicopters EC135 helicopter model displayed on a blue siren, modern light utility aircraft design

The reaction

“The genre challenging campaign Design Inc developed for us has run for 5 years. From beginning to end it set us completely apart from other Helicopter manufacturers and achieved one of the best ever reader recall results for an advert in Flight International.”

Laurence Lafoy-Burgio, Airbus Corporate Helicopters

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Design Inc is a full-service digital marketing agency specialising in strategic creative communications.