Alpiq | Expedition Two

“A different kind of energy” - Alpiq's new Brand Promise embodies the aspiration to go beyond the obvious and is deeply connected to internationalization and diversity within the company. The Brand Promise is to be launched internally in 2024 together with the Brand Refresh. But how can employees be inspired for such brand developments? With Alpiq Expedition Two, we sent employees on a hybrid journey, led by Dora, the nature spirit from Expedition One.

A total of 1,200 employees were part of the hybrid expedition, which ended with a big event in Prague for 800 participants. Along the way, we created an interactive storyline that, over the course of three months, ensured that employees engaged with the company’s values in a playful way. Between games, familiar and new faces, the story culminated in Prague and ended in a big joint celebration. 

Welcome to the Alpiqverse 

The nature spirit Dora returns to the employees, but this time in the form of a digital avatar. The potential of this sequel was used to create not only another story about Dora, but also a whole world full of stories about Alpiq’s values and topics: The Alpiqverse, a world between science and wonder that conveys stories about shared values, encourages interaction between employees and creates a sense of connection. 

The Brand Promise as an Interactive Campaign 

As a website, the Alpiqverse was not only given a playful design, but also a platform for interaction. To explore the Alpiqverse, employees created their own avatars, which were placed in the Alpiqverse and could be viewed by other participants. The participants were greeted by Dora and given a short tour of the world and their first tasks. 

When the power suddenly went out in the Alpiqverse, it wasn’t just dark – another character appeared: the lively Avo. As janitor of the Alpiqverse, he is particularly concerned about its well-being and does everything in his power to restore the energy. Avo himself symbolizes energy in all its different forms. 

He asks Dora and the employees to help him find out what energy the Alpiqverse is lacking. This was followed by interactions, mini-games and tasks to collect energy for the Alpiqverse – packed into various chapters of storytelling that culminated in the event in Prague. 

Will Avo manage to restore the energy with the help of Dora and the employees? 

The Grand Finale in Prague 

The highlight of the expedition was the two-day live event in Prague, where the story was taken further with a hybrid scavenger hunt through the city. Participants solved puzzles, interacted with the Alpiqverse and gathered more energy together. 

In the evening, the employees came together for the first time for an aperitif and award show. The winners of the scavenger hunt were announced – until suddenly what everyone was trying to prevent happened: A complete blackout in the Alpiqverse. Avo tried with all his might to keep the system running until he finally ran out of energy himself. 

In a joint musical commitment act by all those present, the energy of the Alpiqverse was restored – and Avo came back to life. A magical moment that made the brand promise “A different kind of energy” tangible and ended in a big party. 

An Experience That Lasts 

Alpiq Expedition Two showed how a strong narrative and interactive mechanics can bring a brand to life. The employees not only became participants, but also active creators of a story that had an impact beyond the event. The hybrid implementation ensured that everyone – whether on site or digitally – was part of this journey. This not only created an unforgettable experience, but also a new world for future expeditions, employee activation and onboarding.