Vans: Red Bull Flugtag

The Charles River; Boston, MA

Challenge

Showcase the Vans shoe brand and highlight their sponsorship of the 2016 Red Bull Flugtag event in Boston with a custom-made, human-powered flying machine.

Approach

Working with a team of aeronautic specialists, Trigger(House researched the science of flight to fabricate a flying craft designed after the iconic Vans SK8-Hi checkerboard sneaker. The massive sneaker replica sat atop a giant Vans shoebox and featured a skateboard hang glider-style wing. Trigger(House filmed the behind-the-scenes build of the craft, creating a teaser video used for social amplification by the Vans social team.

Results

Over 40,000 spectators alongside the shoreline of the Charles River (and thousands more viewing online via facebook and snapchat) witnessed the inaugural flight of the Vans flying SK8-Hi. The honorary craft soared 42’, taking one of the top spots, but more importantly, flew far beyond MIT’s aeronautics’ sponsored team!