COVID 19 had seen a huge increase in stock footage mash ups and 'adspirational' voice overs. Connections and catching up over coffee also took a hit.

We chose this time to look towards our community for inspiration instead. We looked at how people were responding to the pandemic and social distancing - and drew inspiration from them to break through the communication, negativity and noise all around us.

We needed to reconnect with our community now, probably more than before and find a way to inspire connections across our communication.

We chose this time to look towards our community for inspiration instead. We looked at how people were responding to the pandemic and social distancing - and drew inspiration from them to break through the communication, negativity and noise all around us.

Collecting stories of new ways to stay close from far, from across the region, we transformed NESCAFÉ Instagram grid into a range of balconies that come together to form a building. The ‘building’s’ tenants connect in their own unique ways from their different Instagram posts (different balconies).

Inspired by residents serenading their neighbors and turning their balconies into outdoor cinemas, the brand used their content to encourage physical distancing while staying socially close and celebrating new ways of connecting.

The coffee category was already facing a challenging start to 2020 with the implementation of excise tax in January and effects of regional turbulence, specifically Lebanon.

COVID was the cherry foam on top.

We had to halt activations, out-of-home communication and many campaigns due to launch, but we couldn't stop communication entirely. So we used the layout of the Instagram grid to inspire our message of staying close.

With ‘connections’ being the core of NESCAFE's communication strategy, we needed to find a way to not let our communication stagnate and to still push our messaging of staying connected, even through a socially-distanced pandemic.

Our target audience was our followers across social media as well as others connecting in new ways - as they were the ones inspiring the idea and content.

We were inspired by residents serenading their neighbors and turning their balconies into outdoor cinemas, the brand used their content to encourage physical distancing while staying socially close and celebrating new ways of connecting.

Collecting stories of new ways to stay close from far, from across the region, we transformed NESCAFÉ Instagram grid into a range of balconies that come together to form a building. The ‘building’s’ tenants connect in their own unique ways from their different Instagram posts (different balconies).

We activated our regional network, to have COVID-compliant, remote shoots as we captured stories across the Middle East. This inspired others to shoot and share their own stories of connections in return.

An illustrator developed a fresh look & feel for the balconies that comes together perfectly to form the building. Whenever someone would share a story, their story got illustrated and became part of the building.

Organic reach: 7.1% (vs. 1.6% industry benchmark)

Impressions: 59,184,096

Reach: 15,008,864

Views: 6.9million

90% positive sentiment

Total Engagement: +65K