HEINEKEN X IRISH OPEN
Celebrating the Irish Open with a perfectly poured moment.
The Brief
We were brought on board by Elevator, on behalf of their client United Wines, to create a CGI-led campaign celebrating Heineken’s partnership with the Amgen Irish Open. The brief was to deliver a high-energy visual moment that tied Heineken to the buzz of the tournament and captured attention across social media.
The concept needed to be eye-catching, playful, and rooted in the event’s location, without feeling overly commercial. Our creative solution? A branded golf ball rolling straight from the fairway, down Newcastle’s Main Street, and clinking perfectly into a giant pint of Heineken.
60%
INCREASE IN SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
35%
UPLIFT IN IN-STORE SALES
25%
GROWTH IN ONLINE ORDERS
The Process
Working closely with Elevator and United Wines, we kicked off the campaign with a creative concept session, exploring ways to bring Heineken into the heart of the Irish Open experience. After landing on the golf ball journey idea, we mapped out storyboards and timing to blend sporting energy with location-specific storytelling.
From on-location filming and reference capture to CGI integration and post-production clean-up, the process required tight coordination across teams, especially to balance brand impact with a fun, community-driven feel. Every detail was designed to ensure the final video felt both playful and polished, ready to roll on Social.
Storyboard & Filming
This project began with a few creative storyboard routes, each exploring different ways to tie Heineken to the Irish Open experience. After reviewing several visual concepts with the team at Elevator and United Wines, the golf ball journey through Newcastle emerged as the strongest direction. We then refined that idea into a full storyboard, mapping out the narrative beat by beat to ensure a fun and cohesive flow.
Filming took place on-site at Newcastle Golf Course and on Main Street outside Quinn’s Bar. With the street busy and full of foot traffic, we captured multiple clean background plates and carefully choreographed our camera movement to allow for post-production crowd removal. The real-world footage served as a strong foundation for seamless CGI integration in the final edit.
Modelling & Animation
Our 3D team began by creating a branded Heineken golf ball and an exact replica of the official Heineken pint glass, staying true to brand guidelines in shape, material, and proportions. The golf ball was animated to follow a clear, continuous path through the town, with careful attention to its pace and interaction with the environment.
The animation built towards the moment of impact, where the ball hits the pint glass with satisfying precision. To elevate the final shot, we used fluid simulations to create realistic beer pour and movement inside the glass, making the product feel as refreshing and tempting as possible. Every detail, from reflections to refractions, was crafted to ensure visual believability and brand consistency.
Rendering & Post Production
We rendered the final sequence using high-performance tools, with a focus on lighting accuracy, material realism, and fluid motion. The beer simulation was refined to create the perfect pour, with crisp bubbles and golden tones that made the final shot feel both refreshing and satisfying. Reflections and shadows were calibrated to match the filmed environment, helping the CGI settle naturally into the live-action footage.
In post-production, we carried out extensive cleanup across the Main Street shots. Pedestrians, vehicles, and signage were removed to keep the visual clean and focused on the golf ball’s journey. A final colour grade was applied to bring warmth and consistency to the full edit. Delivered in a mobile-first format, the reel was designed to capture attention instantly and performed strongly across United Wines’ social channels.