Have a Beautiful Run, Berlin
In an era obsessed with competition and attainment, The Home of Running 2023 put the joy and beauty back into marathon running. Leveraging the unique psychedelic vision of Eliud Kipchoge (one of the world’s greatest marathon runners) with the diverse running communities of Berlin, Sunst put together a two-day multi-dimensional project.
Creating a welcoming, festival-like experience that doubled up as the perfect environment for the athletes to prepare themselves for the mental and physical challenges that lay ahead. The Home of Running was designed to invoke a community-driven spirit, putting the athlete’s needs first as well as an inviting location for all their family and friends. With its upbeat, kaleidoscopic aesthetic, the project celebrated the beauty in running with collective vibrancy and positive tonality.
Visual Concept
The project referenced previous iterations of The Home of Running whilst channeling new, advanced, 3D graphic textures. This innovative grain and motion blur was identified and developed from Berlin’s local airbrushing scene. Sunst incorporated it into a unique customizing activation – the first time this local design trend had gained widespread traction. Used on all comms and visual assets, this graphic and motion texture was like a psychedelic heatmap, giving the project both a DIY and a hyper-contemporary style that synced with the unique aesthetic vision of Eliud Kipchoge, the main project protagonist.
The interior juxtaposed natural materials and playful analogue elements such as flags with techy detailing. Highlighted purple piping with green plants and stunning “heat map” graphics contrasted with the finished steel of the containers and the wood textures. Being sustainable was paramount, and by reusing materials and furniture elements from previous The Home of Running editions (reconfiguring them or making new combinations), Sunst didn’t just reduce its carbon footprint but accentuated the visual legacy of the annual Nike Running experience.
Spatial Activation
Amidst the competing activations and visual elements, it was crucial to guide visitors in exploring and engaging with the diverse experiences on offer. To achieve this, Sunst introduced dynamic shifts in tone. The garden area, with its soothing beige wood tones, offered a peaceful, chillout space. Wooden bleachers, lush plants and fluttering flags made it the perfect spot for athletes to relax before their upcoming race.
The workshop invited visitors to personalise their running singlets. Experts added heat-pressed icons and heat-map inspired airbrush designs.
A fully interactive screenwall presented the athletes captured in the photo booth. This immersive installation was the centrepiece of the project, adding to the visual textures of The Home of Running without over cluttering the space.
