A Voting-Based Idea Competition for a Better Future in Vietnam

An Innovative Competition for a Better Vietnam.

A Voting-Based Idea Competition for a Better Future in Vietnam

IDEA ARENA (Sàn Đấu Ý Tưởng in Vietnamese) is a voting-based idea battle designed to address Vietnam’s social challenges with a positive approach. Two teams, led by key opinion leaders (KOLs), presented innovative solutions to social issues, and citizens participated by voting for their favorite concepts.

Voting took place over four weeks in Ho Chi Minh City through voting booths at AEON malls, a dedicated website, and Facebook. The campaign garnered over 30,000 votes and even attracted collaboration inquiries from local businesses.

Organized by the Vietnam-based Aureole Group (parent company: Mitani Sangyo), this initiative was part of a national campaign and also recognized as a commemorative project for the 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations.

Issue

Improving Life in Vietnam from the Ground Up

The Aureole Group, with 29 years of experience in Vietnam, has established deep local roots and a wide-reaching network while operating across diverse industries. Vietnam, the group’s base, has seen rapid economic growth, which has brought both prosperity and significant social challenges. As a company dedicated to supporting the foundations of daily life, Aureole Group asked itself: What can we do through a brand campaign to make life in Vietnam better?

Creation

Project Design

The project was carried out in the following phases:
●Phase#1 _ Identifying Social Issues
Eight Aureole Group employees were selected as core project members and divided into two teams. Through interviews with local residents, they identified various social issues in Vietnam, including air pollution, traffic congestion, drunk driving accidents, theft, cyberbullying, and waste management problems.

●Phase#2 _ Developing Solutions
From the identified issues, the teams narrowed their focus to four challenges that resonated with the public and had the potential for significant impact. They conducted workshops to brainstorm innovative solutions, combining sustainability, technology, and creativity to design unique proposals.

●Phase#3 _ Idea Battle – “IDEA ARENA”
The teams presented their solutions in a four-week idea battle called "IDEA ARENA" held in Ho Chi Minh City. Citizens determined the winning ideas through weekly voting, including two in-person sessions and five days of online voting for each theme.

The teams were supported by well-known influencers: model H'Hen Niê and actor-comedian Minh Dự, who joined the members in presenting each idea to the public.

Future-Forward Product Design

For each of the four social challenges, the teams developed and designed innovative products to provide solutions. They focused on creating visually impactful designs to clearly communicate their ideas at a glance. Each product was showcased through CG animations and physical models, displayed on the website and at voting venues.

Interactive Touchpoints and Voting Engagement Design

To build excitement during the voting period, we implemented several initiatives, including voting booths, a dedicated website, a Facebook page, and a special broadcast program.

We installed voting booths at Aeon malls in Ho Chi Minh City for four consecutive weeks. The booth design included a stage that vividly illustrated the competition's theme, creating a festive atmosphere to attract participants.

The website was designed specifically for our Vietnamese audience, with all content in Vietnamese. We used CG animations and engaging visuals to effectively communicate the concept of future products and inspire voting.
On our Facebook page, we shared real-time updates about the special program and voting activities. Given Facebook's popularity in Vietnam, these posts reached a broad audience and significantly boosted voter turnout.

Additionally, we showcased the project and voting process in a special program aired on MCVmedia, a Vietnamese YouTube channel with over 3.9 million subscribers, further amplifying engagement.

Technology

Future Product and Voting Booth Design

We created all future product concepts as CG models, emphasizing realism and impact.

For the voting booths, we designed an interactive setup where voting activated sound and light effects, enhancing the atmosphere. The booths, designed for four weeks in Vietnam, featured a modular design for easy assembly and ensured stability.

Future

Open Innovation for Social Implementation

We aim to realize the future products from IDEA ARENA through social implementation. To co-create a better future for Vietnam, we are seeking partners and utilizing Aureole Group’s technology.