Where the Sun Meets the Glass
Aperol came to us with a mission: capture the soul of southern Italy and anchor it in the simple, universal gesture of raising a Spritz. We started with the landscape itsel - the glowing coastlines, the dusty roads, the terracotta rooftops humming in the heat. But the real story was the ritual. That moment when the day exhales and the night starts stretching its limbs. We set out to turn that feeling into a narrative that’s warm, human, and unmistakably Italian.
Crafting the Ritual of Orange Hour
From this foundation, we built a cinematic campaign inspired by the rhythm of life in the south. Each ad became a short film stitched from real textures: friends peeling off from the beach, elders playing cards under vine-covered pergolas, scooters buzzing through narrow alleys as the sky softens into gold. The Aperol Spritz was our constant - a bright, joyful anchor in every scene. We leaned into authenticity, playful chaos, and natural beauty to make the visuals feel like stolen moments rather than constructed ads.
The impact went beyond awareness. The campaign rekindled what Aperol represents in the south: togetherness, spontaneity, and the poetry of unwinding. We shaped a story that positioned Aperol Spritz not just as a cocktail but as a cultural signal — the spark that turns an ordinary evening into a memory. The work resonated across the region because it felt true to life, elevating the brand while staying rooted in real southern rituals and the magic of golden hour.
Katharina Hofsttäter
Set Designer
