The 18th A1 Anniversary

1. Context

A1, a major Austrian telecom, wanted to celebrate the 18th anniversary of its Belarusian branch. The idea was to make a special gift for customers. Instead of a standard postcard, they chose something innovative. The plan was to create a digital illustration fully in VR, record the process, and use it in a promo campaign. My role was to design the concept, prepare sketches, and then paint the final version in VR using Open Brush on a Quest headset.

2. Process

The brief focused on Belarusian language and culture. The central element had to be the handwritten word “Дзякуй!” (Thank you!) in Belarusian. Around it, the client wanted botanical motifs. I started with digital sketches to explore directions. After feedback, I made the lettering softer and more handwritten. I also proposed Belarusian wildflowers (cornflowers and dandelions) as supporting elements. To fit the VR medium, I added a glowing outline around the text and dynamic particles coming from the center.

​Sketches

3. Skills Applied

• Translated 2D illustration into 3D VR space
• Worked with composition, color, and hierarchy in an immersive canvas
• Worked within strict brand guidelines, using only the approved palette
• Created custom hand lettering and botanical motifs
• Used UI thinking to keep the design clear and readable in VR
• Optimized & simplified illustration to be lightweighted for performance

4. Collaboration

I worked closely with the client team and agency Getbob. We had several review rounds and strict deadlines. A challenge appeared when the projector grid in VR shifted during the session. Because of that, tracing the approved sketch exactly was impossible. Together we decided to switch to freehand lettering. The result looked more natural and expressive. The client loved it.

5. Result

The final artwork was used as the official postcard. A screenshot from the VR scene became the visual for print. The project was a success. It combined cultural storytelling with innovation and showed how traditional illustration can live in immersive media.

The full creation process was recorded. Later, video clips were used in A1’s promotional campaign.