same.space

For FOCUSWATER, we worked with our partners to develop an extraordinary gamified vending machine. The oversized FOCUSWATER bottle combines eye-catching product design, digital games, and the immediate dispensing of a refreshing prize.

The result is a mobile brand experience that not only stands out at events, festivals, and promotions but also lets people interact with the brand in a playful way.

FOCUSWATER wanted to create a promotional campaign that went beyond a traditional sampling booth. They were looking for a solution that would attract attention even from a distance, invite visitors to interact, and allow them to experience the product in a playful way.

The activation needed to be deployable at various locations, able to withstand heavy use during events, and easy to operate.

At the center of the activation is an oversized FOCUSWATER bottle. A large touchscreen is integrated into the front of the bottle, allowing participants to play various digital games.

After the game, participants receive a bottle of FOCUSWATER directly from the machine. This combines digital interaction, gamification, and product sampling into a seamless experience.

The entire user interface was designed for quick and intuitive use at events. An easy-to-understand introduction explains each game before participants can get started right away on the large touchscreen.

Depending on the event, different games can be used. These include, among others, a reaction-based “Simon Says” game and a custom-developed match-3 game in the style of well-known puzzle games.

The game mechanics are intentionally simple and accessible, visually tailored to the brand, and structured to create an entertaining brand moment in a short amount of time.

Behind the playful interface lies a custom-developed web application. It controls the games, the user interface, and communication with the vending machine.

Once a game is successfully completed, the product is dispensed digitally. At the same time, the system monitors the available bottles and can control dispensing based on defined quotas.

The various games can be activated or deactivated depending on the application. This allows the experience to be flexibly adapted to the specific event, the target audience, or the desired campaign mechanics.

A particular challenge of the project was ensuring seamless interaction between the software, touchscreen, vending machine controls, and mechanical product dispensing.

The digital experience not only had to be visually compelling but also had to function reliably under real-world event conditions. This included, among other things, the precise control of product dispensing, the management of bottle inventory, and extensive testing of all processes.

Together with the specialists involved, the machine was therefore continuously tested, optimized, and prepared for mobile use.

The FOCUSWATER Vending Machine was developed as a mobile activation tool and can be used at festivals, sporting events, promotional campaigns, and other brand events.

Thanks to its unique design, the machine is a real eye-catcher even from a distance. The integrated gamification then ensures that attention turns into genuine interaction—and that interaction becomes a positive, lasting brand moment.

The result is far more than just a beverage vending machine: it’s a physical-digital brand experience that captures attention, engages people, and immediately puts the product front and center.

The combination of eye-catching design, intuitive gamification, and direct product sampling makes the FOCUSWATER Vending Machine a flexible promotional tool that offers a highly engaging experience.

The project was developed in close collaboration with FOCUSWATER and Rivella, as well as wetalkwithyou, RUBA, Plug&Playce, Speich, josTTech, and e-display.

Through the synergy of creativity, production, vending machine engineering, display technology, and software development, a bold idea was transformed into a unique interactive brand activation.