Case: Engaging Partners
A service-driven approach to premium brand communication
Appning by FORVIA is a platform that helps automakers bring services and entertainment into their cars. From navigation to streaming, partners provide the conten, Appning connects it to millions of drivers and passengers worldwide.
They needed a video to introduce their platform to potential content partners at CES, a key pre-service moment in their customer journey.
The brief
Appning asked us to shorten and rebrand an existing video for use at CES.
However, the original piece was designed for a general audience: playful in tone, consumer-oriented, and missing the clear, partner-focused messaging needed for a B2B environment.
To make the video effective, it needed more than just editing. It needed a structured narrative that communicated the value of joining the platform.
Our approach
We ran an iterative four-week sprint with Appning, creating a structured, partner-focused video from scratch.
Discovery
We started by understanding Appning’s platform, its brand, and, the content partners driving growth. Through desk research and interviews, we explored their goals, challenges, and needs in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.
The insights from our analysis guided our project goal: creating a narrative that is customer-centric, emotionally engaging, and socially connective, while highlighting the strategic impact partners can have on in-car experiences and mobility innovation.
Content Focus
We developed a new narrative framework built around four dimensions of value:
- Functional: making it easy for partners to scale apps globally
- Emotional: premium quality that builds trust
- Social: being part of a growing network backed by FORVIA
- Strategic: showing the impact partners can have on the future of mobility
By addressing each of these dimensions, the video ensured partners not only understood the platform’s functionality, but also felt connected, confident, and inspired by the strategic potential of their participation.
Bringing it to life
Working closely with Appning and automakers, we developed premium footage of apps integrating natively into vehicle interfaces.
Abstract motion graphics visualised how partner apps travel across brands and countries, supported by concise, on-brand titles.
The creative direction was minimalist and premium, inspired by leading automotive brands, ensuring clarity, focus and instant comprehension at high-traffic events.
Outcome
- A reusable one-minute hero video optimised for events and social media
- A clear, partner-centric narrative that simplifies a complex service
- Creative direction that elevates the Appning brand
- Stronger alignment across brand and marketing on what matters most
Key Takeaways
- Lead with customer value, not internal claims
- One clear message per touchpoint builds recall
- Premium design strengthens credibility
- Combine functional, emotional, social, and strategic value
- Reusable assets improve consistency and reduces production time