CLEAR COUNTDOWN 2018

Clear Countdown 2018 was one of the pioneering projects to bring 3D Mapping art into public spaces in Vietnam, turning urban architecture into performance material and contributing to creating a new cultural destination for locals as well as domestic and international tourists. Organized at the Hoan Kiem Lake walking street area on New Year's Eve, the program not only brought a countdown experience that was different from the traditional stage model, but also opened up an innovative approach in activating urban spaces, where architectural works became a part of the cultural experience and public life.

Dream Studio developed the entire program based on the concept of “Intersection”, a symbol for the meeting between nature and technology, between products and users, as well as the transition moment from the old year to the new. Instead of building a traditional stage, the entire facade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade building was used as projection material, where images, lighting, and music blended into a unified experience.

The script was divided into three chapters with visual and musical language developing along a continuous emotional flow. “Brilliant Nature” opened with images of herbs and the vitality of nature against the musical background of DJ Javix. “Technological Universe” followed with a graphics system inspired by molecular structures and digital movements, expressing the innovative spirit of technology. By the final chapter “Intersection”, the entire visual effect reached a climax as the two worlds blended together, leading to the countdown moment and a brand projection performance synchronized with the music of DJ SlimV.

The special feature of the project was that 3D Mapping went beyond its mere illustrative role to become the main storytelling vehicle. The building’s architecture was continuously transformed through visual effects, giving the impression of a moving, evolving structure that interacted directly  with the rhythm of the music. This was also one of the few times large-scale projection technology was brought into a community event right in the center of Hanoi at that time.

Through Clear Countdown 2018, Dream Studio not only affirmed the pioneering role in event organization, but also expanded the creative boundaries into the field of urban space planning as a cultural destination. By combining architecture, music, lighting, and performance technology, the project turned the public space into a unique visual symphony, contributing to the development of the cultural industry and increasing the city's attractiveness to domestic and international tourists.