Moët & Chandon × Manor Geneva

‘When you need things done quickly, grab a Brainartist.’ We spent a long time debating whether this slogan, or perhaps ‘If it doesn’t fit, we’ll make it fit’, best describes our latest project for Moët & Chandon. Judge for yourselves.

The project got off to a flying start; or rather: under a comet. A hurtling comet. We had a plan, guidelines, technical drawings and a tight deadline: five weeks until installation in the brand-new champagne and spirits section of one of the most popular department stores on Lake Geneva, which attracts over 11 million visitors a year.

And since only the very best is good enough for such a department store and for Moët & Chandon, there was only one solution for the elegant presentation of these exclusive champagnes: Moët & Chandon’s new premium wallbay, launched as recently as March, which creates just the right atmosphere at the point of sale with its select materials and high-quality craftsmanship—the French touch, of course.

So we quickly checked the technical drawings, gathered the necessary materials, clarified availability and cross-checked the site plan. However, it soon became clear that we couldn’t meet our client’s high standards as things stood. At least not with the originally planned design, as that simply exceeded the maximum permitted height for the site.

But as Sepp Herrberger knew, you have to make the square fit into the square if you want to be successful—the discerning reader will probably have guessed which motto we’ve arrived at by now☝️. And since we had to go back to the design plans anyway, we were able to take further client requests into account straight away. For example, storage space behind the illuminated display. After a brief consultation, aided by clear photomontages, we adapted the construction plans and 3D drawings. We also took the opportunity to rearrange and test the products in the wallbay: does everything fit? And does it fit exactly where it’s supposed to?

We then quickly prepared and finalised the print files—and off they went to production. At that point, there were still three weeks left for construction, finishing and transport to Switzerland.

And now, behold and marvel at what was installed on site so punctually that even traditional Swiss watchmakers were so astonished their magnifying glasses fell from their faces: with a backlit logo, surfaces finished in textured plaster, accents of brushed brass, striking visuals and a wine fridge specially converted for presentation purposes, we have created not just a little eye-catcher, but a real showstopper that elegantly showcases the premium champagnes and tempts visitors to shop.

So: why not join the 11 million visitors if you’re in the area and see for yourselves? Meanwhile, we’re considering whether to change the slogan back to ‘When things need to get back on track, grab a Brainartist’.

We’d like to thank everyone involved for their trust and excellent cooperation, and a special thanks to our producers and fitters for their quick and clean work!