Redefining communication around science

Copernicus Festival
The Nail

An unusual brief

Copernicus Festival - one of Europe's leading science festivals - wanted more than a promo. They came to us with an unusual brief: "We want a small piece of art about beauty."

The challenge? Create something that would excite both world-class academics and the general public without feeling like marketing.

Finding beauty in the unexpected

After extensive research into philosophy, poetry and academic theories on beauty, we took a contrarian approach. Science may try to calculate it, but true beauty is often experienced unexpectedly.

60-second story

We developed a wordless narrative following an obsessive professor's quest to hang a painting perfectly. A mix of Oxford style retro aesthetics, bullet time effects and an appearance of beloved professor Jerzy Vetulani turned it into a playful human commentary on science itself.

Building a lasting cultural impact

The film was approved instantly with zero revisions, integrated across all festival communications and played before every event.

Nine years later, Cracow's academic community still references the film with fondness. We shifted the festival's perception from serious academic gathering to cultural experience that makes science feel human and inspiring.