Kyle Rask (IDEA Grad 2025) and his team win the Brand Battle for Good event for solutions to Vancouver’s social isolation

Congratulations to Kyle Rask’s team for winning the Brand Battle for Good! We asked Kyle to share his experience with this one-part conference and one-part idea hack-a-thon event to develop the most innovative, creative, and implementable solutions to Vancouver’s social isolation issues.

Check out Kyle’s story!

Kyle Rask (IDEA Grad 2025) at Brand Battle for Good

I had a great experience overall, though the first day of the event didn’t set me up to be excited for the second. I already gave this feedback to the organizer directly (I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Scott Sustad after the main event).

My issue with the first day was largely around the fact that it was digital and very hard to meet and have an authentic get-to-know-you with the people you were going to work it. That, coupled with the fact that the first day was back-to-back sessions with no room for bio breaks or even a proper lunch made it feel like a fever dream I was ready to be over. This isn’t to say the actual sessions themselves weren’t valuable—there were great talks from some great individuals. Hopefully this issue is addressed next year though!

On the in-person day the event was stellar. My team (Inbox Booths) was great. It was a rag-tag group as the company was small and it brought in a lot of different perspectives and backgrounds. It really helped our team, I think. The venue was very cool, fun and professional, and the drinks/food/snacks/coffee were really well done and kept us going all day.

It was a really interesting experience working under that tight deadline. We were supposed to have our concept locked down by the end of the first day, a week to think on it, and the 5ish hours on the second day to execute. Our group didn’t get that far the first day, so we also had to ideate that morning, under-the-gun, and get moving.

Brand Battle for Good

My team was supportive, thoughtful, and energetic. We landed on a concept right away and broke up into teams to start building a case for it, doing some in-the-field testing of the concept, and building the brand. I know it wasn’t every student’s experience, but I was very much a contributor to the team and treated as a working professional—not a student.

It was a cool experience for me because I designed the branding for our concept, Hello Yello, named it, made the assets, and built the presentation deck for the team. It was a lot, and stressful as the deadline approached but we pulled it off and our team took the win!

Brand Battle for Good

Since then, I’ve been in contact with the team, met up for a post-celebratory get-together, and have continued to support the brand with assets as its now in the process of being built out and implemented into Vancouver sometime in 2023. I’ve made some great contacts, received very gracious and kind praise for my contributions and what I brought to the team, and walked away with some on-going friends.

Joshua Harris (IDEA Grad Emma Sato’s dad) was on my team and is spearheading the project with Kelly Lamb (also on my team) and I hope to stay in contact with them and support as a designer for the project well into the future.

Brand Battle for Good

I would really suggest IDEA School of Design students participate. I think it’s a great experience and who knows, could be a great CV piece. I will caution though, it’s a decent commitment and does set you behind in your school projects—so you have to be able to catch back up!

Brand Battle for Good

About Brand Battle for Good

Brand Battle for Good is a multifaceted event that includes educational and inspirational talks and workshops, a design thinking hackathon, art, music, and a whole lot of networking. Brand Battle for Good is a two-day virtual conference and in-person competition held on September 28 & October 5, 2022.

This year, over 25 of Vancouver’s leading brands competed to develop the most innovative, creative and implementable solutions to the city’s social isolation issues. The winning idea was primarily be chosen based on impact, accessibility, feasibility and degree of behavioural change.

For more see: brandsforbetter.ca/brand-battle-for-good