Our Village, Your Home

Four Stories, One New Chapter

After the success of our last campaign with CLV (Campus Living Villages), we were invited back—this time with a brief to dig a little deeper into the emotional side of student life. Rather than focusing on the buildings or the facilities, this campaign was all about people: new housemates, new routines, new beginnings… all brought together by the accommodation itself.

We kicked things off with a bold four-way split-screen, introducing our cast of students on their journey to university. Each screen tells its own story—different cities, different personalities, different styles—but all heading to the same destination: a CLV home.

From cars to planes to well-stuffed hatchbacks to rickshaws zooming through the city, we followed each student as they made their way toward one of the biggest steps in their life so far. There’s excitement, nerves, last-minute packing, and plenty of overthinking. And while each character is unique, they’re all dealing with the same question: “What will it be like when I get there?”

The Punchline

As our students finally arrive and begin to settle into their shared house, they realise they all have one thing in common—every single one of them has brought a kettle.

It’s an unexpected moment of connection. No icebreakers, no forced conversations—just four strangers, now housemates, bonding over their identical idea of a housewarming gift. CLV wanted to champion these moments of connection and kindness shared across the residents of their accommodation and we thought this was a great way to knit it all together.

Bringing it to Life

To bring these journeys to life, we combined on-location filming with clever use of green screen. Shooting in-studio allowed us to depict environments it would otherwise have cost an arm and a leg to shoot in. We even hired a rickshaw for an hour to capture the unique fun of city life and portray the joy of embarking on a new adventure.

To make the ad feel warm and authentic, we cast a diverse group of actors who each brought their own quirks and charm to the roles so each character felt lived-in and instantly recognisable.

Social Media Advertising

The final cut went out as a social ad, designed to catch the eye and land the emotional beat quickly. It’s funny, honest, and quietly joyful—a tone we felt perfectly matched the CLV brand and the audience they’re speaking to.

While a lot of student housing ads lean on hype or high-gloss imagery, we wanted to keep things grounded, sincere, and a little bit silly. Because when you’re starting out in a brand-new place, it’s not the flat layout or the broadband speed that matters most—it’s how you feel when you walk through the door.

This was more than just a moving-in story—it was a reminder that the best way to say hello is often the simplest. And in the right setting, even a kettle can become a bridge between strangers.

The result? A character-driven, heartwarming slice of student life that resonated with audiences across social—and proved once again that the smallest things can make the biggest difference.