Akcelo Spider-Man 2 Campaign | Project Case Study

When Akcelo was asked to deliver an immersive experiential marketing activation for the launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at Barangaroo, Sydney — our team at Zeus Design jumped into action. The brief: design and deliver custom electronics in the form of influencer walkie-talkies, under extremely tight timelines, to support a high-impact weekend stunt at one of Australia’s most visible locations.

Project background

Akcelo’s activation featured a dramatic installation: a web-suspended truck at Watermans Cove, Barangaroo, as part of PlayStation Australia’s campaign for the Spider-Man 2 release. The walkie-talkies were to be sent to influencers across Sydney, each equipped with a pre-recorded police-officer style message inviting recipients to visit the activation and investigate the scene. In effect, our device became a gateway into the live experience.

The challenge: ultra-fast turnaround with no margin for error

Time was of the essence: only two weeks from design through assembly and delivery. There was no opportunity for a multi-stage prototyping cycle — the concept had to be right first time. We needed to:

• specify and procure components in bulk rapidly
• design electronics and enclosure for hand-assembly under tight time pressure
• ensure each unit was reliably pre-loaded with a voice message, charged and ready for dispatch across Sydney
• keep material and assembly cost-effective, since the units were promotional and needed to be distributed widely

Our approach: speed, reliability & manufacturability

We kicked off immediately with a minimalist specification focusing on robust functionality: one push-to-talk style walkie with playback of a recorded message, rechargeable battery, simple charger interface, and enough durability for influencer handling and transport.

• Component sourcing: We selected widely available modules and parts to avoid supply-chain delays.
• Hand-assembly readiness: The electronics and enclosure were designed for ease of assembly and testing, to allow our team to meet the tight build schedule without compromising quality.
• Pre-programming & QA: Each unit was pre-loaded with the same voice message, and we implemented a rapid functional check before shipping.
• Logistics readiness: With volumes limited but timing critical, we hand-packed and dispatched units, aligned with the influencer outreach timeline.

Execution and deployment

Within two weeks we delivered the complete batch of walkie-talkies to Akcelo’s distribution point. Influencers received their devices in advance of the weekend activation; the message urged recipients to attend the truck-installation at Barangaroo, interact with the scene, and share on social. The high visibility placement at Watermans Cove became a talking point in gamer and influencer circles.

Outcome and key take-aways

The campaign aligned with the launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on 20 October 2023.
From an electronics design and delivery standpoint:

• We met the ultra-tight deadline, delivering a full batch in two weeks.
• The devices functioned reliably in influencer hands, with no field failures reported.
• By keeping the bill-of-materials and assembly cost low, the units remained cost-effective for a promotional run.
• The activation validated our ability to respond rapidly and deliver custom electronic solutions in marketing-driven environments.

Why this matters

Built for impact rather than long-term product longevity, this project demonstrates how agile electronics design can support high-profile marketing initiatives. For startups or established companies developing electronics, it illustrates:

• the value of minimal viable features when timing is critical
• the importance of supply-chain awareness and hand-assembly readiness
• how electronics design expertise can be a differentiator in non-traditional product contexts

Conclusion

Our collaboration with Akcelo on this walkie-talkie project for the Spider-Man 2 launch underscores the power of responsiveness, reliability and clear engineering focus. While not as technically deep as some of our longer-term product engagements, this activation stands out for its speed, visibility and flawless execution — and it highlights how versatile electronics design can support broader brand and experiential goals.

Zeus Design is proud to have played a key role in making this campaign happen — and we look forward to the next fast-paced, high-impact challenge.