The Opportunity
For its Calgary Stampede event, Connor Doyle Consulting wanted to offer guests something more engaging than a conventional branded giveaway.
The opportunity was to create an experience that felt playful and appropriate for Stampede while also supporting Families Matter, a Calgary organization strengthening families through education, connection and community programs.
Alkali developed a live customization experience that gave guests a reason to gather, participate and create something uniquely their own.
The Creative Approach
The classic Stampede bandana became the starting point.
Rather than handing guests a finished promotional item, Alkali created a selection of original western-inspired graphics that could be combined to make each bandana different.
Guests chose their bandana and selected the imagery they wanted applied, turning a familiar Stampede accessory into a small act of personal expression.
The live heat-press process made the creation visible. Guests could watch their choices become a finished object in minutes, creating a natural point of interaction within the larger event.
The activation also provided an opportunity to connect the experience to Families Matter, giving the giveaway a purpose beyond the event itself.
Making It Real
The activation was designed to be quick, intuitive and flexible enough to accommodate the changing pace of a live Stampede event.
Bandanas, artwork and production materials were prepared in advance, while customization happened on site using a compact heat-press setup.
A simple choose-and-create format allowed guests to participate without requiring a formal workshop or scheduled activity—making the experience easy to discover and join throughout the event.
The Outcome
The result was a branded experience that guests actively helped create.
Instead of receiving identical promotional merchandise, participants left with something they had chosen and watched being made specifically for them.
For Connor, Clark & Lunn, the activation created a relaxed point of connection with guests while integrating its support of Families Matter into the experience.
For Alkali, it demonstrated how even a familiar event object can become more meaningful when participation replaces passive consumption.
For a Calgary Stampede celebration, Connor Doyle Consulting wanted to create an experience that brought guests together while supporting local charity Families Matter. Alkali responded with a participatory art activation where guests chose from original designs and watched them heat-pressed live onto bandanas — transforming a familiar Stampede accessory into a wearable artwork with a bigger purpose.