In the 2023 L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM, two teams (ParaX+ & Ladybus) from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) achieved great results, reaching the top 4 and top 10 placements nationwide. One of them also won the best performance award.
L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM was founded in 1992 and is one of the most famous international innovation competitions in the world. This year's competition attracted over 13,000 young talents nationwide to participate. For four months, from online to offline, the top 12 teams gathered in the offline "Technology Beauty Dimension" space created by L'ORÉAL, focusing on four major fields: AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), AI (artificial intelligence) and metaverse, including related technologies such as NFTs and digital collectables, unleashing innovation and exploring new possibilities brought by new technologies for beauty.
Since 2016, the Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China) NAA module – International Entrepreneurial Planning (IEP) has been providing practical guidance for students to participate in L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM. Under the leadership of marketing professors at NUBS China, student teams fully leverage the unique advantages of international vision and innovative thinking to stand out in competition from other top domestic and Sino-foreign cooperative universities. NUBS China teams have won multiple national top 10 awards and represented China in the global finals in Paris twice in 2016 and 2018. Among them, the NUBS China team won the China Championship in 2016 and the best technology award in the global finals in Paris.
Let's take a look at the thoughts and experiences of the 2023 participating student representatives!
Xinyue Chen (FAM, Year 2): Participating in L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM was not easy. We spent countless days and nights, striving to come up with a unique and extraordinary idea. We had abandoned our first proposal, starting from zero to generate a new solution within just a week. After the brief excitement of receiving the notification email for the finals, we continued our challenging journey, working from early morning till dawn to fight for a chance to win.
Throughout this journey, the tutors of IEP provided us with professional guidance and warm support, empowering us with the confidence to stand on the national stage of the final competition in Shanghai. Unlike regular assignments, this marketing competition expanded our horizons through the insightful views offered by our teachers, enabling us to embrace new ways of thinking.
For me, this competition brought more than just an accomplishment; it was an opportunity to explore my future path and a test to understand myself and discover effective ways for teamwork. I'm deeply grateful to every teacher who helped us and to my two teammates, who are always full of energy and creativity. I'm also glad that I took the chance to challenge myself.
Shiyi Zhu (IBC, Year 2): L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM gave me a different experience in my second year. The first was I developed a deeper understanding of the metaverse, from being "forced" to understand innovative products and being "tormented", to discovering the rapid changes of emerging technologies which inspired me. Secondly, I mastered more practical skills in business competitions. In order to propose creative and feasible solutions, we studied Urban Decay's brand positioning and analysed market trends. We were using "punk health preservation" and L'ORÉAL skincare and anti-ageing to stay up all night to make PowerPoint slides, posters, videos and models. My most profound experience was getting along with and interacting with people. The cooperation of teammates, the help of mentors, and the on-site presentation have prompted me to think about interpersonal relationships, making me more tolerant. Although tough, this has been such a valuable experience for my future.
Xiaoxiao Lyu (ECO, Year 2): Participating in the 2023 L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM has been a profound and enlightening experience for me. Firstly, I have come to realise the pivotal role of teamwork in achieving success. Throughout the competition, we collaborated closely as a team, facing one challenge after another from the organisers. Through effective communication and collaboration, we inspired each other, leveraged our individual strengths, and maximised our collective achievements.
Secondly, this competition has had a significant impact on my personal growth. I have learned the art of meticulous market analysis, developed creative marketing strategies and showcased them to judges. In this process, I continuously challenged my thinking, honed my problem-solving abilities and nurtured an innovative mindset.
Lastly, I am genuinely grateful for the guidance and support provided by the tutors of NAA IEP. Their valuable advice and expertise have been instrumental in helping us overcome obstacles and elevate our team's performance. Their care and guidance have enabled us to better understand the key aspects of the competition and the essentials of decision-making in the beauty industry, showcasing our potential throughout the competition.
In conclusion, the L'ORÉAL BRANDSTORM competition is not only an opportunity for rapid learning and application of knowledge but also a platform for nurturing teamwork skills and personal growth. I will always treasure this priceless experience and carry forward the knowledge I have gained to future endeavours.