Backup Ukraine

Winner of a 2023 Clio Grand Award for Product innovation
Winner of a 2023 Clio Gold Award for Real Time Response
Winner of a 2023 Clio Silver Award for New Realities
Winner of a 2023 Clio Silver Award for Product Service
Winner of a 2023 Clio Bronze Award for New Realities

This winning entry titled 'Backup Ukraine' was entered for Polycam x UNESCO by Virtue Worldwide, Copenhagen.

BACKGROUND
According to BLUE SHIELD (the “red cross for culture”), destroying a country’s cultural heritage is the fastest way to erase its national identity. And no matter how many sandbags and protective covers we wrap them in, Ukraine’s cultural heritage is at high risk of destruction.

IDEA
So how do we make sure that they aren’t lost forever? By making a digital backup in the cloud — where no bombs can reach. For the first time in history, UNESCO gave every citizen the power to create high-definition 3D models — and all they needed was their phones.

EXECUTION
Using smartphone’s built-in camera and GPS data to let everyone in Ukraine capture any place or monument in a matter of MINUTES. We saved the data as blueprints in a cloud-based 3D archive to be preserved forever. So if they’re ever destroyed, Ukraine's cultural treasures can be rebuilt down to the last detail.

RESULTS
With +50.000 downloads and +35.000 captures in Ukraine,
Ukrainian citizens have backed up considerably more sculptures than even the world's biggest museums and art collections.

Backup Ukraine secured 800+ articles and news reports in Ukrainian and international press.

6 NGOs pledged their support. 7 international firms donated equipment, funding and assistance to volunteers the ground — even 3D printing replicas of threatened statues to prepare for the worst.

And Unesco’s National Commissioner even went on public broadcast urging neighbouring countries to start scanning their heritage — before it’s too late.