It was important that the environment was seen to be reflective of Google but not corporate. It had to be a truly immersive experience where Google was an inherent part of the environment. The scenarios were designed to be theatrical and quirky with authentic themed props with a subtle representation to the Google brand. Guests began in Taipei using translate and conversion, arrived in a chef’s kitchen using voice search, stepped through the fridge into a film premiere using photo app, took a campervan journey using navigate, before finally taking the train from Paris to London using Google for Work applications. Meticulous attention to detail meant each experience delivered a dramatic and creative representation of a slice of true life. Sounds and special effects engaged the guests on every sensory level. Sounds of birdsong, restaurant clatter, transport, thunderstorms with actual rain and press cacophony. Scents of street food, wood fire and cinema popcorn filled the air. Actors in each scenario allowed the guests to fully suspend their disbelief, they were no longer in central London, but in a Taipei market – with Google as their guide; a guide they knew could improve their lives long after they left Ok Google.

We welcomed hundreds of guests through the doors and the event was covered in the national media across three key markets: UK, Germany and France. The coverage included national radio, TV, newspapers and online. A typical quote, from a piece on the UK’s Channel 5 News, read “The way we search for information online is changing. It used to be all about firing up a clunky computer and typing away in a search engine. Now, we increasingly use our phones and Google believes voice search will make it easier and faster to get the information we need.”