Dr. Gaur Hari Singhania Institute of Management & Research (GHS-IMR), Kanpur, successfully organized its flagship marketing conclave, BrandCraft 26 – GameCraft Edition, on March 25, 2026. The event emerged as a dynamic platform that seamlessly blended marketing, psychology, and gamification, offering participants an immersive and future-ready learning experience.
Centered on the theme of “Gamification 2.0,” this year’s edition explored the next frontier of consumer engagement—moving beyond traditional reward systems to focus on storytelling, emotional resonance, and interactive brand experiences. The conclave witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 32 teams representing leading management institutes across Kanpur, reflecting a vibrant exchange of ideas and innovation.
The program commenced with the auspicious Saraswati Vandana, a traditional invocation seeking the blessings of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom, knowledge, and learning. Following the invocation, Professor and Director of GHS-IMR, Dr. Rahul Goyal, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests, speakers, media representatives, faculty members, and students present at the conclave. In his address, he highlighted “At GHS-IMR, we are committed to nurturing future-ready professionals by integrating innovative pedagogies such as gamification into management education. BrandCraft 26 reflects our vision of experiential learning, where students not only understand concepts but also apply them creatively in real-world scenarios.”
The event commenced with a highly engaging and thought-provoking keynote address by the Chief Guest, Mr. Alok Sanwal, CEO of Dainik Jagran I-Next. Drawing upon his extensive industry experience and deep understanding of the evolving media ecosystem, he offered valuable insights into the rapidly transforming landscape of media, branding, and audience engagement in today’s competitive and increasingly digital-first world.
He emphasized the growing importance of content personalization, data-driven decision-making and innovative storytelling in capturing and retaining audience attention. Highlighting the shift from traditional communication models to interactive and experience-driven engagement, he encouraged participants to think beyond conventional marketing approaches.
Through real-world examples and industry perspectives, Mr. Sanwal inspired students to embrace creativity, adaptability, and strategic thinking as essential competencies for future marketing professionals. His insightful address not only enriched the participants’ understanding of contemporary branding practices but also set a dynamic and motivating tone for the conclave, paving the way for a day filled with learning, innovation, and intellectual exchange.
One of the major highlights of the event was the “Chings ATL/BTL Challenge,” where participants conceptualized and presented gamified advertising strategies. The competition showcased exceptional creativity, strategic depth, and a strong understanding of consumer behavior, as teams crafted innovative campaigns integrating storytelling with marketing objectives. The winners of this challenge were:
Harsh Singh from RAMA University, who won a prize of ₹3,000;
Garima Pandey from HBTU, who won a prize of ₹2,000;
Nitya Dixit, who won a prize of ₹1,000;
Swapnil Prajapati from CSJMU and Nikhil Verma from RAMA University, who received merit certificates.
Adding a unique dimension to the conclave was the “Carbon Credit Trading Simulation,” an engaging activity designed to provide practical exposure to environmental economics. Through a real-time, trading-based simulation, participants navigated complex decision-making scenarios, gaining valuable insights into sustainability and market dynamics. The winners of this segment were Varun Mishra from Jagran College, Priyanshu from Allenhouse, Meghna Dwivedi from Jagran College, and Nikhil Verma from RAMA University, each of whom received a prize of ₹1,500.
The conclave also featured competitions such as “Gamification of Advertisement for Chings” where participants gained hands-on exposure to applying gamification techniques in real-world branding scenarios. They created BTL contraptions for Chings brand for the hypothetical market situation. These sessions encouraged active participation and fostered innovative thinking among attendees.
BrandCraft 2026 witnessed active participation from both undergraduate and postgraduate students, fostering a spirit of healthy competition and collaborative learning. The event created an intellectually stimulating environment that encouraged experimentation, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.
The successful execution of the conclave was made possible by the dedicated efforts of the student organizing team under the guidance of Dr. Shekhar Trivedi (Dean, GHS-IMR) and Dr. Puneet Rai (Associate Professor, GHS-IMR), ensuring seamless coordination of all sessions and activities.
Winners were felicitated with prizes, while all participants were awarded certificates in recognition of their enthusiasm and contribution.
With the successful conclusion of BrandCraft 26 – GameCraft Edition, GHS-IMR once again reaffirmed its commitment to delivering innovative, industry-relevant learning experiences. By integrating gamification into management education, the institute continues to equip future leaders with the skills required to excel in an evolving business landscape driven by creativity, engagement, and strategic thinking.
