Permanent Collection

FutureDeluxe Launches MTL SpeedARC Peak for Merrell

Posted on Friday, July 17, 2026

Take a look at the how FutureDeluxe merged live-action and CG into the launch spot for Merrell’s MTL SpeedARC Peak, a shoe that spent five years in development and part of the brand’s 45th Anniversary collection.

Raj Davsi, ECD at FutureDeluxe: “The film brings the shoe’s development process to life, translating engineering into a visual world: mechanical precision meets raw terrain.

“The film brings the shoe’s development process to life, translating engineering into a visual world: mechanical precision meets raw terrain.”

“The creative team designed a custom mechanical set, inspired by a surgical laboratory, where the shoe’s components are dissected and refined. By contrasting this industrial space with natural terrain elements, we created a hybrid testing lab that reflects the rugged outdoor conditions the shoe is designed to withstand.

“Utilizing AI-assisted workflows to combine live-action footage with previous test models, FutureDeluxe delivered a visually striking look at the final MTL SpeedARC Peak design, developed at the Merrell Test Lab to deliver elite speed, stability, and performance.”

Watch the finished spot (director’s cut)

Images

Two women kneel by large rocks, adjusting a complex metal rig holding a single Merrell running shoe. The setup, part of a sleek FutureDeluxe campaign for the MTL SpeedARC Peak, is in an indoor studio space with professional lighting. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Close-up of a green and yellow Merrell athletic shoe with black laces and bold red MERRELL branding on the side, showcasing the innovative design of the MTL SpeedARC Peak. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Close-up of a black and white patterned shoe sole, designed by Merrell for the MTL SpeedARC Peak, with debris and rocks flying around it—emphasizing the rugged tread and advanced outdoor functionality captured in FutureDeluxe’s signature visual style. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A yellow and black Merrell MTL SpeedARC Peak shoe floats over a blurred mountain background, with text displaying details like 13 miles, 206 km tested, and testing in progress—an innovative visual created in collaboration with FutureDeluxe. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A bright Merrell running shoe, the MTL SpeedARC Peak, is suspended mid-air by wires above a rocky mound, with a misty mountain in the background, creating a dramatic and futuristic display. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Credits

Client: Merrell, Wolverine Worldwide
Global CD: Alex Ho
Associate CD: Burke di Piazza
Senior Art Director: Tucker Friend
Brand Marketing Manager: Ben Stark
Senior Copywriter: Benjamin Kalajainen
Senior Producer: Elizabeth Nuttle

Production: FutureDeluxe
ECD: Raj Davsi
EP: Georgina Turner
CD: Yas Vicente
Senior Producer: Helen Randall
Head of Global Production: Caleigh Illerbrun
CG Supervisor/Lead: Stevie Rees
CG/AI Artist: Karmo Jarv
2D Artists: Mauro Rader, James Primhak

Post Production/Clean Up: The Forge
Compositing: The Forge. Stevie Rees
Editor: Yas Vicente
Cutdown Editor: Matt Cronin
Grade: The Forge, Yas Vicente

Live Action: FutureDeluxe, The Forge
Director/Co-Director: Yas Vicente

Production: The Forge
Director/Co-Director: Jean-Michel Massey
Director of Motion: Chris Mosey
Photographer: Si West
Gaffer: Louis Walter
Bolt/MoCo Operator: James Gillet
DIT: Dan Jose
Production Designer: Joshanne Dar
Props Master: Isabel Alsina-Reynolds
Producer: Archie Chew
Production Assistant: Leah Allardyce

Music/Sound Design: George Hill

Stephen Price

Stephen is the co-founder/CD of Stash Media Inc. and the executive editor of Stash Magazine and the Stash Permanent Collection.
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Category: 3D Style, Advertising, CG, Featured, VFX · Tags: FutureDeluxe, George Hill, Merrell, Raj Davsi, The Forge, Wolverine Worldwide