Young Ones Student Awards
The Young Ones competition is one of the most acclaimed advertising, interactive and design student competitions. It has a tradition of excellence dating back to 1986.
Learn more about Young Ones 2026
Category
Advertising / Craft in Writing - TV / Film / Video
Annual ID
YO25_A122M
As our graduation project we developed a creative and humorous spec for Apple.
Product: USB-C
We based our concept on the widespread and inexplicable phenomenon that a conventional USB-A flash Drive only fits after being flipped three times.
This observation led us to the question: Why is that? Why does technology always seem to work against us?
From this, we developed the idea of humorously revealing the absurd reason behind it: Tiny little people inside your computer actively prevent smooth inserts of the drive—just for fun.
Execution:
A captivating, creative and entertaining spec that everyone can relate to.
When pilot Samantha’s spaceship is struck by lightning, a system reboot is necessary. It’s supposed to be a routine procedure—nothing to panic about. Co-pilot Josh reaches for the REBOOT flash drive and tries to plug it in. But the bloody thing just doesn’t wanna go in.
As the camera zooms into the spaceship’s boardcomputer, an entire miniature world is revealed—complete with tiny people, a packed arena with fans, commentators, an announcer, a news reporter, and everything that belongs to a major sporting event.
At the center of it all: Nathan, the athlete, controlling the USB Port’s internal mechanism with his joystick.
Josh doesn’t think much of his first failed attempt, flips the drive, and tries again. But Nathan is always one step ahead, shifting the middle part of the USB Port up/down at the last second.
A fierce battle unfolds—though only one of them knows the other exists.
The situation escalates from a routine procedure to an emergency. No matter how hard Josh tries, he just can’t plug in the REBOOT Drive—and the spaceship crashes.
The film ends with a scene showing how simple things could be:
With USB-C. Always on your side.
Product: USB-C
We based our concept on the widespread and inexplicable phenomenon that a conventional USB-A flash Drive only fits after being flipped three times.
This observation led us to the question: Why is that? Why does technology always seem to work against us?
From this, we developed the idea of humorously revealing the absurd reason behind it: Tiny little people inside your computer actively prevent smooth inserts of the drive—just for fun.
Execution:
A captivating, creative and entertaining spec that everyone can relate to.
When pilot Samantha’s spaceship is struck by lightning, a system reboot is necessary. It’s supposed to be a routine procedure—nothing to panic about. Co-pilot Josh reaches for the REBOOT flash drive and tries to plug it in. But the bloody thing just doesn’t wanna go in.
As the camera zooms into the spaceship’s boardcomputer, an entire miniature world is revealed—complete with tiny people, a packed arena with fans, commentators, an announcer, a news reporter, and everything that belongs to a major sporting event.
At the center of it all: Nathan, the athlete, controlling the USB Port’s internal mechanism with his joystick.
Josh doesn’t think much of his first failed attempt, flips the drive, and tries again. But Nathan is always one step ahead, shifting the middle part of the USB Port up/down at the last second.
A fierce battle unfolds—though only one of them knows the other exists.
The situation escalates from a routine procedure to an emergency. No matter how hard Josh tries, he just can’t plug in the REBOOT Drive—and the spaceship crashes.
The film ends with a scene showing how simple things could be:
With USB-C. Always on your side.
2025 Awards
Total Points: 4
Student Merit
Credits
Director
Felix Foltas
Jonas Perkmann
Cinematographer
Felix Foltas
College / University
Salzburg University of Applied Sciences / Salzburg
1st AD
Johanna Steiner
Luca Mathies
Assistant Producer
Elena Natterer
Hannah Schoch
Jacob Prey
CG Artist
Philipp John
Melvin Grobe
Nico Urthaler
CG Artist Spaceship
Jan Pscheidt
Rosemarie Haider
Lead VFX Artist
Renato Nunes
Set design
Sabine Weissensteiner
VFX Coordinator
Clemens Willberger
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