In early 2013, Absolut teamed up with Threadless users for a crowdsourcing contest to develop a new limited-edition bottle for the latest city-inspired flavor, Absolut Chicago. Now, the brand is unveiling the results of the collaboration—an artwork created by Ross Bruggink, 26, reflects the city’s architecture and culture symbols that make Chicago a modern classic.

ABSOLUT is rolling out a new international campaign, Transform Today, that is all about fostering artistic metamorphosis and connecting daring minds across the planet. To reach this goal, the brand teams up with four contemporary artists who “ignore fate and break boundaries,” reshaping their personal creative vision and the fields they are working in. As part of the new marketing effort, the brand will also reach its consumers, inspiring them to tap into the movement with their own submissions that correspond with the theme.

ABSOLUT Australia is about to introduce a new limited-edition vodka through a series of The Blue Room events fueled by creativity of the nation and four Australian influencers in the arts and music fields. The brand has launched a dedicated hub on its Facebook page, where “creative thinkers” can meet the four recognized talents—Australian sculptor Dion Hortsmans, digital artist Jimmy McGilchrist, audiovisual DJ Sampology, and fashion designer Emma Mulholland—and learn how to collaborate with them.

ABSOLUT is backing the transformation of an abandoned trolley terminal in New York into the first world’s subterranean park, the Lowline. The project, which has been partly funded through Kickstarter in early 2012, is now getting more support from the iconic alcohol brand that will be donating $1 from each sale of the new Absolut Lowline cocktail in participating bars.

Collaboration between artists and designers can be rewarding for all parties and can bring real value to clients and to each other. But everyone should go into the partnership with eyes wide open to the challenges and potential pitfalls of bringing people inexperienced in packaging into that highly stressful, highly demanding world. If the client and the agency keep in mind the points covered in this article, the chances of a successful artist collaboration are very, very good!

ABSOLUT Vodka is expanding its collection of the city-themed bottles with ABSOLUT México. The design of the limited-edition bottle pays homage to the country’s rich artistic heritage, which is reflected through vibrant images inspired by the visual aesthetics of the Mexican culture. For the project, the vodka brand tapped Jeronimo Lopez Ramirez aka Dr. Lakra, a celebrated contemporary artist and tattooist, who infuses traditional Mexican art with the elements of modern youth culture.