A playful animated film to communicate a serious message - essential safety information and evacuation policies for high-rise apartment residents.
Challenge
Trafford Housing Trust needed an effective method to communicate important updates on building safety protocols to their high rise residents. Traditional print leaflets were proving to be ineffective, often getting lost or ignored. We created a film that presented the changes in a simple, easily accessible format that could be quickly understood.
Storytelling
Delivering a serious message in an accessible and effective way, so that people engage with it, actually listen and remember the information can be quite challenging.
Framing the information in a narrative can help make the subject matter relatable to the audience, and can make serious topics more engaging.
Merely providing instructions is insufficient to prompt a change in behaviour. Creating a story, and putting the viewer at the centre of that story is a great way to make the message hit home.
A quirky illustration style
We aimed to grab and hold the attention of the residents by using a vibrant and attention-grabbing colour scheme, along with a unique character design. This technique successfully turns a typically mundane message about fire safety into an enjoyable and comprehensible viewing experience.
Animation
The engaging animation style adds a playful element to the film, while moments of humor provide a lighthearted touch to an otherwise serious topic. The inclusion of animals in animated films is always a favorite, and in this particular film, it helps to create a sense of empathy towards the residents and showcase the diverse range of home environments.
The result
The film was made available to all residents of the high-rise housing trusts through an app and email, ensuring that this vital information reached as many people as possible.
We were delighted to learn that every resident watched the video, with some even viewing it multiple times! Hopefully the film will help residents to stay safe and could even save some lives.
"Flow were brilliant to work with, creative and responsive, and we're very happy with the film. I really enjoyed working with the team and felt like they really ‘got’ what it is I wanted from the start."
Contributors & Credits
- Creative Director: Karl Doran
- Art Director: Winston Tsang
- Production Manager: Emma Shaw
- Animation Lead: Guilherme Gomes
- Illustration: Nadia Kawafi, Elena Gonzalez Sanchez
- Animation: James Lawson