Green homes explainer video

Description:

I had the pleasure of working with NuPlanet, a leading retrofitting housing company, on an exciting film project. The film was created specifically for their booth at the footprint+ housing conference in Brighton 2023. My goal was to visually showcase NuPlanet's exceptional process and expertise in retrofitting housing to meet the UK targets for green homes. Collaborating closely with the NuPlanet team, I aimed to create an engaging and informative experience through the clever use of text, graphics, and animation.

Aims and Purpose:

My primary aim was to effectively communicate NuPlanet's innovative approach to sustainable housing solutions. I wanted to captivate the audience (potential clients of NuPlanet, such as housing associations and local authorities) and educate them about the benefits of working with NuPlanet. In close collaboration with the client, I ensured that the film embodied the requested clean graphic style with minimal visual clutter, while still being eye-catching. It would be played alongside other videos and had to stand out, without being brash.

Challenges:

Balancing Minimalism and Visual Impact:

One of the challenges I encountered was meeting the client's request for a clean and minimalist style that also had to be eye-catching. Balancing these requirements can be tricky, but I found that incorporating motion graphics played a crucial role. By strategically adding subtle motion and transitions, I was able to create visual interest and draw the viewers' attention to key elements, making the film engaging and memorable.

No Sound / VoiceOver :

Another challenge I encountered was the restriction of not being able to use voice-over or sound in the film. This constraint prompted me to rely solely on on-screen visuals to convey all the necessary information. Despite this limitation, I took it as an opportunity to incorporate music into the film, enhancing the overall viewing experience as and when the video will be used on the client website, but it also made sure I created a rhythmic flow during the editing process.

Hard, short deadline:

I was aware that the deadline was short to create a film of this nature. The client required the film for a specific dated event, leaving no room for flexibility. To accommodate this, I implemented a process that allowed for a usable film to be created early in the process if required. By creating flat slides and the illusion of transitions in Adobe Illustrator, I ensured that any motion graphics added later were improvements on an already usable film. Although I had only three days to add the final motion graphics, the film could have been shared in its pre-motion graphics format, meeting the tight deadline.

Tools and Methods:

To bring this project to life, I followed a staged and agile process, giving the client the opportunity to feedback and course-correct throughout.

I started by crafting a compelling text narrative that encapsulated NuPlanet's key points and goals. With their approval, I transitioned to the visual phase, utilizing the versatile capabilities of Procreate to sketch a storyboard that set the foundation for the film's visual flow and composition.

After receiving feedback and sign-off from the client, I translated the sketches into polished graphics using Adobe Illustrator, creating a flat storyboard or slides.

With the tight deadline, I was confident that, even in its storyboard format, the film would have worked successfully. However, I was lucky to have enough time to add some effective motion graphics, including seamless transitions and movement in After Effects.