AWARENESS + ADVOCACY
“Does a better job at explaining Virginia's "Move Over Law" than anything else I've seen.”
-Rich Jacobs, DRIVE SMART Virginia
CON EDISON
NEED: Con Edison needed a video that would inform the public about restoring power after a storm. The video would outline the process, and educate the audience on how regions are prioritized to better serve and protect important infrastructure, hospitals and other public resources. And let them know how Con Edison would work to keep them informed about the status of repair. They wanted a large scope allowing demonstration of impact at the family and home, neighborhood, as well as over the entire city! They also needed the same messaging for their Orange and Rockland sister company.
DISCOVERY: Over the course of several consultation meetings with Con Edison staff we gain a firm understanding of the challenges they experienced during storm restoration, and the frequently-asked questions that were urgently sought by their customers during an outage.
SOLUTION: Flatland provided scripting consultation, and a vast array of style options that Con Edison could select from. Con Edison was involved every step of the way: script revision and approval, character development and design review, storyboards, with multiple rounds of revisions at the end to ensure a superior product. We build character rigs and other assets that would allow for color theme and logo swaps for the Orange and Rockland version that was available immediately after the final approval of the primary video.
OUTCOME: The video was posted on the Con Edison website as a resource on explaining repair after outages.
DELIVERABLE: 4 minute video. 2d animated characters with 3d environments. Derivative video with Orange and Rockland sister company.
DONATE LIFE VIRGINIA
NEED: Donate Life needed to educate the public about how organ donation works to encourage donor sign-ups. There was also a demand to answer frequently ask questions about the process and regulations, and to confidently dispel concerns. Of course the video also wanted to address the many lives saved or improved by organ donation, as well. Finally they sought to encourage people to sign up as an organ donor online, and to make the process obstacle-free at the DMV.
DISCOVERY: We met with Donate Life to gain deeper insight into the interconnected data and information that needed to be communicated. From the potential fears and questions that people have regarding being an organ donor, the care taken during the process, and the benefits it offers recipients and their families.
SOLUTION: Starting off, Flatland provided Donate Life with script assistance, story outline, and style menu. Donate Life was able to review script, select style and character design options from our unique designs developed exclusively for them. A public version for broad audiences was developed (depicted here) as well as an alternate ending developed specifically for training DMV staff on the organ donation process, and offering organ donor status while people received their licenses.
OUTCOME: The video is presently used for onboarding every new Virginia DMV Customer Service Center employee across their 76 Customer Service Centers statewide, as art of their new training. It has educated hundreds of employees about the donation and transplantation process.
DELIVERABLE: 2 minute video. 2d animated characters with 3d environments. Derivative video with alternate ending message / CTA.
DRIVE SMART in collaboration with DMV
NEED: DRIVE SMART needed a couple of straight forward things: inform the public about the new “Move Over Law”, and instruct them on how to follow it. There was a strong need for both awareness and education. The law was new, and the public needed to know about the law itself, as well as the easy steps they could take to follow it.
DISCOVERY: During discovery we learned about the specifics of the law and what a driver must do to comply. They also expressed to us the catastrophic consequences when these safety guidelines fail, from injury to tragedy. Expressing the importance of the law became another ideal of the campaign.
Clarity.
Simple steps to follow.
Impact.
SOLUTION: Flatland prepared a selection of 3 different creative directions for both story, and messaging. The 3rd option - the daring choice, the winning option - centered around dramatizing the catastrophic consequences, so that the impact could be felt. It allowed us to express the letter of the law, as well as it’s human dimension, and demanded not just action and law-abiding citizens, but the higher call to save lives.
OUTCOME: In paid social media ads for Virginia, the video was seen over 2.4 million times on Youtube, plus organic social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, BlueSky), and in some traffic safety presentations. Rich Jacobs at DRIVE SMART Virginia says, “this video, in 60 seconds, does a better job explaining Virginia's "Move Over Law" than anything else I've seen.”
DELIVERABLE: 1 minute video. 3d animation and environment design. Original musical score.
“DRIVE SMART Virginia needed an engaging video for paid social media ads explaining Virginia's 'Move Over Law.' Studio Flatland listened carefully to our needs, asked the right questions, and created an animated video that - quite simply - knocked it out of the park. Across all platforms, our ROI was far beyond our expectations. We highly recommend Studio Flatland.”
-Rich Jacobs, Senior Communications Manager at DRIVE SMART Virginia
DMV REALLY KNOW
GOAL: DMV wanted to encourage better pedestrian behavior to help prevent accidents. Looking both ways before you cross the street was so simple, it could be taken for granted. A WALK SIGN saying "safe to walk" is not enough to ensure that distracted pedestrians are safe to cross the road. Make sure traffic has stopped and a driver sees you - and it's this check that can save your life! They sought an attention grabbing approach of humor, similar to “Dumb Ways to Die.”
DISCOVERY: A bit of humor was the desired approach to gain attention. The creative jumping off point was the popular “Dumb Ways to Die” song and animated campaign about train safety. They wanted some light comedy to allow them to address a serious matter, so that life-and-death concepts could be addressed in simple and clear manners.
SOLUTION: Flatland prepared a several collections of character sketches, grouped into various styles. The jumping off point turned into a launch pad, giving us a great foundational understanding of the tone and concept, while propelling us into a space of free flying creativity. We were able to capture the proper comedic and charming spirit, while giving the DMV a style entirely their own. They selected a style we had lovingly called “Jelly Beans.”
OUTCOME: The DMV “Really Know” campaign was broadcast on television and served up on social media and GSTV statewide, as well as banner ads, bus wraps and the audio used for radio.
DELIVERABLE: 30 second video/broadcast. 2d character animation with 3d environment design.