Moving Ahead - Event Launch Video
Definition brought me in to create a launch video for their client Moving Ahead, on a tight turnaround ahead of a live event. Moving Ahead designs and delivers structured mentoring, sponsorship and development programmes as catalysts for change. With mentorship and networking at the heart of the brand, the visuals needed to reflect that sense of connection.
Process
Definition’s design team supplied a working storyboard, and in the briefing call it was flagged that it might need to evolve. Because I have a design background, I could adjust the frames directly in Illustrator, which kept things moving without extra rounds between teams.
The video combined animation, motion design and live-action footage. On projects like this, most feedback tends to centre on the B-roll, clip selection and messaging. To avoid a bottleneck, I focused on animation and design first. Presenting polished, on-brand motion early got the client excited and on board from the start.
Animation style is often an afterthought, and it can leave a video feeling disjointed.
This piece was about celebrating people, business and coming together, so the motion had to carry that same intent. Through quick iteration I developed a few directions to present to the client. The final approach builds gradually from a calm opening into an energetic finish designed to inspire the audience on the day.
Edit & Curating Footage
Footage is usually where these projects slow down, and with several stakeholders in the feedback chain, staying flexible was key. I assembled several rough cuts with the motion design in place, timing the footage to the on-screen copy.
Any change to the footage on either side of an animated section meant re-timing the animation to match, and moving sections around had a knock-on effect on the clips and motion around them. So I reviewed the full video after every round of edits, not just the changed section.
The first few rounds of footage amends were the heaviest. Asking the client for direct feedback on specific clips gave me a much clearer picture of the footage they wanted, and the process became much more streamlined from there.
Outcome
The finished video became a centrepiece of Moving Ahead’s comms, used online and offline to showcase the scale of their talent community. It also helped spotlight the sponsorship opportunities available to partners.
