REDD+ Dominican Republic
Motion graphics and character design for the REDD+ program at the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources. An environmental cause, told to move people to act.
Motion Graphics · Character DesignThe Client
The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic
REDD+ is an international effort, launched in 2008, to cut the emissions driven by deforestation. It brings governments, civil society, the private sector, and Indigenous peoples together around a single goal: creating financial incentives to slow forest loss. More than 60 countries have adopted it to date.
In the Dominican Republic, the program takes those measures to the ground, with training in the best practices of forest management.
The Challenge
A story that matters
The brief was clear and hard: produce a piece of video capable of moving the people who make decisions about the land —landowners, farmers, forest owners— to plant trees. To move them to act, guided by experts who seek the balance between profit and conservation.
That meant telling a story that mattered. A piece that laid bare the real cost of deforestation and the urgency of reversing it. One that informed and, above all, inspired a change that benefits everyone.
We took up the cause without reservation. We put craft, experience, and talent behind every requirement, so the message would reach the whole country and leave a mark.
Ideation
The message board
It all starts with a script that carries the purpose. We chose a direct tone, free of jargon, able to reach anyone — no matter how much they know about the subject.
The dialogue speaks to each listener head-on, until they feel part of the initiative.
Ideation
Scriptwriting
The priority: every animation had to carry its message without losing a thing. We mapped out a series of panels to structure and illustrate each piece of the story. The detail isn't up for negotiation.
We were after videos that would catch attention and hold it. Without betraying the program's principles, and underscoring why it matters across the country. Learning stops being boring.
Ideation
Scenes
We broke the project into short scenes, each with a clear goal and its own deadline. That way every idea comes across concisely and follows effortlessly. The presentation becomes simple.
What came out was a nimble video, free of jargon, understandable to any audience. Along with a streamlined process: less time and fewer resources to run it on radio, TV, or online.
Post-production
Audio and sound effects
The next challenge was the audio: finding a voice that truly connects. Inspired by the farmers and the people of the countryside, we added an accent of our own that humanizes the technical and brings it close.
Audio in Adobe Audition
Audition was the platform for bringing the audio to life. With its tools we built the highest-quality sound effects to mark the key moments of every scene.
The rule: neither the music nor the effects could bury the message. To pull it off, we tested every resource thoroughly, across countless hours of recording and production.
Illustration
Character design
With the audio settled, it was the characters' turn. The goal: to capture the Dominican essence with precision — the features and qualities that define its people. To draw attention and leave a real mark.
Characters
The brief was to design animated characters for REDD+ DR that would evoke the hosts of an existing educational series. We studied their look and behavior so ours would feel authentic and memorable.
By carrying those traits over with care, we achieved a seamless transition between video and animation: a coherent, immersive experience.
Illustration
Gesture
To make the gestures feel real, we watched the show's hosts closely. We studied how they moved and spoke, down to the subtlest shift in their body language.
Facial expressions got the same attention. We recorded different lines —from a smile to a furrowed brow— and those takes served as reference for the animators, so every detail landed where it should.
Character 01
Character 02
Character 03
Character 04
Production
Motion graphics
With the characters and the storyline ready, we moved into the motion graphics. We worked shoulder to shoulder with the project leads to meet every goal and make sure the message reached the viewer.
We brought in music and effects to tie them to the visuals, and with After Effects' animation tools we built graphics in motion. Animations that sharpen the key points and give the piece its rhythm.
Why After Effects?
It's a powerful tool for motion graphics, with a broad repertoire of features for building visuals that are unique and engaging.
It also lets you integrate music and sound effects, tying every visual element into one cohesive piece.
Conclusion · REDD+
A demanding project is always an opportunity. This one was: seeing it through forced us to bring script, illustration, animation, and sound under one standard.
We were ready for the challenge. We put every discipline to work and delivered a final piece that went beyond what the client expected.
Your next story, built to move people.
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