From the Nominator

"Recognising the deep impact and broad engagement opportunities inherent in digital communications, the University of Newcastle launched its first bespoke digital storytelling campaign featuring high-production value video in 2020. The goal was to showcase the achievements of our Alumni Excellence Awards recipients. A similar approach was employed in 2021 to amplify the inspiring recipient stories and celebrate their success.   

Due to ongoing global uncertainty and travel restrictions, the alumni team were unable to physically access our award recipients for filming. These alumni are located across Australia, North and South America, and the UK. The team pivoted quickly through a creative approach to develop an innovative solution: using animation.   Podcast-quality microphones were shipped to each recipient so key elements of their 60-minute interviews could be used in the final product. With this approach, we empowered our awards recipients to tell their own stories in their own words, with their own voices.  

Working with a local alumni-owned production company, the team produced one hero video at seven-and-a-half minutes and nine individual 60-second animations. Bespoke ‘avatars’ of the alumni award recipients were created to best represent their individual identities and personalities.   

This project was accomplished in an extremely tight time frame of five weeks through high-level stakeholder management across multiple time zones. These distinctive animated videos celebrate the recipients and their achievements in a way that is unique to our university and the sector."

From the Judges

An example of problem-solving that turned out better than it would have without the problem! The animation was just right—simple but effective, and the voice-overs worked beautifully. Creative and engaging animation, good use of digital ambassadors, and shareable while also being strategic and organized.