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Thunder Head Clearing

Thunder Head Clearing is a seven-minute animated short film created for the International Food Security Treaty (IFST) campaign. The project combined realistic and fantasy animation with an original musical score to raise awareness about global food security and the right to freedom from hunger. I contributed graphic and textual design elements that supported the film's advocacy narrative and integrated with the animation's visual storytelling approach.

Problem

The International Food Security Treaty campaign needed compelling visual content that could communicate complex advocacy messaging around food security and the right to freedom from hunger in a way that was emotionally engaging and accessible to a broad public audience. The film needed to balance realistic depictions of food insecurity with imaginative storytelling that could hold viewer attention and reinforce the campaign's core message.

Constraints

The project required design elements that could integrate seamlessly with both realistic and fantasy animation styles while supporting a clear advocacy narrative. The work needed to function within a collaborative production environment involving animators, musicians, and campaign organizers, and the final design had to serve the film's storytelling goals rather than stand alone as independent graphic work.

Approach

I worked collaboratively with the animation team and campaign organizers to develop graphic and textual design elements that reinforced the film's message and visual storytelling. The design work focused on supporting the narrative flow, ensuring that text elements were legible and appropriately integrated with the animation, and maintaining visual consistency across scenes that shifted between realistic and fantasy styles. The goal was to create design that felt like a natural part of the film's world rather than an overlay, so the advocacy message could come through clearly without disrupting the viewing experience.

What I Built

• Contributed graphic and textual design elements for a seven-minute animated advocacy film.
• Collaborated with animators and campaign organizers to support the film's visual storytelling and advocacy messaging.
• Designed text elements that integrated seamlessly with both realistic and fantasy animation styles.
• Ensured design consistency across scenes while supporting the narrative flow of the film.
• Created visual elements that reinforced the International Food Security Treaty campaign's core message about food security and the right to freedom from hunger.
• Worked within a collaborative production environment to align design work with animation, music, and advocacy goals.
• Delivered design that supported the film's storytelling without overwhelming or distracting from the narrative.

Outcome

The film was completed and used as part of the International Food Security Treaty campaign to raise awareness about global food security issues. The design elements successfully integrated with the animation and contributed to a cohesive advocacy piece that combined visual storytelling, music, and messaging. The project demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively on mission-driven creative work and adapt design to support larger storytelling goals.

Why It Matters

This project matters because it shows the ability to contribute meaningfully to collaborative advocacy work and adapt design skills to serve a larger mission-driven narrative. It also demonstrates experience working in a production environment where design needs to integrate with animation, music, and campaign messaging rather than function as standalone work. The project reflects a commitment to using creative skills in service of social and advocacy goals, and it shows the ability to work effectively within a team-based creative process.