Our lived experience UNITEs us.
CLIENT
BCMHSUS
YEAR
2024
SCOPE
Motion Graphics
Illustration
Character Design
Mental Health
Education
Co-Design
MY ROLE
In this project, I worked as a research assistant, contributing to the overall visual and animation.
Collaborating closely with the team, I was responsible for the development of the visual system and character design system, as well as storyboarding and animating Video 3 and half of Video 2. I also participated in organizing the narrative content and edited the audio to shape the story, ensuring both clarity and emotional impact.
Watch full videos on the PHSA Youtube channel.
The UNITE Project
This collaborative project between BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS)
and the Health Design Lab at Emily Carr University focused on disrupting stigma.
This seires features the stories from BCMHSUS staff, who also have lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges. Through three animations, they share their stories of overcoming stigma in the workplace, and in effort to build a more inclusive workplace.
Stories of Staff Experiences
CHARACTER DESIGN
For this series, we chose an abstract style for the character designs. This approach softens the boundaries between the storytelling and the audience, making the stories more relatable. Additionally, a more cartoonish design allows for greater emotional expression during the animation process.
VISUAL SYSTEM
We developed a visual system that utilizes diverse color palettes and materials to amplify the atmosphere and deepen the emotional expression of the characters.
CO-DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
To collaborate closely with storytellers on their character designs, we created a character co-design system offering a variety of customizable options. Using a Miro board we prepared, storytellers could select their favorite elements to craft a character image that best represented themselves.
FINAL OUTCOMES
Once the storytellers had finalized their character images, we completed the design by adding matching colored arms and legs, shadows, and three-dimensional views. To distinguish the storytellers from the side characters, we used neutral colors and bean-shaped eyes for the side characters.
Storytellers
Storytellers
Side Characters
STORYBOARDS
For the storyboard, I focused on translating the narrative into visual sequences that captured the emotional beats and key moments of the story. I worked to ensure the scene flow was clear and engaging, utilizing dynamic compositions and camera angles to enhance the storytelling. Throughout the process, I collaborated with the team to maintain consistency with the visual style and the overall direction of the project.
ANIMATION
In the final animation, I added more details based on the storyboards to ensure that pacing and transitions were precise, helping the audience follow the story more easily. Additionally, I developed corresponding color palettes for each of the three main characters, bringing more order to the visual composition while maintaining a vibrant, dynamic feel.
SCREENING
On Feb 28, the Health Design Lab hosted a screening + panel discussion at Emily Carr University, alongside the collaborators from BCMHSUS and the HDL team.
Project Team
Lisa Sangeun Park
Qianhui Wan
Caylee Raber
Jon Hannan
Otilia Spantulescu
3 Storytellers
Victoria Maxwell
Katie Mai