Save The Blean
2026
Encouraging conservation donations through motion graphics
I designed a motion graphics video to bring Blean Biopark's vision to life, presenting an alternative to housing development and encouraging public awareness and donations.
Overview
Imagine Blean BioPark
This is my final-year university project, which earned a mark of 90/100. In collaboration with Save The Blean, I produced a motion graphics video to communicate their Blean BioPark proposal, an alternative to the planned housing development on Blean Woods.
I developed the concept through client meetings, user research, feedback, and iterative refinement. Using Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, and Premiere Pro, I transformed the proposal into an engaging narrative to help audiences understand and connect with Blean BioPark.
The problem
People are more likely to protect the Blean when they understand its importance and feel connected to it.
How can we use motion design and visual storytelling to bring Blean BioPark’s vision to life and inspire public support?
Research
Key audience insights
To understand people’s current awareness of the Blean and what they wanted the video to communicate, I created an initial survey using Google Forms and shared it through local community groups and the Save The Blean group. I explored preferred visual themes, emotional responses, and what people felt was most important to include. The findings were then used to guide the creative direction and shape how the future vision of Blean Biopark was communicated.
1
Wildlife and biodiversity are the strongest visual drivers
Audiences are most engaged by visuals of wildlife and biodiversity, helping them understand what is at risk.
2
Hope drives support
Positive emotions such as hope and pride are more effective at encouraging engagement than focusing on loss.
3
People need to imagine the future
Audiences want to understand what Blean BioPark could become and the long-term impact of protecting the landscape.
Existing environmental fundraising motion graphic screenshots
Ideation
Visualising the narrative
The storyboard translated research insights into a visual narrative centred around wildlife, hope, and Blean Biopark’s future vision. I used it to establish the story, key visual moments, and emotional journey before moving into animation. Presenting it to the client allowed me to validate the narrative direction early and identify any important elements needed to accurately represent Blean Biopark.
Early storyboard sketches
Testing the experience
I created an animatic to establish the narrative, pacing, transitions, and overall visual direction before developing the final animation. I presented the animatic to examiners and the client to gather feedback early and identify areas for refinement before committing to the full production.
Prototype animatic
Feedback
Narrative & transitions
The animatic was praised for clearly communicating the narrative and showcasing how the transitions worked.
Strengthen biodiversity
Feedback highlighted that biodiversity should play a more prominent role in the animation, reflecting the client’s core focus and representation of the Blean.
Devlelop the audio
The audio track worked well, but I was encouraged to test the voiceover sooner to help refine pacing and animation timing.
Solution
Bringing the vision to life
The final video combined visual storytelling and motion design to bring Blean Biopark’s future vision to life. Drawing on audience research and feedback, it aimed to build an emotional connection with the Blean while making the proposed future feel tangible and achievable.
Imagine Blean BioPark
Measuring impact
To evaluate whether the final animation achieved the aims identified in the initial survey, I conducted a second survey with 34 participants, including local residents from Canterbury and members of Save The Blean. This allowed me to measure how effectively the video communicated Blean Biopark’s future vision and whether it created the intended emotional response.
85%
said the animation clearly communicated the vision of Blean BioPark.
96%
said they feel more supportive of protecting the Blean Woods.
This is an excellent project which answers the client brief to a professional standard. The overall storyline and narrative flow works very well. Assets have been produced with care and overall composition throughout is strong.
Examiner 1
Excellent camera work and transitions, which help the piece flow smoothly and professionally. The environment is very well detailed, with rich visual elements that make the scene feel full and engaging. It is clear that significant work has gone into developing the storytelling and narration, and this has paid off.
Examiner 2
Learnings
