As the Principal Designer for The Ideas Factory in Medellin, I had the chance to lead a creative team on a project for AUSTRADE, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in Colombia. The project aimed to create an animated video highlighting the beauty of Colombia and its recent transformation, with the goal of attracting more foreign businesses to invest in the country.

It was my first time as an art director for an animated video, and I was excited to take on the challenge. I worked closely with the marketing team, who developed the storyline and strategy for the campaign. With their help, I created a unique visual concept that aligned with the campaign's objectives. I then developed the storyboard and passed it on to my team to bring to life.

The video we created is full of symbolism and details, including our main little character, a hummingbird, representing Colombia and its natural beauty. We made sure to incorporate key landmarks and locations throughout the country, showcasing its rich culture and heritage. We wanted to give potential investors a glimpse into what it would be like to do business in Colombia, and we felt that these small details would help bring that to life.

But as they say, the best-laid plans often go awry. Our team faced countless obstacles throughout the project. We had to deal with endless back-and-forth with the client, as they provided feedback and revisions. It was like playing a never-ending game of telephone, with messages getting lost in translation.

At one point, we realized that we needed to replace a laptop charger, which we could only get from the US. It was frustrating to be held up by such a small item, but we didn't let that get in the way of our progress. We joked that we were willing to trade our own laptops for the charger, but eventually, it arrived, and we were back on track.

Despite these challenges, my team and I remained focused on the end goal. We worked tirelessly to address each obstacle as it arose, keeping our sense of humor intact. We even came up with a few inside jokes that still make us laugh.

In the end, all of our hard work paid off, and we successfully delivered the video, meeting the client's objectives and generating significant interest in doing business in Colombia. Looking back on the project, I realize that it's the challenges and obstacles we overcame that make the final result all the more rewarding.

Working on this project was an unforgettable experience, and it taught me the importance of persistence, resilience, and a good sense of humor. I am grateful for the opportunity to work on such a meaningful project and look forward to tackling whatever challenges come my way in the future.

Credits:

Mariana Palmar: Art Director/Concept Designer/Illustrator

Pedro Romero: Animator/Illustrator

Roberto Álvarez: Video & Sound Editor

Script & Marketing Strategy: The Ideas Factory