Spring 2014

ATION worked with the Mansfield Downtown Partnership to create a logo for the September 21, 2014 event, the “Celebrate Mansfield Festival.” The design process took place as Storrs Center was still being built. Our team met with the Celebrate Mansfield committee and created numerous logo designs. The Celebrate Mansfield team ultimately decided on the current one because it reminded them of an app and it was reminiscent of their previous logo made up of squares. This logo is divided up in a similar manner, yet more organically.

Our logo was featured across the event in festival branding and promotional web and print materials. For more information and to view the logo live on the festival website, please see DowntownStorrsFestival.org.

Fall 2014

ATION Digital Media Agency worked in collaboration with a local investment firm called CT Innovations. The CT Innovations team paired our agency with Umbie Dental, a cloud based dental organization company. Umbie asked us to produce a video that would be showcased at dental trade shows in order to spread awareness about their products to potential clients.

There were multiple steps to this project. First and foremost, we needed to establish concept ideas. We tested multiple ideas and narrowed them down to three possibilities: live action footage, graphics, and a combination of the two. In the end, the client went with the live action version.

The second step in our process was to write the script, which was critical for relaying the brand message. Before writing the script, we created a SWOT analysis in order to better understand Umbie’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Next, we developed a brand analysis which allowed us to craft the right setting, as well as characters.

After the script was completed, we took advantage of one of the many benefits of being at a university and collaborated with the University of Connecticut’s acting department. The final video was split into 5 short segments. Each of the clips contains its own short story while still carrying an overarching theme throughout.

This format allows Umbie to play the clips back-to-back at trade shows so people walking by can catch a glimpse of what Umbie has to offer.

Fall 2014

CT Innovations introduced ATION to Isoplexis, a biotechnology startup that focuses on cancer treatment research. The task was to create a concise video for the company that presented their product’s unique benefits to researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

In our process, we followed a supplemental timeline given to us by CT Innovations. This frame of reference helped us focus on the project in stages and allowed us to jump into development with a clear, client-approved concept. Our first challenge was to ideate stylistic approaches to the video – which involved scouring the web for relevant inspiration that broadened our idea scope and opened the door for greater innovation opportunities.

The client decided on flow, a motion graphic concept that showcased shape-shifting transitions and an enticing color palette. From there, we began work on a script. We decided to go with a voiceover in order to allow the visuals to be explored in depth. In development, the spoken script aided in determining the pace of the animation. With constant communication between us and the client, we were able to avoid overuse of technical jargon and over-simplification in order to cater to the client’s syntax.

For the narrative, we juxtaposed the two leading methods of cancer treatment research and then revealed how Isoplexis had indeed found a unique method. This proved to be effective and the client approved of the storyboard, allowing us to begin work on the animated video.

The same graphics created in Adobe Illustrator for the storyboard were moved into Adobe After Effects with the caveat of individual layer separation per graphic. We built our story in five distinct scenes that fit together to create one overarching narrative. To complement the visual component we created original music to fit the client’s specifications. The client was very happy with the final product describing it as “very awesome”.

Spring 2014

ATION collaborated with Mary Caravella from the Marketing Department of the UConn School of Business to produce a how-to video on developing a marketing persona. The process included writing a script, storyboarding and producing of a 4.75 minute video, “What Is A Persona?”, and creating a document to leave behind for the classroom.

The video has been published online and will be used as a teaching aid in DMD’s Business Strategies courses and in the School of Business’ marketing courses.

Spring 2014

Mission Statement: To educate UConn students about information security in a fun, interactive way.

Husky Hunt is an online and in-person game that educates you on information technology safety and security. This game involves answering questions online and receiving locations that will give you points and unlock more clues. Prizes include anything from gift cards to the UConn Co-Op and rewards from various businesses around the area. The best reward comes in the form of knowledge, saving you time and money in the future.

ATION was responsible for re-branding Husky Hunt in the spring of 2014. A new logo and brand look were created, as well as posters, postcards and fliers driving students to the Husky Hunt game site. A promotional animated infographic was also created that showcases the re-brand, explains the rules of the Husky Hunt game, and inspires the community to participate online.