Animating the Rebrand Updating Activation’s Showreel

Upon joining Activation as a Junior Designer, I was eager to dive into projects that would push my creative boundaries. One of the most exciting challenges came when I was tasked with updating Activation's showreel. With the company's rebrand in full swing, it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase work for both long-standing and new clients like Tilda and Whole Earth, all while aligning the reel with our refreshed visual identity.

The first step was to immerse myself in our updated brand guidelines, ensuring every design choice reflected our new direction. From colour palettes to typography, every detail had to feel cohesive and distinctly "Activation." This wasn’t just about creating something visually appealing—it was about reinforcing our identity and values as a creative agency.

Using After Effects as my primary tool, I set out to bring the showreel to life. I leaned heavily on cameras and null objects to create smooth, dynamic movements that made transitions between segments feel fluid and engaging. Experimenting with these tools allowed me to add depth and a sense of motion, taking viewers on a seamless journey through our portfolio. Through strategic timing and transitions, I aimed to mirror the energy and ethos of our clients' brands while keeping the overall piece consistent with Activation's new style. Each iteration brought us closer to a final product that truly felt like a celebration of Activation’s journey and our future aspirations as self-appointed "Attention Seekers."

Seeing the updated showreel come together was incredibly rewarding. The new reel not only showcases the amazing work we do at Activation but also reflects how we continue to grow and evolve as a team. I feel the showreel truly captures this. It was an incredible experience to further experiment with some of the capabilities of After Effects, discovering new ways to captivate viewers' attention. I’m thrilled to have played a part in shaping this piece and can’t wait to see how it resonates with our clients and audiences alike. I’m already looking forward to refreshing it again in the future, perhaps with some brand-new, snazzy clients in the mix!