The CDS Group

A Greener Alternative To Burials

Talking about death is one of the last taboos, and the conversation needs to address the environmental impact of our current burial practices. Burials and cremations pollute our planet, but The CDS Group have developed a better way. Working with The CDS Group, our creative team raised awareness about the issues connected with current burial practises introduced The CDS Group’s approach.

The Brief

Current burial practices hide a number of important ethical and environmental issues. These effect us through pollution they create. The CDS Group asked us to explain these issues to companies and local authorities that are working towards becoming carbon neutral. Delivered in a respectful way that left audiences informed about the issues and The CDS Group’s solution.

The Explainer Video

Getting the tone right for our animation was essential. It had to reflect the sensitivity and importance of the subject, informing people without becoming too pushy or direct. This need influenced our script, visual thinking and choice of voiceover, and these all combined to create the ideal atmosphere and feel for the animation.

To combine these different requirements, our whiteboard explainer video used a used a delicate, sensitive illustration style and set the scene by explaining current burial and cremation practices. This can seen in visual thinking such as a character appearing only as a reflection in a lake to respectfully suggest death.

This opening allowed us to introduce the current issues with burials and cremations. Done carefully, we explained the environmental and ethical impacts. Creative visual deliveries of stats and facts allowed us to make this element of the film informative and memorable while a well-chosen colour palette allowed our team to unobtrusively differentiate between this section and The CDS Group’s solution.

Directed by our creative team, the solution offered by The CDS Group was accompanied by a subtle shift in the script and tone of the voiceover. Icon imagery highlighted key points made by the voiceover as our illustrations embodied the sustainable approach used by the CDS Group.

Ending on a clear final message, our whiteboard explainer video left viewers with a clear picture of the challenges and issues, offering local authorities a better path to take as they work to become carbon neutral.

The Client  

Founded in 2003, The CDS Group specialise in cemetery and crematorium development, open space design and environmental solutions. Over the last 16 years, The CDS Group have designed and built over 40 cemeteries and undertaken over 400 feasibility studies.

The Context

Find out more about the work of The CDS Group here.

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We Are Cognitive are award-winning pioneers of whiteboard animation, and the creators behind the RSA Animates series. We help corporate, academic and charitable organisations like the BBC, TED, Coca Cola and Sanofi to tell their stories more powerfully.