University of Bath

Basic Income

The Scrapbook

What if we’re all to a lesser or greater extent subject to modern slavery? A problem that affects many people across the world, the University of Bath have put forward universal basic income as a solution to this pandemic.

The Challenge

When creating this whiteboard animation, we had to keep several important factors in mind. It had appeal to a primary audience of policy makers, while also appealing the general public. The film had to make the exploitation shown relatable and reflective of what people experience across the spectrum. All of this had to be delivered in a clear and concise way, which also compelled people to consider this facet of modern life and to find out more.

The film

Bringing this message to the screen properly hinged on making every aspect clear, considered and concise. For us this began with the colour scheme. A muted colour palette allowed us to focus the viewer on what has happening on screen. Using imagery such as treadmills and speedboats, and visual metaphors such pillars of policy supporting society, we explained the narrative in a way which was widely understandable. A diverse cast of characters played a vital role in reflecting the way modern slavery manifested in our societies while also making the film relatable. These characters embodied workers at multiple points on the modern slavery spectrum. These elements were tied to together by a well-paced animation and a clear explanatory voiceover which added further context and accessibility. Together, these created a clear and concise film which gave viewers an overview on which to reflect, acting as a basis to find out more.

The context

Find the film and more discussion around modern slavery on openDemocracy.

About the client

The University of Bath is a university with a reputation for research and teaching excellence. Their goal is to deliver world-class research while educate their students to become leaders and innovators of the future. We created a whiteboard explainer to help them add to the public debate on modern slavery and universal basic income.