A government team wanted to explain the difference between flood hazard maps and flood risk maps. These are nuanced and potentially emotionally-loaded concepts, so the goal was to provide a clear, surface-level explanation with a light, no-nonsense tone that wouldn’t overwhelm viewers.
I developed a short, animated explainer video that broke down these concepts using friendly visuals and accessible language. The video aligned with the organization’s existing brand elements and communicated the essentials without oversimplifying—or creating fear.
Note: This project was developed while an employee at Natural Resources Canada. It was created as a proof of concept to demonstrate communication approaches for explaining complex data. It was not released publicly and does not does not represent an official Government of Canada publication.
Following an in-depth consultation, I researched the topic and drafted a script that distilled complex geospatial information into key takeaways. The script was approved with only minor edits.
With a clear foundation in place, I created the visual style and illustrations, then brought the script to life through animation. The development process was smooth and enjoyable thanks to strong planning.
Though it was never publicly released, this piece was a chance to showcase both my design and science communication skills—and proved just how powerful simple visuals can be when it comes to explaining complex topics.