Vodacom Futures

Nicework created an innovative animated presentation for the Vodacom Products and Services department that combines live action and animation to explore the future of mobile technology. The presentation worked to inspire the Products and Service department and to encourage greater communication between Vodacom departments.

To download the PDF click here.

Client: Vodacom

The Vodacom Products and Services department are visionaries in mobile technology. They are responsible for conceiving new ideas, research, testing, and proposing the implementation of viable products. Nicework was given the opportunity to make these ideas look cool.

Services:

Script development, Art direction, Video production, Video editing, Graphic design, 2D and 3D animation, Voice over, Music composition, Sound design

Discovery:

Nicework was commissioned by Vodacom to create a communication piece that would:

• dazzle
• inspire and motivate the Products and Services team,
• effectively communicate their business to other divisions, and
• operate externally in conference-type scenarios.

Brief:

To create an animated short that illustrates how mobile devices will be used in the next five years. Mobiles had to be portrayed as integrated do-it-all gadgets that are applicable in all scenarios, not entirely unlike our clever Nicework employees.

Challenges:

Since mobile is an ever-evolving creature, its capabilities now and in the near future were not easy to define. As we write this case study, some of the concepts included in the video are common. We believe in simple, clear communication pieces so our challenge was to keep it short, interesting and not overly branded. This was achieved in part by combining footage and motion graphics in a non-traditional way.

Tackling the brief:

The brief required a number of real and imagined mobile device features to be showcased including: online capabilities, an interface to virtual social communities, holographic capabilities, games, merchant messages, video calls, home management, as well as the ability to structure its users' social and work life.

Nicework developed a script that would portray these features in a visually engaging format. The script was centred on the narrative of a young professional man who has met a woman online through a social media network. They have gotten to know one another but have yet to meet. The young man plans an evening for their first meeting and uses his mobile device to attend to this and other tasks. He checks out her holographic profile, stocks his kitchen by ordering food online, manages his home appliances and media system, finds a restaurant, books a table, orders flowers and picks them up on the route mapped out by the GPS on his mobile. The man and his date have a wonderful evening, which they document and post online. Just before the man goes to bed he books concert tickets for their next date and sends them to her virtually.

Live-action elements were shot and brought to life through 2D and 3D animation. Nicework also produced the accompanying soundtrack that included a voice-over, music composition, sound design and mixing. Nicework also did the final video edit and sync. The project was completed in the tight time frame of three weeks indicating an ability to work under pressure while maintaining a high standard of work. The final product is a dynamic and progressive animated short that is capable of engaging a variety of audiences.

Result:

• A visually striking and innovative animated short that reflects the clients progressive approach
• A cutting edge presentation for potential Vodacom clients, suitable of being shown in a variety of contexts including meetings and conferences
• Accolades for the client
• A motivated and validated Vodacom Products and Services department
• Greater integration, understanding and communication between Vodacom departments