Unlimited Potential is a social enterprise based in Salford that works to improve people’s lives and communities through innovation, behaviour change and community-led programmes.
They create and deliver initiatives that tackle disadvantage, build confidence and support better health and well-being, particularly for people who are often overlooked or underserved.
Economies for Healthier Lives is a Health Foundation programme designed to connect local economic development with better health outcomes. Delivered in part by Unlimited Potential in areas such as Salford, it promotes community wealth building through green job creation, support for social enterprises, and stronger local supply chains — it uses local economic development strategies to improve health and reduce health inequalities.
The aimed outcome of the animation was for people to know and understand how economic development can improve health and reduce health inequalities, to feel hopeful and to believe that they can create a hopeful, prosperous and healthy future for our children and future generations, and also to be prompted to create the conditions for growing community wealth and for creating a fairer, greener and healthier economy.
The video was to be aimed at decision makers who are interested in growing community wealth through co-production with local people and communities.
We worked with the client to completely develop a visual style which would be a perfect fit for the subject matter and story that they wished to tell. It was also important for the language and imagery to subtly have an organic / horticultural style, and to actively avoid traditional industrial language and framing of economic development.
We therefore reflected this in the visuals of the animation, illustrating a predominantly green/earthy colour palette, and soft and accessible illustration style focussed on people and communities. This underlying feeling was also applied to the motion element of the project – relying on descriptive and engaging scenes to convey the narrative, but gentle but engaging movements and interesting transitions.
The animation provides a clear and engaging way to explain how economic development can support better health and reduce inequalities. It helps decision makers and community leaders see the connection between wealth building, fairness, green growth and healthier lives, and supports conversations about creating more hopeful futures for children and future generations.
It has become a valuable tool for Unlimited Potential and partners to introduce the Economies for Healthier Lives programme, inspire action around community wealth building and communicate complex ideas in a simple, impactful way.