Forum Support

Connecting Through Shared Experience

We partnered with Lancaster University’s Spectrum Centre once again to explore another vital aspect of mental health — the power of connection. This project focused on the importance of finding community and understanding through online forums. These digital spaces allow people living with mental health challenges, particularly bipolar disorder, to share experiences, offer support, and feel less alone — all within a safe, anonymous environment.

The challenge was to visualise that invisible thread of connection — how people can be miles apart yet still deeply linked by shared empathy and experience.

Gentle Storytelling, Meaningful Impact

We opted for a hand-drawn animation style that felt warm, gentle and organic. The sketch-like textures and soft, fluid movement gave the piece a sense of intimacy, helping viewers instantly feel at ease. Every element was designed to reflect calmness and safety — the two things most people seek when reaching out for support.

We paired the visuals with a soothing voiceover that guided the story in a reassuring, conversational tone. This wasn’t about statistics or instructions — it was about inviting the audience in, making them feel understood, and reminding them that vulnerability is not weakness. The voiceover, delivered in a calm and empathetic tone, encouraged viewers to take the first step: to reach out, share, and connect — even if anonymously. It reinforced the message that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is talk, and that there are people out there who truly understand.

Sound played a huge role in shaping the atmosphere. The score was composed with gentle meditation like melodies layered over soft ambient textures, mirroring the emotional warmth of the visuals.

A Campaign Rooted in Empathy

This project encouraged openness without pressure, community without exposure, and connection without fear. By focusing on anonymity, the Spectrum Centre’s initiative helps people feel safe enough to be honest — an essential part of healing and self-understanding.

We took great care to reflect this ethos in every creative choice. The pace of the animation was gentle and unhurried, mirroring the process of building trust. The colour palette shifted from cool blues and purples to warmer hues as the sense of connection grew, subtly reinforcing the emotional arc from isolation to togetherness.

A Safe Space, Brought to Life

At its heart, this film is a visual reminder that no one has to face mental health challenges alone. It celebrates the quiet strength found in empathy, the small but meaningful act of reaching out, and the power of shared experience to transform lives.

Working with the Spectrum Centre on this campaign has been a privilege. Through thoughtful storytelling and sensitive design, we helped turn their mission into something viewers could feel — a calm, hopeful, and quietly powerful piece of communication that continues to resonate.

Because sometimes, the simplest act — saying “me too” — can light the way forward.