About Visual Explainer

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What is Visual Explainer?


Clients hire me on a freelance basis to develop explanatory videos or presentations relying on visuals.

Why Visuals?
People have little time to read. A short presentation with hand-drawn illustrations is a refreshing change from marketing-speak. Visuals tell a story succinctly.

What for?
- Videos for web sites: Introduction to a company's web-site, to a product
- Presentations: Product presentations, sales pitches
- Training: Tutorials, e-learning.

Why should I care?
That’s often the question in the back of a visitor’s mind. The best answer is a story. Visual stories convey emotion, making it easier for visitors to relate to the content, and therefore to care.

So is text out?
Not at all. Once you have someone’s attention, and the person wants to find out more about what you offer, text has an important role to play. People do read, provided they're motivated.
My goal is to motivate them.


View a presentation




Benefits


Visual Explainer videos:
Are different -> Attract attention
Are clear -> Explain a subject simply
Are entertaining -> Motivate their audience
Are serious -> Have an impact
Are light-weight -> Distribute easily


FAQ

What are the advantages of illustration?
Because the drawings aren't flashy, the subject matter seems much more approachable to the viewer. Custom-made illustrations are a refreshing change from familiar clip art or impersonal stock photos. However when my illustrations aren't appropriate, I can also work with other forms of media –- photos, film, clip art –- and with other, real artists. What is important is the explanation, not the nature of the visuals.

What other visual tools can be used?
In addition to illustrations, the following media can be used:
- Photos
- Screen captures
- Screencasts
- Clip art
- Real-life video
- External artists
- Recorded narrative

Do all your presentations come with animations and audio?
This is an option, as shown here and here. The visual explanation can also come with background music, as here. But sometimes simple is better, and slides with no audio, such as these, work well too.

How do you work with clients?
After discussing a client’s idea, I submit a proposal. Once the proposal is accepted, the client makes a 50% down-payment and we get started. The usual stages of the project are:
1. Gather information: The client provides necessary information: personnel to interview, company-specific visuals, background information etc.
2. Script: The client or I develop the script
3. Storyboard: I develop the storyboard
4. Visuals: I or an external artist develop the illustrations, or capture the video or take the photos
5. First cut: I make a rough production of the presentation; the client can choose a musical background
6. Voice-over: I or an external voice talent record the final narration
7. Final cut: I make the final production.
For fast turn-around time, the client must be readily available to approve each stage of the project before the next stage is launched.

How much does it cost?
Each project is unique. The cost of the project depends on the following factors:
- Length of film
- Whether there is a recorded narration
- Amount of animation required
- Whether I or a third party create the script, the visuals and the recorded narration
- Format(s) for final delivery
- Translation to other languages.

Can you work in other languages?
English and French are my native languages, and I write and narrate in both. I can converse and narrate in German and Italian.


Background


Work Experience
  • Freelance communications consultant, Rolex
  • Marketing manager for two software startups. Dalet (media asset management for broadcasters and content producers), and Artsum (solutions for media monitoring and asset management).
  • Management consultant (Mercer Management Consulting, now rebranded as Oliver Wyman)
Education

How did you get started making explanatory videos?
I love writing, and explaining things in jargon-free English to non-specialists has always been an important part of any job I've held. But the web has changed the way we consume information, and traditional company literature can seem dry and tedious no matter how carefully it is written. Multimedia explanations have more impact, are more fun to view – and are more fun to produce.

Are you an artist?
I have always communicated ideas with sketches. I took a few drawing and cartooning classes. But beyond any drawing skills I may or may not have, what I have to offer is the capacity to clarify a subject for a given audience.