ibm made simple animation series


Made Simple was born of IBM's need to educate its sales force and Business Partners in a visually stimulating, concise and simple way.

The information that supports many of IBM's products, services and solutions can be overwhelming and the continuing challenge is to keep sellers informed, up to date and confident in the market place. Made Simple drills down to the key points, delivering topics in a nutshell, for instant understanding.

We were first approached by our client in April 2009, to come up with an idea for a 'short, simple explanatory video for Business Partners on how to sell to a CFO'. The brief was to provide a solution to explain a complex topic in a simple yet compelling way, without patronising the audience.

In light of the desired 'simple' approach we decided on a cartoon-style animation interspersed with 3D objects for contrast. Hand drawings conveyed important messaging whilst injecting a touch of humour. The unique graphics differentiated the animation from other IBM collateral and made it instantly recognisable, with its own distinct look and feel.

In summary, the Made Simple animations are informative vehicles carrying vital information for IBM's sellers. They adopt a clear, straightforward and sometimes humorous tone to explain often complex topics, without coming across as condescending to the viewer.



<< Previous | Show All | Next >>




Selling to the CFO, Made Simple

The first animation in the Made Simple series dealt with changes in company buying attitudes during the recession. CFOs were now the ones that had the final say on IT spend, so sellers needed to adapt their strategies accordingly.


With tight deadlines imposed from the off - IBM needed to spread the word fast - we set about simultaneously scripting and storyboarding the film. Once the initial artwork was agreed and approved, we began programming the Flash animation and recording the script. The final version was delivered on time and on budget to a delighted client.