project #1

Hyperhidrosis

pROJECT OVERVIEW

“The hardest struggles are often the ones you can’t see.”

This explainer video will introduce hyperhidrosis, a medical condition that causes excessive sweating, and highlight its impact on daily life. The goal is to raise awareness and create empathy by showing the unseen troubles people with hyperhidrosis face, such as avoiding handshakes, struggling with sweat stains in social settings. The animation will use simple, engaging visuals to explain what hyperhidrosis is, how it affects individuals beyond just physical discomfort and feeling self-conscious, and why understanding and support from others matter. The tone will be informative yet relatable, ensuring that the audience walks away with a better understanding of the challenges faced by those with hyperhidrosis and other minor skin conditions.

CREATIVE BRIEF

This animation was my way of giving voice to an invisible struggle. I wanted to create something that not only informed but also helped people feel seen and understood. By combining design, motion, and storytelling, I aimed to turn discomfort into empathy — and raise awareness in a quiet, powerful way.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This animation is designed for viewers aged 16–35, especially those active on social media who engage with topics like health, wellness, and inclusivity.

Young Adults & Students (16–25)

Navigating self-image and social pressure, this group often relates personally to the challenges of hyperhidrosis. In school or early careers, handshakes, presentations, and social moments carry extra weight — and short, engaging content like this speaks directly to them.

Professionals & Adults (25–35)

This group might know someone dealing with hyperhidrosis — a friend, coworker, or partner — even if they’ve never heard the term. They tend to engage with educational content and are open to learning about overlooked health conditions.

What They Might Not Know

Most viewers aren’t aware that hyperhidrosis is a medical condition. They may assume it’s just about nerves, heat, or hygiene — not realizing the emotional toll it can take. This animation aims to shift that perspective with empathy and clarity.

MOOD BOARD

The visual style for this animation is inspired by a sense of calm and emotional clarity. I drew from my moodboard to design diverse, simplified characters who express subtle but powerful emotions — like nervousness, embarrassment, and self-consciousness.
Soft color palettes and smooth transitions help create a cohesive, soothing flow. To keep the narrative fluid and immersive, I focused on using creative transitions instead of jump cuts, allowing the animation to progress seamlessly from scene to scene.

STORY BOARD

Before jumping into illustration or animation, I sketched out a rough storyboard to map the flow of the video. This helped me plan each scene clearly — from the number of characters and backgrounds to small details like props (trees, an AC, etc.). It also gave me a solid blueprint for the visual assets I needed to create, making the production process smoother and more intentional.

ILLUSTRATIONS

All core illustrations for this project were created using Adobe Illustrator. I designed custom backgrounds, including a street, two café scenes, office spaces, and a doctor’s clinic, to support the visual storytelling. The main characters — Lucy and Mike — were drawn to express subtle emotional moments, while additional background characters helped build a believable, everyday world. I also used a few modified assets from Freepik, such as a purse, some money, and a dog-walking background character. These were adjusted to match the overall color palette and visual style of the animation, ensuring consistency throughout the piece.

FINAL ANIMATION

The final animation was brought to life using Adobe After Effects. I focused on using creative, seamless transitions to maintain a smooth and engaging flow between scenes. Every movement was designed with intention — from subtle fades to dynamic shifts — to ensure the message stayed clear and emotionally resonant throughout.

CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPE

This project took me about four weeks to complete, and I’m proud to say it’s one of my first full-length animations, spanning 1 minute and 30 seconds. Every part of the process — from sketching storyboards to animating transitions — was a learning experience I truly enjoyed. Throughout the journey, I received valuable feedback from peers and my mentor. Early suggestions, like ensuring the chair touched the floor and avoiding cursive handwriting for accessibility, helped refine the first iteration. After my final presentation, I received even more detailed notes — such as improving the stiffness in the “exercise” scene and adjusting Mike’s hand movement at the end of Scene 1. Moving forward,

I plan to keep practicing and improving these finer details to make my animations feel more fluid and emotionally grounded.
As Richard Williams once said in The Animator’s Survival Kit:

“What we want to achieve isn’t realism — it’s believability.”

That’s exactly what I’ll keep aiming for.

CREDITS

Voice Overs by ElevenLabs AI text-to-speech.
Money and dogwalker illustrations inspired by Freepik.
Music track: Dreamy Skies by Pufino
Source: https://freetouse.com/music
Free To Use Music for Videos

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Explore More Work

Thanks for checking out this project! If you’re curious to see what else I’ve been working on — from motion design experiments to playful tech builds — feel free to take a look at some of my other projects below.

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