As Square Daisy approached its fifteenth anniversary, we wanted to create a piece of content that celebrated the milestone in a way that reflected both our creative capabilities and our approach to visual communication.
Rather than producing a traditional talking-head video or a fully animated explainer, we chose to create a picture collage style animation – a format that combines photography, typography, graphic design and motion graphics into a dynamic visual narrative.
The objective was simple.
To communicate fifteen years of growth, projects, relationships and achievements through a series of concise, impactful messages supported by carefully curated imagery from our journey as a business.
The finished piece was used across our website, social media channels and wider marketing activity, demonstrating a different way of creating engaging video content without relying on conventional filming techniques.
A Future-Proof Creative Approach
One of the key advantages of this style was flexibility.
The original version of the project was actually created to celebrate thirteen years in business. Because the underlying structure, animation system and design approach were built in a modular way, we were able to revisit and update the content for our fifteenth anniversary without having to start from scratch.
This significantly increased the lifespan and return on investment of the asset.
Rather than becoming outdated after a single campaign, the content was designed to evolve alongside the business, allowing milestones, statistics, imagery and messaging to be updated as required. We have the original animation embedded at the end of the page.
This is an approach we regularly discuss with clients where content needs to remain relevant over a number of years rather than serving a single short-term purpose.
What Is a Picture Collage Animation?
Picture collage animations sit somewhere between traditional filmed content and fully animated productions.
Rather than relying on continuous video footage, the content is created using a combination of:
• Photography
• Brand assets
• Typography
• Graphic design elements
• Motion graphics
• Layered visual effects
• Animated transitions
Individual images are separated, layered and animated independently to create depth, movement and energy throughout the piece.
The result is often more dynamic and visually engaging than a simple slideshow, whilst maintaining a stronger human connection than purely illustrative animation.
Because the imagery often originates from the organisation itself, the final content feels authentic and specific to the business rather than generic.
Why This Style Works So Well
Picture collage animations are particularly effective when the objective is to communicate ideas, values or achievements through concise visual storytelling.
They work exceptionally well where:
• Existing photography already exists
• Filming may be impractical or unnecessary
• A business wants to showcase real people and achievements
• Multiple messages need to be communicated quickly
• The content will be viewed without sound
• Budgets need to be focused on creative execution rather than extensive filming
The format is also highly adaptable across different platforms, making it particularly useful for websites, presentations, conferences, trade shows and social media.
An Alternative To Filming Or Traditional Animation
Many organisations assume the choice is between filming or animation.
Picture collage animations offer a compelling third option.
Compared to filmed content, they avoid many of the logistical challenges associated with production, such as locations, scheduling, weather and filming days.
Compared to fully animated explainer videos, they retain a strong human element through the use of real photography and brand imagery.
The result is often a highly engaging middle ground that combines the authenticity of real-world imagery with the creative freedom and visual energy of animation.
The Outcome
The finished anniversary animation successfully communicated the Square Daisy story through a fast-paced, visually engaging format that reflected both our creative capabilities and our personality as a business.
It demonstrated how powerful messaging, thoughtful design and carefully curated imagery can work together to create engaging content without relying on conventional video production techniques.
More importantly, it highlighted a creative approach that can be adapted across a wide range of client projects, particularly where businesses want to communicate values, achievements, culture or key messages in a memorable and visually distinctive way.
