Now, we could write a detailed case study on all the steps involved here, but let’s - as they say - skip to the chase. We’ll let the animation speak for itself, then focus our attention on one of the most interesting details if you’re in the market for something similar: how we kept the budget down without compromising on quality.
THREE MINUTES TO SAY SO MUCH
In creating the animation, we had just over three minutes to take patients from zero knowledge of the BHS Registry to a readiness to take part and contribute their medical data.
So a lot of ground to cover, from the basics (what is the Registry?) to the details (what does taking part look like?) to the benefits (for patients, medical research and hernia surgery in particular) to the reassurances (consent, anonymity, security).
Scriptwriter Angela Montague was the project lead, working with surgeons and patient representatives on the BHS sub committee to create a script and storyboard that covered all those messages. Crucially, the script aimed for a light touch and plain English, to be accessible to a wide audience and easy to translate for non-English speakers.
The script was recorded by a professional voice over artist, with Angela providing a scratch track (a temporary voiceover) to convey the emphasis and timing for the professional record.
Please take time to watch the video to see what we did, and the warm and friendly approach that was key to reaching a wide audience.
Then scroll down to find out how we kept the budget down.
HOW WE KEPT THE BUDGET DOWN
Although we have the skills to create graphics on our team (images of people, medical equipment, interiors, etc), we took the decision to use stock vector graphics for this stage of the work, a choice that greatly reduced costs.
Using stock images still needs a skilled hand, though. Our graphic designer David set about researching which graphics to use, to bring the script to life, but also - crucially - to be of the same style, so the animation had an overall consistent style.
Once the graphics were approved by the client, David set about modifying them, so the final vector graphics that made it to the animation are tailored to the messages the BHS needed to get across, and the realities of hernia surgery.
Modifications included:
1. Adding a mesh and a laparoscope in the opening scene and laying the patient flat, to go from generic surgery to the specifics of hernia surgery
2. Making all the surgical scrubs the same colour
3. Changing an office shirt to a lab coat, so an office worker becomes a medical researcher
4. Adding the BHS logo to images of screens and reports
5. Changing the appearance of several characters to make the final animation more diverse
David also added pivots points to characters so the animator could move limbs or heads.
It was then over to our animator Tasha to take the storyboard, professional voice over, and modified vector graphics and blend them together to produce the animation you can watch here. Subtle motion was used throughout to keep people’s interest and underline the key points of the voice over, without adding greatly to the animator’s time (again keeping that budget down).
FIND OUT MORE
If you want to find out more about our approach to explainer animations:
Drop us a quick message with our contact form (it's quick and easy) or
Get in touch with the project lead for this animation Angela Montague on Linkedin.
WHAT IS THE BRITISH HERNIA SOCIETY REGISTRY?
The BHS have kindly sent us these words to explain the wider project:
For more than 20 years, patients, healthcare professionals, specialist societies and industry partners across the UK and Ireland have called for a comprehensive hernia registry to collect national data and evaluate meaningful outcomes in hernia surgery. With over 100,000 hernia repairs performed annually, there has been strong support from the surgical community for the development of a robust national registry.
The British Hernia Society Registry (BHSR) was formally launched at the British Hernia Society Conference in Oxford in November 2024 and is now fully operational across the UK. More than 250 surgeons from over 70 hospitals have joined the Registry, with approximately 3,500 patient procedures already recorded.
The Registry collects high-quality, prospective clinical data alongside Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), providing valuable insights into patient outcomes, safety and quality of care. This information supports clinical governance, benchmarking, quality improvement initiatives and future research, helping to drive improvements in hernia surgery nationwide.
The publication of the inaugural BHSR Annual Report marks an important milestone, providing the first national picture of hernia surgery practice and outcomes in the UK. The Registry is also creating opportunities for large-scale, cost-effective research, supporting innovation in surgical techniques and product development, and enabling the long-term monitoring of patient outcomes.
Work continues to expand participation, strengthen governance, enhance the Registry platform and develop additional resources for both healthcare professionals and patients. The long-term ambition is for the Registry to become an integral part of routine hernia practice, helping ensure the highest standards of care for patients undergoing hernia surgery.
If you are awaiting hernia surgery in the UK or Ireland, you may be invited to take part in the Registry and contribute to improving the future of hernia care.
Find out more: British Hernia Society Registry
For further information, please contact: registry@britishherniasociety.org