As Equals
The dangers of mercury in skin whitening products explained
Animated Explainer

Skin whitening affects people across cultures. Our goal was to design visuals that helped viewers see themselves in the story. We started with a monochromatic palette to reflect the stark tone of skin lightening products.

As Art Director, I helped shape a decolonized, accessible design language. We used collaged skin textures and simple hand gestures to guide viewers through facts and data. The characters were designed to be anonymous but relatable, encouraging a personal connection without reinforcing stereotypes.

To deepen the impact, we used frame-by-frame animation to visualize data as particles. These details gave the piece a sense of texture and weight while keeping the experience clear and grounded.

To learn more visit cnn.com

Editor: Meera Senthilingam
Senior Production: Ladan Anoushfar
Art Direction: Elisa Solinas
Design and Animation: Agne Jurkenaite, Emma Beinish, Jue Gong Additional Animation: Patrick Gallagher, Taylor Su
Sound Design: Sofia Couciero

Awards:
2023 Emmy for Outstanding Graphic Design & Art Direction

2023 Society of Publication Designers Gold Medal