CNN Digital: As Equals
Mercury in skin whitening products explained
Animated Explainer
Interactive page
The visual language was extended into an interactive experience, following the same style guide created for CNN’s As Equals, allowing deeper exploration of reporting and data around skin whitening. 
Skin whitening affects many melanated communities worldwide. For this piece, we developed a decolonized and accessible visual approach to examine how skin-lightening products are used across Black and brown populations.
A monochrome palette and collaged skin texture look and universal figure gestures led viewers through facts and data, while frame-by-frame animation visualized the toxic effects of mercury as particles. This was created in collaboration with our As Equals vertical.
As art director, my role was to guide a visual language that felt personal, tactile and respectful without reinforcing stereotypes.
This video was picked up by the World Health Organization and UN for their own educational programmes and workshops across West Africa.
Check out the CNN interactive page
Editor: Meera Senthilingam
Senior Producer: 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
A monochrome palette and collaged skin texture look and universal figure gestures led viewers through facts and data, while frame-by-frame animation visualized the toxic effects of mercury as particles. This was created in collaboration with our As Equals vertical.
As art director, my role was to guide a visual language that felt personal, tactile and respectful without reinforcing stereotypes.
This video was picked up by the World Health Organization and UN for their own educational programmes and workshops across West Africa.
Check out the CNN interactive page
Editor: Meera Senthilingam
Senior Producer: 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