Veolia
Explore the Veolia project, a unique endeavour by Explanimate. Discover our innovative 2D, 3D, and motion graphics solutions today.
About the
project
Veolia takes its processes seriously. You have to when you operate in as many countries and fields as they do.
They knew the concept they were trying to explain – asset management – was difficult. It often required long meetings to explain so they were sceptical but hopeful, that we’d be able to convey it in such a short time.
“It’s really about how and why things break and how best to stay on top of that,” said Zach Phillips, Veolia’s Head of Asset Management in Aus & NZ.
“oops i did it again”
Asset Management can feel pretty impersonal, with a lot of charts, computer processes, and tracking on spreadsheets. So rather than go entirely impersonal we brought in a human character to take us on the journey. Starting the video in an office allowed for a moment of personal connection with the audience, so when we then dive into a more conceptual world, they feel grounded and aware of where they are.
“that is just so typically me”
We really wanted the design to do the heavy lifting, we wanted the “real world” to feel so expansive and full of light and work that when it flipped and went into the conceptual world that would feel like a shift. As though our main character was getting down into the nuts and bolts of the operation. Adding light and large glass windows into the office gave it that sense of grandeur and space that we were chasing and worked as a wonderful counterpoint to the constricted blue world she would enter.
“got lost in the game”
Once we had the design and the concept we thought it would be smooth sailing… oh boy were we wrong. It turns out Veolia was right (who’d have guessed) and that Asset Management is an incredibly complicated story to distill down. There were a number of revisions as we tried to zero in on what it was that would crack it and eventually we got there. We were able to cover all the content they wanted, with visuals that worked for and spoke to their audience.
“i’m sent from above”
They were thrilled with the results and it’s now used the world over, has been translated into multiple languages, and helps Veolia staff better understand their processes.
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Veolia operates across multiple countries and industries, managing an intricate web of assets, infrastructure, and logistics. Their challenge? Explaining the complexities of asset management in a way that was engaging, digestible, and clear.
They knew this was a tough ask. Asset management is often buried in spreadsheets, data tracking, and long meetings - not exactly the most thrilling material to condense into a short video. But they were hopeful that we could bring it to life in a way that would resonate with their audience.
As Veolia’s Head of Asset Management for Australia and New Zealand, Zach Phillips, put it:
“It’s really about how and why things break and how best to stay on top of that.”
With that in mind, we knew our challenge wasn’t just explaining what asset management is but also why it matters. Our goal was to create clarity without oversimplifying, ensuring the video spoke directly to Veolia’s teams and global audience.
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Asset management can feel impersonal - data heavy, mechanical, and process driven. To counteract that, we introduced a human character to guide the audience through the journey.
The video begins in a real world office, establishing a sense of familiarity and connection. Then, as we transition into a conceptual, data driven world, viewers feel anchored, they understand where they are and why this matters.
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The design needed to do the heavy lifting. We wanted the real world setting to feel bright, expansive, and full of life, creating a stark contrast when we shifted into the structured, analytical world of asset management.
To achieve this:
- We filled the office with light, using large glass windows to emphasise openness and clarity.
- The transition into the conceptual world was designed to feel like diving into the nuts and bolts of the operation, reinforcing the idea that asset management is about understanding and controlling complexity.
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Despite having a strong concept and design approach, we quickly realised that Veolia was right - asset management is incredibly complex to distill into a short form video.
It took multiple rounds of refinement, with careful iteration on how to balance technical accuracy with visual storytelling. Through collaboration with Veolia, we were able to hone in on what truly mattered, ensuring the final piece was both informative and engaging.
The final video exceeded expectations. It’s now used worldwide, translated into multiple languages, and serves as a key training tool for Veolia staff, helping them better understand asset management and its role in their daily operations.
For a concept that once required long meetings to explain, we helped Veolia deliver it in just a few minutes, without losing impact.
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