NOMINT director/designer Ariel Costa works his motion magic to transform documentary photography into two stirring brand films for climate justice movement Project Dandelion and their call for investment in women smallholder farmers.

EP: Marilena Vatseri at NOMINT: “We spend a lot of our time bringing stories to life for brands, and we love that. But every now and then, something comes along that reminds us how powerful our craft can be when it’s applied to something bigger. Project Dandelion was one of those.

Ariel Costa: “One of the biggest challenges of this project was figuring out how to blend all the different media elements smoothly including powerful photos taken on the ground in India and Ethiopia showing women making incredible strides in their communities.
 

“”Overall, it was about finding the right balance between authenticity and visual storytelling, which I think really helped highlight these women’s resilience and ingenuity.”

 
“The trick was to incorporate these raw images into a storytelling format that felt engaging but still authentic. To do this, I layered illustrations and subtle animations over the photos, giving the story more visual interest without taking away from the realness of the moments.

“I used a combination of digital and analog techniques combining both worlds with Photoshop and After Effects. I also used 3D mapping to create a sense of space and movement. This added depth and made the characters and environments pop, which helped viewers connect more emotionally.

“I also made use of the textures and patterns provided by the photographers, which helped add richness and authenticity. This meant I was able to create a more immersive experience, allowing viewers to get a real sense of the local cultures and environments by showasing the unique beauty and strength of each community.

“Overall, it was about finding the right balance between authenticity and visual storytelling, which I think really helped highlight these women’s resilience and ingenuity.”

“Ethiopia” above

“India” Below

 
 

 
Client: Project Dandelion

Agency: WRTHY

Production: NOMINT
Director: Ariel Costa
CD: Christos Lefakis
EP: Marilena Vatseri
DOP: Eduardo Soteras Jalil, Anindito Mukherjee
Designer: Ariel Costa, Malena de Luca
Animator: Ariel Costa, Tainá F.W, Lio Skliar

Sound: Interlude Sounds