Case study

Article I Video series

 
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Project description:
Creation of animated videos that explain the role Article I plays in the design of the US Constitution.

 
 

Videos include:

Is Constitutional interpretation only a job for judges? The Hon. James Buckley explains that both judges and members of Congress swear an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution. However, the jobs differ in that judges must impartially examine the existing law while Congressmen can propose new legislation that is pursuant to the Constitution.
Who should exercise lawmaking power in a constitutional republic? The United States Constitution broke precedent by vesting all federal legislative power in Congress. This video essay explores how the Framers of our Constitution organized lawmaking power, and why they justified giving Congress the greatest lawmaking responsibility.
 
 

We partnered with the Article I Initiative to create a series animated ‘video essays’ about the importance of Article I and the United States Constitution.

We determined that the New Yorker magazine aesthetic would be the lead artistic  inspiration of this piece. Historically the magazine has been known for thoughtful pieces and stylish aesthetic.  That aesthetic strikes an interesting balance of classic, retro, and up-to-date - the balance to strike with the visuals in this series.

Additionally, we thought of the content in terms of “what would appeal to a New Yorker” reader - they enjoy reading commentary that’s a bit more sophisticated than traditional media.

We realized the concept by creating a sophisticated animation style that makes an ‘old’ topic interesting and relevant for a modern audience.

Written and produced by Phaedo Creative. 

Illustration and Animation by Sidekick Studios.

Case Study

Administrative Law video series

 
 

Project description:
Creation of an animated series of videos on various Administrative Law topics.

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VIDEOS Include:

What kind of legal authority do federal executive branch agencies have? Professor Susan Dudley gives an overview of the field of Administrative Law, which deals with this question. Administrative Law studies how executive branch agencies interpret, and administer, and enforce, legislation that has been delegated to them from Congress.
Has the relationship of Congress to administrative agencies changed over time? Does it matter? Professor Gary Lawson explains that there is no single answer to the question of the proper relationship between Congress and agencies. The answer is dependent on how you view Constitutional law and public policy.
 

We partnered with the Federalist Society’s No. 86 platform to create an series of videos to educate law students about the history and function of the administrative state.

Administrative Law is not the most inherently visual topic - our challenge was to find a creative approach that fit the topic while also making the topic more compelling in video form.

We determined that the New Deal era would be our aesthetic inspiration. This is a rhetorical nod to the fact that birth of the modern Administrative State coincided with that era.

We realized the concept by creating stylized details that create a polished, integrated feel: an old-timey cinema, art deco font, jazz music.

We developed a hand-drawn illustration style with a classic-yet-retro feeling.

Curriculum design, art direction, storyboards, production management by Phaedo Creative.

Illustration by Andrew Ciskanik.

Animation by Sterett Production.