RobecoExplainer series

Project overview

Robeco, a global asset manager focused on research-driven and sustainable investing, asked us to develop a new visual style for a series of explainer videos aimed at professional investors. The challenge was to communicate complex sustainability and investment topics in a way that felt clear, engaging and aligned with their brand.
The result is an animation style now used across multiple videos, giving Robeco’s communications a recognizable and consistent look.

Our role

Working closely with Robeco’s communications and marketing teams, we helped define the creative direction for the series. . The first animation became the foundation for developing a broader visual language, exploring motion principles, typography, transitions, composition and pacing.
To ensure consistency across future productions, all visual principles were documented in a dedicated video style guide. This created a scalable foundation for producing new videos while maintaining a clear and recognizable identity.

A stylized 3D scene in Robeco’s visual world.

The goal was to move beyond traditional infographic-style videos and create an approach that felt both informative and visually engaging. One of the main challenges was balancing clarity and technical accuracy with a visual style that felt lighter, more open and more accessible.

Consistency across the series played an important role throughout the process. We developed recurring scene types, visual elements and motion principles that could adapt to different topics while reinforcing the overall identity. At the same time, the direction intentionally moved away from the dense, data-heavy look common in the financial sector, helping Robeco stand out from its peers.

A lighter, more accessible style.

Production process & challenges

Early in the process, we explored multiple visual directions ranging from minimal compositions using glass overlays inspired by Robeco’s branding to more immersive 3D environments and abstract visual approaches.
Movement studies and transition tests helped define the pacing and rhythm of the videos, while data animation templates ensured charts and figures remained clear, consistent and on-brand. After several iterations, we arrived at a direction that combined clarity with a recognizable visual language.

Exploring directions for a new look.

With the direction in place, we translated the first script into an animatic, a rough version of the animation used to map out the storyline, timing and pacing before moving into final production. We also developed styleframes to define key scenes and align expectations around the final visual direction. The first production was somewhat unique because the visual language was still evolving alongside the animation itself.

Setting the storyline and pacing with the animatic for the ‘Smart Mobility’ video.

The first production was somewhat unique because the visual language was still evolving alongside the animation itself.
For later videos, the process became more structured. Robeco would provide a draft script and supporting information, after which we researched the topic further and explored how to communicate it in a way that felt clear and aligned with the style guide. This phase typically included several rounds of feedback and refinement. Once the animatic and visual direction were approved, we moved into production, rendering and final delivery. Each video typically took six to eight weeks from script to completion.

Outcome

The first video served as a proof of concept for the new visual style. It established a visual direction that made complex topics clearer while giving Robeco’s videos a more recognizable and engaging style. Based on that production, we formalized the visual system into a style guide that now supports all subsequent videos. This guide includes everything from typography and color use to design conventions and animation principles, helping ensure consistency while still allowing room for topic-specific variation.

The visual style, documented.

The new visual system has made Robeco’s communication more consistent and effective across a growing set of topics. The accompanying style guide supports a more efficient workflow and helps maintain visual and narrative consistency across all videos. Feedback has been positive, highlighting the clarity, coherence and originality of the animations

Since completing the first project, we have produced multiple videos following this approach. Each builds on the same foundation while adapting to different topics and maintaining a consistent visual identity.

Colorful, clear, and on brand.