Story in Motion:
St. Philip the Deacon Video
Client: St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church
Role: Creative Director / Motion Designer / Illustrator, 2017
Overview
This video project blended motion graphics, hand-drawn illustration, and live video to bring a meaningful message to life for the St. Philip the Deacon community. Designed to be both visually rich and emotionally resonant, the piece was voiced by the church’s own pastor and used across digital channels to deepen engagement and connection with the congregation.
My Role
I led the creative vision and full production of this piece—from early concepting and storyboarding to design, illustration, animation, and final editing. I also directed the voiceover performance, working closely with the pastor to ensure tone, pacing, and delivery matched the spirit of the message.
Challenge & Opportunity
The goal was to create a video that felt personal, inspiring, and visually unique—far from templated or corporate. The challenge was to blend traditional storytelling with modern visual techniques while honoring the authenticity of the church’s voice. I saw an opportunity to use hand-drawn animation and thoughtful pacing to create a meditative, storybook-style experience.
Creative Approach
Custom illustration work to evoke warmth and community
Layered animation techniques combining 2D hand-drawn elements with motion graphics
Integration of live-action footage to ground the story in real-life connection
Direction of voiceover talent to maintain a sincere, pastoral tone
Use of color and transitions to evoke emotional movement and narrative flow
Results & Impact
The video was warmly received by both the congregation and leadership team—praised for its heartfelt tone, visual beauty, and creative excellence. It served as a cornerstone piece in the church’s digital outreach and demonstrated how faith-based storytelling can be both modern and deeply meaningful.
The approach behind this project has since been applied to brands across multiple industries.
