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Ali Assaf
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Ali Assaf

Visual ExplainerFolkestone, United Kingdom
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Ali Assaf
Available

Ali Assaf

Visual ExplainerFolkestone, United Kingdom
Professions
  • Animation Director
LevelSenior
AvailabilityFreelance, Full-time
About me
I help my clients tell their stories, share knowledge and explain their big ideas with editorial illustration, infographics & animated explainers. I specialise in turning complex and challenging content into engaging, highly memorable narratives for social media, internal & external communications channels. Whether it’s to raise awareness, communicate change or simply to inform and inspire, I have a passion for telling stories that make a tangible difference. In addition to my creative practice, I also enjoy inspiring the next generations of budding creatives with workshops, lectures and mentoring.
QuestionsProjectsExperienceTeam
Projects
  • Animation Director Showreel
    Animation Director ShowreelI help brands tell their stories, share knowledge and explain their big ideas with animated explainers. Directed by Ali Assaf. Produced at Cognitive, TALL TALE and Bold Creative.
  • Rise Free
    Rise FreeIn an age of misinformation and divisive rhetoric, Rise Free is a call to arms for every person, of every creed and culture, to unite against the forces that would try to divide us. Directed by Ali Assaf. Produced at Cognitive.
  • Paul McCartney– The Album Story
    Paul McCartney– The Album StoryPaul McCartney’s first solo album dropped in April 1970, amid the emotional highs and lows of a turbulent year. Following the break-up of The Beatles, Paul secluded himself from the world with only a handful of instruments and a 4-track machine. That year, he would create a handful of songs and musical experiments that would take shape as ‘McCartney’. To celebrate the album’s digital remaster and reissue, I was commissioned to create an animated documentary with unbridled access to interviews
  • BBC– American Flag Explainer
    BBC– American Flag ExplainerWhatever other icons come and go, one thing remains to rally the American people – the Stars and Stripes. Senior lecturer in History at UCL, Dr Adam Smith, recounts the origins of the iconic flag and what it represents to Americans in this animated explainer for BBC. Directed by Ali Assaf. Produced at Cognitive.
  • Universal Music Group– The Jam
    Universal Music Group– The JamSocial content for Universal Music Group, spotlighting the story and artistry behind one of the most celebrated and influential music acts in the world. Directed by Ali Assaf. Produced by TALL TALE.
  • Royal Society– Unconscious Bias
    Royal Society– Unconscious BiasWhat is unconscious bias and how can you recognise it in yourself and others? This animated explainer for The Royal Society unpacks and aids understanding of this complex and important issue. Directed by Ali Assaf. Produced at Cognitive.
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Projects credited in
  • The Guardian: 2050: what happens if we ignore the climate crisis
    The Guardian: 2050: what happens if we ignore the climate crisis2050: what happens if we ignore the climate crisis. Illustrations made as part of a larger piece produced by the Guardian ahead of Cop26 Climate Summit. Director: Ali Assaf Illustration: Chen Winner Video producer: Monika Cvorak Sound design: Dan Watts With thanks to: Christiana Figueres, Nick Hildred, Zoe Tcholak-Antitch Executive producer: Katie Lamborn To watch the full video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVcsV_-erys&ab_channel=GuardianNews
Work history
    T
    T
    Creative DirectorTALL TALE
    London, United KingdomFreelance
    Alongside my freelance/ contract commitments, I run and manage my own business, TALL TALE. This is an outlet to focus my energies on creating socially responsible works for cultural, charitable and educational institutions. As sole creative director, I perform client and contractor management alongside my core skills as an animated filmmaker, sourcing and producing my own projects and collaborating with specialist creative freelancers to create work that informs and inspires. Amongst my most successful works are animated biographies for Universal Music Group, a ten minute mix-media documentary for Paul McCartney and a short-form animated narrative for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins. In addition to my film work, I also run animation workshops. Most notably, my clients have included the V&A, Royal Academy of Arts and The Cartoon Museum.
    C
    C
    Senior CreativeCognitive
     - Folkestone, United KingdomFull Time
    As a Senior Creative at Cognitive, I work with clients to tell their stories, turning complex content into engaging information design and leading creative teams to create highly memorable explainer films. In this role I direct, storyboard, design, art direct and lead creative teams of illustrators and animators to deliver animated films. Alongside my immediate duties, my role also requires that I lead client meetings, facilitate ideation, pitch, write treatments, adopt feedback and work to schedule. I’ve worked with a wide range of prestige clients including the BBC, Amnesty International and the Government. Amongst my most successful works so far are a whiteboard explainer for the Royal Society, which to date, has been viewed nearly 300 thousand times on YouTube.
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Skills
  • Design
  • Animation
  • Content Ideation
  • Content Producing
  • Creative Leadership
  • Creative Direction
  • Pitching
  • Information Design
  • Graphic Communication
  • Art Direction
Education
    U
    U
    PG Diploma in Character AnimationUAL: Central St Martins
     - London, United Kingdom
    PG Diploma in Character Animation at Central St Martins, previously referred to as LAS.
    B
    B
    B.A. Visual CommunicationBirmingham Institute of Art & Design
     - Birmingham, United Kingdom
    First Class BA Honours Degree in Visual Communication.