Breathing new life into The John Wallis Academy brand

At Cleverbox, we have enjoyed working with The John Wallis Academy for many years. So, when the team approached us about updating their brand, it felt like a natural continuation of our partnership. Their current identity, now five years old, had served them well, but the school had changed. They wanted their brand to reflect that growth.

Additionally, the Academy had recently updated its school values. These new statements were not just words on a page. They represented the ethos that the school wanted every student, parent, and visitor to recognise. The team was clear that these values needed to be visible, memorable, and part of everyday experiences both on-site and online.

Instead of using traditional static posters or wall displays, we explored how animation could create a stronger, more engaging impact.

Animated content allows messages to unfold gradually, guiding viewers through each value and giving each statement space to resonate. It also offers flexibility. The same content can appear on reception screens, on the website, or across social channels, ensuring consistency without repetition. Most importantly, animation brings an immediate sense of energy and modernity, representing the Academy’s ambition in a way that flat designs cannot.

Why school values deserve more visibility

Every school talks about values, but not every school brings them to life in a meaningful way. During our conversations with The John Wallis Academy, it was clear that the leadership team viewed their values as the foundation of the student experience. They wanted the values to guide behaviour, inform expectations, and create a shared sense of purpose throughout the community.

When values are visible and communicated clearly, they influence how students interact, how staff approach their work, and how families understand the school’s culture. They become daily reminders of what the community stands for and the direction it is heading. Static displays can send the message, but they do not always capture its ambition.

Animation changes that completely. Movement invites curiosity. It encourages viewers to stop, look, and absorb. It gives each value a sense of progression, making the message feel active rather than fixed. For a school like The John Wallis Academy, where the updated values are part of their new strategic plan, animation provides a way to reaffirm what they believe in with clarity and confidence.

By presenting each value through a well-designed animated sequence, the Academy can ensure that students and visitors not only see the message but also feel its intention. This reinforces the idea that values should be lived rather than just displayed, creating a consistent thread throughout the building, the website, and every conversation about the school’s direction in the coming years.

Creating bold, colourful designs

As we began developing concepts, it became clear that colour needed to play a central role. The Academy’s previous visuals heavily relied on red and white, which often made displays feel muted and lacking character. With the Headteacher’s vision for a more vibrant and impactful identity aligned with their new 2025 to 2030 strategic plan, we had the chance to reimagine how the school’s values could be expressed.

We introduced a bold, colourful palette designed to brighten the Academy’s spaces. It reflects the diversity, ambition, and optimism at the core of their ethos. This shift brought an immediate sense of energy, giving the values a modern presence that would stand out both on screen and throughout the building.

Animation in action

To show how these ideas came to life, we have included some of the final animations in this blog. Each one communicates a single value clearly, with movement and personality. This fresh and engaging approach helps visitors and the wider school community connect with what The John Wallis Academy represents.

A simple, collaborative creative process

Creating the animations for The John Wallis Academy was a team effort. Our designers, illustrators, and motion specialists worked closely together to understand what the school wanted. Once we realised they were looking for something more lively and engaging, we explored ideas that would bring the values to life without overshadowing the message.

We expanded the Academy’s colour palette to include richer and more expressive tones. These were chosen to convey optimism, energy, and growth. Each animation was designed to follow a smooth rhythm, giving viewers time to absorb the message while enjoying the visual flow. We carefully selected shapes, icons, and patterns so that every detail supported the wider brand without being distracting.

Throughout the process, we collaborated closely with senior staff to ensure the style felt authentic and aligned with the school’s identity. This approach produced animations that feel modern and dynamic while remaining practical for everyday use across reception screens, digital platforms, and smaller displays around the building.

“Our goal was to bring The John Wallis Academy’s ‘LIGHT’ values to life in a way that felt vibrant and engaging. By combining bold colours, modern shapes and clear typography, we created animations that are memorable, visually striking and reinforce the school’s vision across every screen.”

Darren Pinner, Creative Director at Cleverbox

Encouraging other schools to explore animation

Animations are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for schools that want to communicate clearly and effectively. They engage audiences with key messages in a way that feels modern, memorable, and accessible. If your school is considering how to bring your values, vision, or strategic priorities to life, animation can offer real advantages, such as:

• Stronger engagement, as movement naturally captures attention and holds interest
• Better clarity through guided storytelling that helps viewers understand and absorb information
• Consistent messaging across reception screens, websites, and social channels
• A modern look that reflects an ambitious and forward-thinking school

At Cleverbox, we specialize in creating custom marketing content that is not only visually striking but also deeply connected to your school’s identity. If you want to refresh your brand, develop a new campaign, or explore the potential of animation, we would be glad to help you create work that truly makes an impact.

Start bringing your school values to life

Refreshing your school brand or exploring animation is not just about visuals. It is about creating experiences that communicate who you are and what you stand for. At Cleverbox, we work closely with schools to develop tailored marketing solutions that reflect their identity, engage their community, and leave a lasting impression.

If you are considering a brand refresh, looking for new ways to showcase your values, or wanting to bring your school’s personality to life through animation, we would be happy to help. Every project is tailored to your school, ensuring that the work is practical, visually striking, and fully aligned with your ethos.

For more information, or to start a conversation about how Cleverbox can support your school, get in touch today. Email us at team@cleverbox.co.uk or call 0208 466 7222.