I was extremely lucky to play a key creative role in Charles Darwin University’s ‘New World University’ campaign. Hired as a key illustrator by the award-winning Leap Agency, I was responsible for translating detailed storyboards into fully realised illustrations. I also helped develop the campaign’s distinctive paper-cut visual style. Hand-drawn, textural, and deliberately imperfect, the illustrations evoke optimism, fragility, and hope.
The work involved creating finished keyframes and press artwork, combining hand illustration with refined vector execution in Adobe Illustrator, complete with layered paper textures, colour, and shading. I also consulted closely with Yukfoo Animation throughout production, ensuring the animation stayed true to the original vision, and in some cases creating physical paper sculptures to guide animation realism.
Through meticulous craftsmanship and close collaboration with Leap Agency, Yukfoo Animation, and Visual Thing, I helped bring to life an ambitious, large-scale campaign spanning TV, cinema, press and digital, delivering a visually rich, emotionally resonant world that reinforces Charles Darwin University’s progressive, future-focused Australian message.
In 2017 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards: Leap Agency won two awards for this collaboration with Charles Darwin University on the ‘New World University’ campaign:
Gold Stevie Award: Innovation in Brand Renovation/Rebranding.
Silver Stevie Award: Innovation in Brand Development.
Gold Stevie Award: Innovation in Brand Renovation/Rebranding.
Silver Stevie Award: Innovation in Brand Development.
Credits
Agency: Leap Agency
Creative Director: Anton Lambaart
Writer: John Warburton
Art Director: Anton Lambaart
Client: John Cavani, Charles Darwin University
Key Illustrations: Paul Smith, Ballsy Creative
Illustration Retouching: Visual Thing Studio
Animation: Alan Dickson, Yukfoo Animation
Sound: Andrew McGrath, Soundwaves
Music composed by Erin McKimm
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