Air Crash Investigation S20
From the grounded Boeing 737 Max to crash landing at one of the world's most challenging airports, the new 20th season uncovers the truth behind the most legendary aviation disasters. With Air Crash Investigation being the channel's best-performing show, we wanted to celebrate the new season by giving it a fresh and updated feel.
Design and Animation
We often see plane crashes reduced to dramatic newspaper headlines that are bold, alarming, and lacking context. In this promo for Air Crash Investigation on National Geographic, we go beyond the headlines to explore the full story. Using a newspaper and press coverage design style, we dive into recent, newsworthy cases to uncover what really went wrong. Each case is introduced through stylised headlines and article layouts, with seamless graphic transitions that draw viewers deeper into the investigation.
We made a conscious choice to move away from the futuristic tone of previous seasons, instead highlighting the contrast between aviation’s past and present. The use of a traditional newspaper aesthetic adds a sense of authenticity, grounding the stories in a format that feels both familiar and credible. The narrative reinforces that while technology plays a vital role in aviation safety, it’s human insight and manual work that often make the critical difference. This campaign is a powerful reminder that understanding the causes of past tragedies is essential to preventing future ones.
Early Development
Some early frames I made in Illustrator, mainly using the elements of the mosque, crescent moon, Fanoos/lantern and a cannon (every sunset, they fire a cannon before Maghrib prayers to signal the end of the daily fast). The cannon was removed from the final render as the scene felt too cluttered when the glowing arch was added in.
Project Credits
Creative Direction: Sasan Roohi
Senior Creative: Helen Morgan Geary
Creative Producer: Saminda Sidhu
Motion Design: Corina Gunawidjaja
Sound Design: Eddie Robinson