NHS Pharmacy Interactive Resources

Our solution

To ensure the animation would engage schoolchildren in key stages 2 & 3, the script needed to be both fun and aspirational. We suggested using a vibrant animation style that drew on familiar iconography such as imagery from video games. 

We suggested the quiz should focus on the attributes needed to pursue a career in pharmacy. As the quiz was aimed at the same audience as the animation, we decided to use the same illustration style designed for the animation. The quiz also needed to be developed with accessibility in mind.

Finally, we recommended that the interactive resource should be a clickable 2-page PDF. This way the information it contained could be clearly signposted as links to relevant external resources. The PDF also required a different look and feel to the animation and quiz as it was to be used by a different audience.

Our process

We initially worked with the client to define the core objective, messages, and target audience for each interactive resource. We then took a phased approach to the project, working on the animation first, then the quiz, and finally the clickable PDF. 

For the animation, we started by writing the animation script based on meetings with the client and resources they shared with us. The script was fun and aspirational, whilst also being accessible to schoolchildren in key stages 2 & 3. Once the script was approved by the client we moved onto the design. We designed a set of bespoke stylised characters and settings, as well as a storyboard for the animation. Once the design assets were signed-off we recorded the voiceover and went into the animation development. As we approached the final stages of the animation, we moved onto the quiz phase of the project. 

For the quiz, we started by agreeing on the format of the quiz with the client. The quiz was comprised of a homepage with 7 clickable elements that led to individual pop-up pages, and a quiz that included 12 questions. We wrote the copy for each section of the quiz and once this was signed-off by the client we moved onto the quiz design. We were able to repurpose some of the design assets that were developed for the animation, but we still needed to design new elements for the quiz homepage, pop-up pages and quiz questions. We recorded the voiceover for each page of the quiz, and once all the assets were signed-off we moved onto the interactive quiz development. Once the quiz was signed-off, we made it accessible with an option to mute the voiceover and including a text only version of the quiz.

Finally, for the clickable PDF, we started by confirming which individuals and organisations would use the PDF, and what information the PDF needed to include. We then worked closely with the client to create the copy. Once the copy was finalised, we moved onto designing the layout, including which elements needed to be interactive and where they should link to. 

We met with the client on a weekly basis to ensure that each step of the project was signed off before moving onto the next stage. This enabled us to keep each resource closely aligned to the brief objectives, keep to project deadlines, and remain within the project budget. Once each of the assets were complete, they were tested internally, then shared with the client’s wider team for feedback and final sign-off.

The results

The Health Education England team were delighted with the interactive careers resources. The animation has now been published on the NHS Health Careers YouTube channel and is included in their pharmacy careers playlist. The interactive quiz is now being used by the NHS and partner organisations to promote pharmacy careers to schoolchildren in key stages 2 & 3. The clickable PDF has now been shared with pharmacy professionals, health careers leads, teachers and careers leads in schools, and individuals showcasing careers in pharmacy to young people and job seekers.