Safety feels like listening to a story on a cozy, soft carpet.
Culture of Safety is a series of 11 educational videos developed for Head Start to explain injury-prevention procedures in early childhood programs, outlining the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in creating a safe and supportive environment, from teachers and caregivers to maintenance staff and families.
Produced in both English and Spanish, each three-minute episode explains one of ten key safety actions aimed at preventing and managing injuries.
The project was developed as a hybrid format combining live-action footage with animated sequences, designed to reinforce key messages and improve clarity for the audience.
I was responsible for conceptualizing, illustrating, and animating a series of supporting scenes that alternate with the live-action footage, as well as designing the intros and logos for each safety action. The tone needed to be reassuring and engaging, while clearly communicating correct safety practices and maintaining visual consistency across the entire series.
To achieve this, I designed a set of warm, friendly characters—including children, teachers, and parents—created to convey trust, empathy, and approachability. These were paired with a series of bright, colorful environments such as playgrounds, classrooms, and outdoor spaces, used across the different episodes to support narrative continuity.
The visual system was designed to ensure accessibility, clarity, and emotional resonance, supporting the educational goals of Head Start’s safety curriculum.
You can view the full series here.
Client: Head Start
Production: Pendragwn Productions
Producers: Jon Michael Shink, Michael Skinner
Audio Post Production: Spinn Creative
Art direction and illustration: Elisa De Fazio
Animation: Elisa De Fazio & Fiorella Cocucci