Exploring core capacities with interactive storytelling

UNICEF Innocenti

Web
Education and learning

UX/UI design

UX copywriting

Web development

Instructional design

Animation

Illustration

Sandbox partnered with the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti to create an interactive microsite that brings to life the findings of What Makes Me?, a report exploring nine “core capacities” essential for learning and development in childhood. The project aimed to translate complex research into accessible, engaging content that resonates with viewers of all ages and backgrounds. The microsite introduces these nine capacities—relaxing, observing, listening, inquiring, reflecting, sensing, empathizing, embodying, and discerning patterns—as foundational building blocks for life skills. Through this platform, UNICEF sought to raise awareness and understanding of how these capacities shape childhood experiences and support improved outcomes for children around the world.

To bring the concept to life, Sandbox began by designing a series of mockups that visually represented each core capacity. From there, we developed detailed still infographics and transformed them into short animated motion graphics—nine 30-second videos, each highlighting a capacity in action. These elements were integrated into an intuitive, visually engaging microsite built using our in-house “Homegrown CMS.” We coded the site using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to ensure it remained lightweight, fast-loading, and fully responsive across devices. Throughout the process, we adapted workflows to meet evolving project needs, streamlining design stages and strengthening internal planning for multi-deliverable projects.

The final microsite invites users to explore and interact with the nine capacities through animations, illustrations, and embedded learning pathways. Each section links to expanded content and ultimately leads to the What Makes Me? report, where the original graphic elements are reused to maintain a consistent and inviting experience. The project successfully distilled a technical report into a user-friendly digital resource, making the research more widely accessible and engaging. Since launch, the platform has been used to spark discussion on child development among researchers, educators, and the public, and has informed how we approach responsive, animation-rich sites for future work.

CREDITS

Executive Producer: Boaz Beeri

Producer: Laura Anne Fox

UX/UI and Graphic Designer: Kiija Gargarello

Senior Developer: Mathias Sauvestre 

Web Developer: Mathias Sauvestre

Animator: Phil Scarano

Senior Video Editor/Sound Designer: Dylan Butler

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