Ethics Over Opportunity, Part 2: Sectors We Won't Work With

I want to share its [whiteboard animation] explainer and storytelling superpowers with as many people as possible, but to quote a modern-day classic, ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ That sometimes means saying ‘no’." - Andrew Park

We’ve been creating whiteboard animation videos for over twenty years, working with countless sectors, ideas, and visual styles. To say my team and I love what we do would be an understatement. The code of ethics I established has guided We Are Cognitive throughout this time, and if a client conflicts with it, or our values, we are forced to respectfully decline. My team and I always prefer to say ‘yes’, of course, but our code of ethics has the final say.?

One group of clients our code of ethics has prevented us from working with is climate change deniers. We want our animated explainer videos to share knowledge that makes the world a better place, and working on an animation supporting climate change denial would completely go against that mission. We’re all living through a plague of misinformation, and I do not want to add to it.?

Staying with the climate, another sector we refuse to create animated explainer videos for is the fossil fuels industry. If we want any chance of reducing our carbon emissions, we need to move away from fossil fuels and focus on sustainable, less impactful ways of fuelling our energy needs. However, if you work in sustainable power generation, We Are Cognitive is always here to help you explain and share your message!? ?

My team and I take a balanced, grounded view with every whiteboard animation video we create. So, naturally, that makes us against extremism of any kind. Saying no on the grounds that a prospective client’s message essentially constitutes extremism is something we’ve had to do a surprising number of times.

"We are all living through a plague of misinformation, and I do not want to add to it."?- Andrew Park

If you’ve worked with We Are Cognitive, you won’t be surprised to read that we’re against gambling. When it comes to our code of ethics, this is a big one. We've seen what gambling addictions do to people, so we want no part in promoting the companies responsible. Of course, when it comes to creating animated explainer videos around gambling regulation, we’re always ready to step up.??

As an animated video agency, another sector We Are Cognitive will not work with is the arms industry. From the death and destruction, human rights abuses and instability caused by conflict to the worrying degree of influence the arms industry can have on politics, the arms industry is one sector I don’t want to enable or support. Instead, I'm proud to share the messages of charities like Amnesty International, who work to create the positive change and lifesaving care needed in the wake of conflicts.??

"My team and I always prefer to say ‘yes’, of course, but our code of ethics has the final say." - Andrew Park

As a pioneer of whiteboard animation videos, I'm proud of its ability to make the complex simple and share information far and wide. I want to share its explainer and storytelling superpowers with as many people as possible.??

Wherever we can, my team and I are in the business of saying 'yes', and we’d love to talk to you if you have a message you want to share. Simply book a free strategy call today or send us a message, we look forward to hearing from you!?