Client: Barnardo’s

Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, was rebranding for the first time in over a decade. Once a household name, it faced declining awareness, Especially among younger generations, while the cost-of-living crisis pushed more families into poverty.

The challenge: reconnect public perception with urgent present-day relevance. Rather than just inform, the campaign needed to make people feel the reality of childhood poverty. Working with frontline staff, we ensured the work reflected real struggles with honesty and integrity.

To cut through crisis fatigue, we created Mollusc. A film about a 10-year-old girl who retreats into a giant snail shell, symbolising the shame and isolation of poverty. Through Barnardo’s support, she slowly reconnects and sheds the shell.

The film became the centrepiece of Barnardo’s relaunch, resonating deeply with audiences nationwide.

Directed by Dom & Nick at Outsider