Articulate

Articulate is an animated short film co-created with young people from Our Hearings Our Voice, a national board representing the voices of young people with care experience. This powerful animation brings to life their collective narrative through the character of Alex, who embodies their diverse experiences within Scotland’s Children’s Hearings System.

The film was developed as a direct response to a report co-authored by the young people in partnership with Children's Hearings Scotland and the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, which identified how harmful and inconsistent language choices impact their lives. Rather than simply presenting recommendations in text, the group wanted to create an animation that would give their report an emotional and engaging dimension—ensuring their voices were heard by professionals and young people alike.

Throughout a fully co-produced process, participants led every stage of development, from shaping the script to performing voiceovers and working with designers to refine character design and settings. Over multiple sessions, they crafted an authentic and impactful story, supported by professionals including screenwriter Lisa Keddie, motion designer Craig Barbour, and sound engineers at Up Next Studios. This approach ensured that Articulate was not only representative of real experiences but also emotionally resonant and visually striking.

The impact of Articulate extends beyond its creative process. The film is now being used as a national training resource, informing professionals such as social workers, teachers, and police officers on how language affects the wellbeing and outcomes of care-experienced young people. By embedding their lived experiences into a compelling visual narrative, the project has created lasting change—transforming policy discussions into tangible, real-world improvements in practice.

The culmination of this work was a premiere event where young people presented the animation to policymakers and decision-makers, reinforcing their role as active agents of change. Articulate stands as a testament to the power of co-production in design for good, proving that when young people are given creative control, they can produce work that not only speaks for them but has the power to reshape systems.