Hats On! For Mental Health Animation

Element Award — Motion

The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) brought mental health awareness to classrooms through a fun and interactive one-day event called Hats On! For Mental Health. In coordination with the Canadian Mental Health Association and Global Television, this initiative invited students to wear a hat on a special day in May to raise awareness of mental health.

The project provided teachers with coordinated lessons on mental health and encouraged togetherness in classrooms. Inspired by children’s literature and movies, designers from the ATA developed lovable, hatted creatures to portray the spirit of the event while showcasing empathetic personalities. These characters were brought to life through motion graphics and promoted through social media and print material.

The campaign reached every school in Alberta, resulting in immense participation from students, parents and teachers.