International Republican Institute — video case study

The International Republican Institute (IRI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1983 that promotes democracy and good governance worldwide. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., IRI supports free elections, political party development, civic engagement, and transparent governance in over 100 countries.

Create educational video content on the development of a democratic society for IRI. As the goal was to educate viewers, we had to design content engaging enough to keep people watching for the full length of the videos. Since these videos were political with intersecting visuals, it was a challenge to find the best images that clearly and vividly explained the meaning to the viewer so he or she would understand and remember it.

The main challenges included: 

• Increased scope under the same deadline
  Initially, the project involved a standard production workflow. However, IRI tripled the number of videos to be delivered, without moving the deadline. We had to significantly accelerate our pace while maintaining quality.

• Fast-paced script development
  The team was required to complete one script per day. As soon as one was approved, work on the next began immediately, continuing in a daily rhythm.

• Complex subject matter
  The videos were rich in political theory. To ensure clarity, we used relatable examples and talking animations, dedicating half a day to researching the topic and the other half to writing.

• Viewer engagement
  The average video length was 4–5 minutes, yet research from Wistia shows audience attention typically drops after 2 minutes. Maintaining engagement throughout was a key creative challenge.

To produce 11 educational videos, we assembled a dedicated team that included our Creative Producer, Art Director, two scriptwriters, five illustrators, five motion designers, two sound designers, two actors, two cameramen, and several other specialists. In addition to the animated content, we also created a live-action video in-house, featuring our scriptwriter Marina as the on-screen speaker. You can explore the full list of videos via this link.

The IRI video course was launched on time and received positive feedback from education experts and students. Another important aspect for us was the fact that our client was satisfied. As a result of the project, IRI published all our work on their educational platform.

“We had to produce 12 educational videos in a short time and initially split the work between two studios. When plans changed, Blue Carrot stepped up and took on 11 of them—handling tight deadlines, complex topics, and sensitive themes like gender equity, diversity, and accessibility with creativity and care. They weren’t afraid to challenge ideas for the sake of quality, and their commitment never wavered, even when we were ready to wrap things up. Special thanks to Alex for navigating every approval stage smoothly. No delays, no surprises—just great work”.

— Anna, Project Manager at IRI