Neuroscience at Work
Department for Work & Pensions
Brickwall was commissioned by the Department for Work & Pensions to create a series of three short animations introducing key neuroscience principles to support leadership development. Aimed at helping managers better understand their own behaviour and its effect on others, the films needed to be engaging, clear, and grounded in science—without feeling academic or abstract. Each animation focused on a core theme: Self-Awareness, Trust, and Leadership Styles. The challenge was to translate complex brain-based theory into something relatable and actionable for DWP leaders across a range of roles and departments.
We crafted a warm, abstract visual world using stylised characters, simplified icons, and visual metaphors that echo brain activity, cognition, and emotional response. The art direction featured consistent, minimalistic 2D animation with bold colour blocks, friendly geometric forms, and recurring motifs like neural networks, books, jigsaw puzzles, and emotional gauges. Each storyboard was designed to convey nuanced concepts—like group dynamics or leadership cognition—through intuitive, metaphor-driven sequences. This design-first approach helped remove personal bias and kept the content inclusive, while still delivering a human, emotionally intelligent tone supported by calm narration and ambient sound design.
The final animation suite delivers powerful, digestible insights into the neuroscience of leadership in a uniquely accessible format. From emotionally reactive brains in Self-Awareness, to puzzle pieces and lightbulbs representing Trust, to colour-coded neural networks in Leadership Styles, the series translates scientific thinking into practical takeaways. The animations now feature across DWP’s internal learning platforms and leadership programmes, helping staff reflect on how their thinking shapes workplace culture. Feedback praised the series for being visually engaging, thought-provoking, and a fresh way to support behaviour change within one of the UK’s largest employers.
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