Shining a Light on Wildlife

How Redboat Ventures helped the Australian Government illuminate the path to responsible lighting design.

Client & context

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water sought to launch their National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife. Timed with a major conference and a broader public awareness campaign, the goal was to educate the public on six key principles of wildlife-friendly lighting. This project was a crucial piece of the department’s effort to lead in environmental responsibility.

Challenge/objectives

The department needed to make the concept of light pollution tangible and motivate real behavioural change. While there were no strict legislative pressures, the objective was to inspire the public and building industry to adopt the new guidelines, making informed and wildlife-friendly lighting choices in everyday situations.

Redboat’s approach

Redboat was engaged not just as a production house but as a strategic partner. We began with creative strategy sessions to determine the narrative structure, the theme of the animations, and the metaphors that would make the message resonate. Using a lifecycle approach – from discovery to production – we ensured the content was not only engaging but strategically aligned with the department’s communication goals.

The solution

We delivered a series of five animations, including an introductory piece, an explanation of the six principles, and three case studies focusing on mammals, birds, and sea turtles. Alongside the animations, we provided a comprehensive suite of social media assets – square and vertical versions, animated GIFs, and cutdowns – creating a flexible content library for the department to use across multiple platforms.

Why it matters

By providing tools that encouraged behavioural change, the project turned policy guidelines into accessible, actionable advice. This helped the department strengthen its business case for environmental stewardship and demonstrate tangible value to the public.