House of Lords

Black History Month

Honouring a Historic Legacy

We developed a multi-channel awareness campaign for The House of Lords, combining animation, film and graphic design to honour a landmark moment in British history. The campaign marked the 50th anniversary of Sir Learie Constantine becoming the first Black member of The House of Lords, using creative storytelling to highlight his legacy and promote awareness of diversity in today’s UK Parliament.

Launched on 1st October 2019, the campaign ran throughout Black History Month across web and social media channels, engaging a wide audience and encouraging reflection on representation in public life.

four men in parliamentary robes for the House of Lords
Three well-dressed individuals, man, woman, and child, stand with suitcases, symbolizing migration or new beginnings.
Illustration of Three men sit at table in discussion, papers and drinks in front, office setting in background.
Illustration of Cricketer in white uniform hits ball mid-swing on pitch, with crowd in background watching play.

Bringing History to Life Through Animation

The animation was crafted with a restrained colour palette, punctuated by bold flashes to guide the viewer’s attention and create visual impact. Its design style draws inspiration from classic cine newsreels, reinforcing the historical significance of Sir Learie Constantine’s journey.

Structured as an episodic narrative, the animation allowed each chapter of his life to be adapted into standalone social media graphics. These individual moments were further elevated by powerful narration from acclaimed actor David Harewood, whose voice adds depth and gravitas to this tribute to a pioneering figure in British history.

Two men in formal attire discuss large technical blueprint or plan, with industrial structure in background.

Maximising Reach Through Social Content

To amplify the reach of the House of Lords awareness campaign, we developed a suite of social media assets combining high-quality visuals with meaningful messaging. A key part of this strategy involved licensing culturally significant photography from The National Portrait Gallery, selected to reflect themes of representation, legacy and diversity.

We then created custom Black History Month content tailored for platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. These visually engaging assets captured attention in busy feeds and encouraged deeper exploration by linking to long-form campaign materials including animations and interviews.

The result was a dynamic content strategy that increased engagement, fostered discussion on diversity in public life, and broadened the campaign’s digital reach.

Static social asset for House of Lords Black History Month with Baroness Amos
Static social asset for House of Lords Black History Month with Lord Constantine
Static social asset for House of Lords Black History Month with Baroness Scotland of Asthal