Co-authored by:
- Kim Eade – Digital Learning Manager
- Louisa Appleton – Lead Creative Designer
- Amber Rose-Tozer – Lead Creative Designer
- Portia East – Creative Designer
Ten years. Hundreds of hours of work. Thousands of learners.
Our small-but-mighty learning modules have come a long way since 2015 – from monsters and mayhem to high-impact compliance, wellbeing, and management content. But behind every 3-minute burst of brilliance is a team of creatives, thinkers, and pixel-pushers working together to bring it all to life.
To celebrate 10 years of eBytes, we’re pulling back the curtain and introducing you to the brains behind the monsters. The storytellers, animators, and all-round legends who turn sparkly ideas into unforgettable learning.
Each one is taking you through a stage of the process, showing you exactly what goes into making bite-sized dreams happen.
Let’s dive in…
Part 1: The Idea (By Kim)
Every eByte starts with a spark. Sometimes it’s a must-have topic – something missing from our collections that we know learners need – so we dream up a story to bring it to life. Other times, the spark is the story itself. An image, a parody, a moment of Studio madness. We go hunting for the content that fits, without compromising on the purpose of the learning.
It’s always a team effort. I’ll grab Louisa and Amber (our animation dream team) and we’ll thrash out potential themes and narratives. We gather ideas from everywhere.
Client questions, new legislation, workplace trends, or things we’ve seen, heard, or wish existed.
But not every idea becomes an eByte. It has to pass the test:
- Can it be taught in under 5 minutes?
- Can we bring a new perspective or approach to it?
- Will it be useful and entertaining?
For me, it’s about imagining what I’d want to see as a learner – whether that’s a shark with laser beams or a Back to the Future parody. I like to push the boundaries of what we can do, how we tell stories, and how much fun we can have doing it.
What can we create that not only gets the learning across, but makes it memorable and leaves someone with a smile on their face? That’s the sweet spot. That’s where every great eByte begins.
Part 2: The Script (By Portia)
I’m one of the OG eByte script scribblers. Back when our Monsters were still figuring out how to blink, I helped launch these micro modules into the world, passed the creative baton to Kim, and now I’m back with my quill for round two.
Writing an eByte isn’t just about being clever or concise (though both help) – the first things I ask are:
- Why are we making this?
- What’s the purpose or message?
- What behaviours do we want to shift or spark?
Because if there’s no purpose, there’s no eByte.
Once I’ve nailed the why, it’s time to deep dive. I research the topic in full, then chip away at the details until what’s left is sharp, relevant, and punchy.
One thing stays front and centre throughout the process: Inclusion.
The eBytes were developed with equality, diversity and inclusion in mind, and that goes beyond the visuals. Every line of script needs to be accessible, respectful, and engaging for everyone.
For me, the joy is in turning big topics into something warm, weird, and wildly watchable. That moment where the learning lands and it makes you smile? That’s the goal.
Part 3: The Storyboard (By Louisa)
Once we’ve got the script, the real visual planning begins. And no, it’s not just doodles (okay, maybe some).
Storyboarding is where we map out how the story will look on screen. What the learner will see, how each scene flows into the next, and where we can sneak in a visual gag or two.
It all starts with a theme or setting. Maybe a monster hospital, a futuristic spaceship, or a retro game show. If the script hasn’t specified one, we create it from scratch and build the world around it.
From there, it’s all about:
- Humour: Visual humour is baked in from the very beginning, from costume choices to background jokes. If the storyboard doesn’t make us laugh, we’re not done.
- Costumes and Scenery: Yep, that iconic Eyenstein spacesuit? First sketched in pencil during the storyboard phase. From outfits to office chairs, it all starts here.
- The Shots: Every single shot is planned – close-ups, wide angles, cheeky transitions, and colourful wipes. They’re all mapped out and numbered, ready for the animation phase.
It’s creative, methodical and completely essential. Without a strong storyboard, the animation wouldn’t have the punch (or the punchlines!) that make eBytes what they are.
Part 4: The Animation (By Amber)
This is where bendy limbs, parodies, and Groanlo’s iconic grunt come to life.
Once the storyboard is locked in, it’s time to animate. This is where the monsters truly start to move – literally!
Here’s what goes into each one:
- Monsters and scenery are built in Illustrator
- Extras like candyfloss (yes, really!) are drawn straight into After Effects
- Narration is layered in from our amazing voice artists
- We use After Effects with the Rubberhose plugin for those beautifully bendy arms and legs
Each Monster has their own rig (or three, depending on how wild we’re going that day) – we reuse, remix and reinvent them for every new eByte.
It’s part science, part storytelling, part “let’s make this Monster ride a laser beam while wearing a tutu.” And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Part 5: The Launch (By Kim)
If a Monster falls in a forest and no one laughs… did the learning even land?
After all the research, writing, sketching, animating, and voiceover wizardry, there’s one final (and arguably most important) step… we show it off!
Before an eByte goes live, it has to do three things:
- Deliver the learning clearly, concisely and confidently
- Make the jokes land (bonus points for real laughter)
- Leave people saying, “I want to watch that again!” (not, “Wait, what just happened?”)
The whole Studio gets involved in that final round of feedback, even our office cats (who always purr approvingly).
We test for flow, funniness, and clarity. Because if we love it, laugh at it, and quote it days later, then the chances are your learners will too.
And once it passes the vibe check?
We hit publish… it’s alive!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – and the real secret behind 10 years of eByte success?
The people. The curious minds, creative hands, and collaborative spirit behind every short module we make.
Whether you’re new to eBytes or have been along for the ride since 2015 – thank you for being part of the journey.