A Journey of Innovation, Challenges and Successes

The final phase of the INTERfaces project presented a unique communication challenge: how do you wrap up a four-year, multi-country, multi-discipline scientific programme in a way that feels complete, accessible, and meaningful—without flattening it into a generic research summary?

INTERfaces, funded by Horizon 2020, brought together 22 academic and industrial institutions across Europe to work on sustainable chemical production using bio-based processes. At the centre of this effort were the Early Stage Researchers (ESRs): PhD candidates who were embedded in labs, companies, and universities, bridging research with industry applications. Over the course of the project, they had been the ones navigating the gaps between scientific ambition and real-world implementation. By the time we came to this final piece, they were no longer just junior contributors—they were the face of the work.

Bumbuku’s role was to design and produce the fourth and final animation in the INTERfaces series. Our goal wasn’t just to restate the scientific findings, but to show the broader journey—of the people involved, the connections built, and the future now set in motion. The animation needed to close the narrative loop opened in previous videos, while standing on its own as a document of what INTERfaces had accomplished.

The final phase of the INTERfaces project presented a unique communication challenge: how do you wrap up a four-year, multi-country, multi-discipline scientific programme in a way that feels complete, accessible, and meaningful—without flattening it into a generic research summary?

INTERfaces, funded by Horizon 2020, brought together 22 academic and industrial institutions across Europe to work on sustainable chemical production using bio-based processes. At the centre of this effort were the Early Stage Researchers (ESRs): PhD candidates who were embedded in labs, companies, and universities, bridging research with industry applications. Over the course of the project, they had been the ones navigating the gaps between scientific ambition and real-world implementation. By the time we came to this final piece, they were no longer just junior contributors—they were the face of the work.

Bumbuku’s role was to design and produce the fourth and final animation in the INTERfaces series. Our goal wasn’t just to restate the scientific findings, but to show the broader journey—of the people involved, the connections built, and the future now set in motion. The animation needed to close the narrative loop opened in previous videos, while standing on its own as a document of what INTERfaces had accomplished.

We decided to centre the narrative around the ESRs themselves. Rather than focusing solely on lab outputs or data, we followed the researchers’ development: how they adapted, where they collaborated, what they contributed, and where they were heading next. It was a way of showing impact that was both human and systemic.

Visually, we brought back recurring themes from earlier animations—nature-inspired systems, interlocking processes, layered movement—and evolved them to reflect the maturity of the project at its final stage. We used the metaphor of seeds being scattered and taking root across the globe to represent the spread of knowledge and influence. It was simple, visually strong, and metaphorically true.

We decided to centre the narrative around the ESRs themselves. Rather than focusing solely on lab outputs or data, we followed the researchers’ development: how they adapted, where they collaborated, what they contributed, and where they were heading next. It was a way of showing impact that was both human and systemic.

Visually, we brought back recurring themes from earlier animations—nature-inspired systems, interlocking processes, layered movement—and evolved them to reflect the maturity of the project at its final stage. We used the metaphor of seeds being scattered and taking root across the globe to represent the spread of knowledge and influence. It was simple, visually strong, and metaphorically true.

As part of the final delivery, we also created a companion poster that visually summarised the INTERfaces network—its partners, process, and mission—in a format that could be used for presentations, events, and internal documentation. It wasn’t just a branding piece, but a functional resource for the consortium.

To further support INTERfaces’ legacy and outreach, we designed a comprehensive project brochure showcasing the key pillars of the research: material and protein design, the assembly of heterogeneous (bio)catalysts, and process engineering and upscaling. With a clear, modular layout and accessible language, the brochure visually distilled complex content into a form suitable for both scientific and non-specialist audiences. It served not only as a tool for internal use but as a standalone communication piece for conferences, publications, and stakeholder engagement.

As part of the final delivery, we also created a companion poster that visually summarised the INTERfaces network—its partners, process, and mission—in a format that could be used for presentations, events, and internal documentation. It wasn’t just a branding piece, but a functional resource for the consortium.

To further support INTERfaces’ legacy and outreach, we designed a comprehensive project brochure showcasing the key pillars of the research: material and protein design, the assembly of heterogeneous (bio)catalysts, and process engineering and upscaling. With a clear, modular layout and accessible language, the brochure visually distilled complex content into a form suitable for both scientific and non-specialist audiences. It served not only as a tool for internal use but as a standalone communication piece for conferences, publications, and stakeholder engagement.