Creative, custom-made explainer videos and illustration. Hand-drawn, digital, 2D and 3D.
WELCOME TO ZONE 9
Zone 9 is a motion and graphic design studio specialising in storytelling and illustration. We collaborate with wide range of organisations, from academic institutions and NGOs to international businesses to help promote their work effectively.
WHAT WE DO
We are a versatile group of artists specialising in both hand-drawn and CG-based explainer videos. Additionally we offer a range of graphic and motion design services with a strong focus on engaging illustrations. Do you have a great product you want to introduce to a broader audience? A groundbreaking scientific project you'd like to transform into a graphic novel? Are you looking to create social media posts to grow your following? Get in touch. We would love to help you with any visual projects.
HOW WE DO IT
Working with us is a creative journey. Our clients enjoy being part of the process, and we love having them involved. In fact, we encourage as much participation as possible. Constant phone calls and emails with new ideas are more than welcome. Passion is the key ingredient for creativity, and no one is more passionate about your project than you.
Six Steps in Creating a Visual Narrative
for explainer videos, educational comics, social media posts, or graphic novels
step 1
INITIATING ACTION
Always the hardest part. But if you have a project you want to turn into SOMETHING EXCITING, just send us an email. Let's see what happens.
step 2
BRAINSTORMING
We'll have one or two phone or video calls to get to know your project. We will give you our quote and if you agree to it, we will begin brainstorming ideas.
step 3
WRITING
The core of every good video is a good story. We take this wisdom seriously and spend considerable time plotting. Here is your input and cooperation especially important.
step 4
STORYBOARDING
Storyboards are simplified drawings designed to provide a basic sense of the visual narrative. At this stage, it's easy to make corrections to the visuals, so we'll be going back and forth with you frequently.
step 5
ILLUSTRATING
Finally, our artists will turn the storyboards into breathtaking illustrations. All the words and sketches will be transformed into something beautiful. This will be the most exciting email you receive from us: a collection of finished, high-quality illustrations.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
In an explainer video, this means animating and editing. In a graphic novel, it’s about page composition. In a brochure, it’s the final design with illustrations. At this stage, we’ll do most of the work, and your main role will be to review the final versions.
step 6
OUR RECENT PROJECTS
IN PRODUCTION
The Routledge Companion to Performance-Related Concepts in Non-European Languages
In 2023, Zone 9 designed the cover for a groundbreaking publication by a research center in Berlin. The editors then contacted us to create an explainer video, clarifying the complex process behind the extensive work on the book. The video uses digital motion graphics to align with the center's branding.​​
The video will be released in 2025.
Julian Assange and
the U.S. Espionage Act
Free Assange Berlin is an activist group that has been organizing gatherings, public talks and movie screenings in support of journalist Julian Assange. They contacted us to collaborate on an explainer video about the background to Assange's legal struggle. Our cooperation was so exciting that we are in talks of realizing another project, a graphic novel about the freedom of the press. ​
Watch the full video here.
A Bizarre History of Cornflakes
A doctoral candidate from the Free University of Berlin approached us to create a video supporting and promoting his research on the influence of the Enlightenment and instrumental reason on work ethics. We produced an explainer video to be shown at the start of his presentations and also designed a mini brochure for distribution at a conference.​​
Watch the full video here.
Creep: A CAncel Culture Story
In 2024, celebrated comic artist Ed Piskor tragically took his own life following a public controversy. As a tribute to his work, the team at Zone 9 collaborated to create this 17-panel comic, shared on Instagram, aimed at raising awareness about social media mobbing.​
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Read the full comic here.
OUR TEAM
MILOS
A creative writing graduate from the City College of New York, I worked for nearly a decade producing videos in an academic environment. In the first stages of your project, we will develop the story outline together, write the script, and prepare the storyboards.
Stefanie
Most likely, I will be your first point of contact. Teacher by profession, I love communicating with people, and will serve as your project manager. I will make sure that the communication between you and our artists is seamless.
Petar
I hold degrees in Media Art and Design from Bauhaus University and in Painting from the Belgrade Academy of Arts. If you're based in Germany, you may have seen my work on ZDF, as I’ve previously worked on drawing the Mainzelmännchen characters. Once you've finalized the script and storyboards with Milos, I'll handle the drawing assignments from there.
IMPORTANT TO MENTION
We don't discriminate based on subject matter: as researchers ourselves, we firmly believe in the inviolability of freedom of thought. ​As long as your views align with the principles of free speech and abide by the law, you are welcome here.
Our role is not to be censors.
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​However, the opinions expressed in the work we are hired to produce are not our own. We neither personally endorse nor support them. ​Our job is to offer creative services for financial compensation. ​If you have any content-related issues or complaints with the projects we worked on, please contact the client, rather than Zone 9.
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Contact
+49 157 5263 1249
12083 Berlin