Swindon design agency keeps children safe online with colourful characters

By Jamie Hill - 11 February 2019

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  • The Jazzbones Creative team

    The Jazzbones Creative team

Digital storybooks with colourful characters created by Swindon design agency Jazzbones have been published to help keep children safe online.

  • Sally the Smartphone and Tommy the Tablet

    Sally the Smartphone and Tommy the Tablet

  • Tommy the Tablet and Sally the Smartphone

    Tommy the Tablet and Sally the Smartphone

The digital books – which can be downloaded for free – were produced by Parent Zone, which provides information and support to parents, children and schools. 

Parent Zone is backed by The Vodafone Foundation, which is focused on delivering public benefit through the use of mobile technology.

The books, which star Tommy the Tablet and Sally the Smartphone, were launched across Europe on Safer Internet Day – February 5. 

Jazzbones’ in-house CGI illustrators created more than 30 eye-catching illustrations in a kaleidoscope of colours to accompany the tech characters as they navigate their way through the challenges and adventures of smartphone technology. 

The team also produced a wide range of marketing collateral from display boards and videos to augmented reality animations that will enable users to bring key illustrations to life using their smartphones.

The resources are aimed at helping primary school children to become digitally resilient to negative influences like cyberbullying and online grooming while helping them to flourish online.

The stories focus on twins Angus and Annie, and how they interact with and treat their devices. When they don’t treat them well — like creating a weak password or charging them under their pillows at night — the devices start feeling poorly and the children need to find ways to make them well again.

The stories – which are available in eight different languages – are designed so that children will understand the consequences of being reckless with tech and learn how they can improve their habits. 

Parent Zone says children reading the stories might have found themselves in similar situations in the past and can learn how to best handle those situations in the future.

Jazzbones’ founder and creative director Nathan Sandhu said: "“This has been a fantastic project to be involved with on so many levels.

"Firstly we were appointed to the project after pitching against London-based agencies and illustrators and our 3D work stood out to win us the pitch. 

"Secondly we really love working with charities to bring about change for good. If these books can help young children with internet safety then that is just brilliant. 

"We were really excited to see the books launched across Europe on Safer Internet Day 2019.” 

Established in 2005 and based in Swindon's Old Town, Jazzbones Creative works with local, national and international clients to create everything from advertising campaigns, corporate brochures and CGI graphics, to commercial videos, mobile responsive websites and integrated marketing campaigns. 

Tommy the Tablet's Birthday Blunder and Sally the Smartphone's Digital Disaster can be read online or downloaded at www.parentzone.org.uk

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