Cengage Work: Outcomes Report

Every year, Cengage Work publishes an Outcomes Report packed with data that proves the value of their workforce education programs. The problem: the people who most need to see that data — investors, board members, and executive stakeholders — are not going to read a 30-page PDF.

Cengage needed a video that could do what the report couldn't: deliver the most compelling findings in under two minutes, hold the attention of a sophisticated audience, and leave a strong enough impression to move the needle.

‍The Challenge
The brief came with competing demands. The video had to feel high-energy and visually dynamic, but not like an ad. It needed to carry real data without feeling like a webinar. It had to resonate with investors while still feeling human and grounded. And it had to be done on a tight timeline with a lot of moving pieces in play.

Early in the process, we worked closely with the Cengage team to pressure-test different creative directions — trading reference videos back and forth, debating the tradeoffs between voiceover and on-camera talent, between pure animation and real footage. That upfront alignment work paid off. By the time we got into production, everyone was pulling in the same direction.

‍Our Approach
We built the video around a hired on-camera presenter speaking directly to the audience while branded kinetic type and animated charts built around him in-frame. The presenter provides the human connection and credibility. The motion graphics do the heavy lifting for the numbers and stats. Stock footage and B-roll ground the data in real-world trades and working environments, so the outcomes feel earned rather than abstract.

Gorilla Creative managed the entire project end to end, including creative development, script writing, casting, wardrobe styling, set design, construction, production, video editing, motion design, and animation. We also produced a 30-second social cut optimized for paid distribution.

‍The Outcome
Cengage Work came away with a polished, board-ready video that makes their outcomes data accessible, memorable, and hard to ignore — along with a social asset ready to extend the reach of that message.