While ENS staff were familiar with the firm’s core values, they weren’t always living them in their day-to-day work. To bridge the gap between awareness and action, ENS launched a creative internal campaign that reimagined its values through a uniquely African lens. The result: a series of immersive art pieces rooted in African folklore that brought these values to life in a culturally resonant, emotionally engaging way.

At the heart of the project was storytelling – because people remember information 22 times better when it’s delivered in the form of a story. By turning abstract values into timeless African fables, the campaign aimed to make the ENS values not just known, but truly understood and felt.

The team chose linocut illustration as the storytelling medium, reflecting African block printing traditions and emphasizing ENS’s deep connection to the continent. With “Original Thinking” as the brand line, posters alone weren’t enough. Each linocut poster was embedded with an NFC tag that, when scanned, triggered an animated version of the fable – turning static visuals into dynamic, memorable experiences employees could hold in the palm of their hand.

Each story embodied a specific ENS value. “The Little Tree” captured being exceptional through the growth of a young sapling mentored by the mighty Baobab. “The Hare and the Zoo Bank” tackled integrity and professional ethics, showing what it means to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. “Kofi the Courageous Giraffe” reframed perceived weaknesses as hidden strengths, illustrating put people first. And “Three Ants and a Grasshopper” told a tale of collaboration and empathy, highlighting the importance of recognising diversity.

More than just an art project, this was a strategic cultural intervention. Through handcrafted visuals, immersive animation, and authentic storytelling, the ENS Values campaign connected employees to the heart of the firm’s ethos – making values relatable, memorable, and, most importantly, lived.

By embracing the power of story, ENS transformed internal communication into something truly meaningful: a celebration of African identity, a nod to timeless wisdom, and a bold invitation to live with purpose.

Client/Brand: ENS
Marketing Manager: Avon Pereira, Desiree Phakathi, Otsile Matlou

Agency: Ogilvy South Africa
Chief Creative Officer: Pete Case
Executive Creative Director: Liana Liebenberg
Creative Director: Liana Liebenberg
Agency Managing Director: Mathew Weiss
Account Management: Seni Raulinga, Nteleki Chiloane
Agency Producer: Pamela Brimiah
Agency Designer: Tsholofelo Masiye, Nina Roodbol, Nikita Govender
Agency Writer: Dylan Fortune
Strategist: Angie Hattingh

Design Agency: (Not an IDIDTHAT member)

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