The Modular ADU Explainer
A San Francisco-based startup was launching a line of high-end, prefab Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Their selling point was speed: they could crane a fully finished studio into a backyard in one day. However, homeowners were confused and intimidated by the process. They could not visualize how a giant crane would lift a house over their Victorian roof without crushing it. The client needed a technical animation that demystified the installation process and made it look effortless and safe.
We created a stylistic, X-ray animation. We showed the ADU being manufactured in the factory, transported on a truck, and then lifted seamlessly into a typical Sunset District backyard. We used transparency effects to show the internal structure of the unit, the insulation, the plumbing, the smart home wiring, proving the build quality. The climax of the animation was the crane lift, showing the unit clearing the existing house with precision. This video became the primary conversion tool on their landing page, increasing inquiries by 150%.
Client Name
Backyard Studios
Client Type
Modular Construction Startup
Location
Sunset District, San Francisco
Project focus
Consumer education and process visualization
Color Palette
Brand Blue, Clean White, Transparent Ghosting
Services Provided
Technical Animation, Product Explainer
Budget
$14,000
Duration
5 Weeks
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use cinematic storytelling to create emotional buy-in.
1
The X-Ray Effect
Homeowners worry about what is behind the walls. We animated the walls fading to transparent, revealing the high-quality steel framing and insulation. This visual transparency built trust in the product build quality.
Scale Verification
We modeled the ADU inside a standard 25-foot wide San Francisco lot. This provided a realistic sense of scale, showing customers that the unit would fit comfortably in their yard without consuming all their green space.
2
3
Simplifying Complexity
The actual installation involves 50 steps. We condensed this into a graceful, 60-second ballet. By smoothing out the jerky movements of reality, we made the process feel elegant and stress-free, removing the friction from the buying decision.
