Our Product is Explanation
All posts for “video”
Video: Saving for Retirement (401ks) in Plain English
Posted by: leelefever on September 29, 2009- 5:00pm
Categories: Common Craft Video, Explanation, money, paperworks, plainenglish, video
Today we've published a new video "Saving for Retirement in Plain English".
Since we first considered making the series of videos on Money, we've had our eyes on retirement savings. Not just our retirement, but yours. Too many people start saving too late and/or don't know the basics of why retirement accounts like 401ks and IRAs make sense. This video is aimed at helping people see the long term benefits of retirement accounts.Who is it for? Along with use in schools, we see this video being... Continue Reading
Welcoming Two New Members of the Explainer Network
Posted by: leelefever on September 20, 2009- 5:00pm
Categories: business, Explainer Network, Explanation, network, video
We're so excited to have two new members of our Explainer Network of custom video producers.
Lilipip is a Seattle-based company that has been making videos for years. They're seeing new opportunities in the world of animated video explanations and we think they'll be a great fit for the Network. From their listing:
We make animated videos about your product, service, or concept. We’re an “Open-Source Creative” team with transparent pricing and processes – featuring global artists with a wide... Continue Reading
Video: Stock Markets in Plain English
Posted by: leelefever on September 1, 2009- 5:00pm
Categories: Common Craft Video, Explanation, financialbasics, money, ourwork, video
Today we've published a new video: Stock Markets in Plain English
This video is one of our most requested and focuses on a few basic ideas:
Why companies offer their stock to the public
Why people buy and sell stocks
What makes stock prices change
How we measure stock markets using indices
This video is part of our Money series and one of the first to touch on markets. It was also one of the toughest to make. Economic forces like supply and demand can quickly turn into rabbit holes. Keeping... Continue Reading
New Explainer Network Member: 1/29 Explainers
Posted by: leelefever on August 12, 2009- 5:00pm
Categories: business, Explainer Network, Explanation, network, video
We're excited to announce a new member of the Common Craft Explainer Network, 1/29 Explainers. Executive producer Nick Seuser and the 1/29 team have ton of experience in the film and video world.
Our introduction to 1/29 was through the "Behind the Logic" series of videos they did for Pandora. You can watch them on the 1/29 Explainers home page. We were impressed with the entertaining creative way they explain the logic that connects the music that plays via Pandora. Here's an example:
1/29... Continue Reading
Video: Insurance in Plain English
Posted by: leelefever on July 20, 2009- 5:00pm
Categories: Common Craft Video, Explanation, financialbasics, money, ourwork, video
Today we've published a new video: Insurance in Plain English
As we wrote recently, we're focusing on our Money category over the next month or two. This video, Insurance in Plain English, is meant to explain why insurance exists, what service it provides, how it works and what role it plays in being financially responsible.
Insurance is a concept that surrounds us all the time. In fact, it's so common that it's easy to assume that everyone understands it and why it makes sense.... Continue Reading
Yesterday, we posted about a video by a company called rPath with the title "Cloud Computing in Plain English." Read about it here.
The blog post came as a result of our unsuccessful efforts over six months to illustrate to rPath that their video, because of the combination of the "in Plain English" title and use of paper-cut outs on a whiteboard, was a source of confusion for Common Craft customers. Because rPath insisted on using legal means to communicate their stance, we chose to take a... Continue Reading
Updated: The issue described below has been resolved. You can read about it here.
While we are happy to be an inspiration for educators and individuals, sometimes we see examples of commercial organizations that choose to make videos that cause potential confusion. When a video uses paper cut-outs on a whiteboard and "in Plain English" in the title, people may mistake it for part of the Common Craft video series. This confusion compromises the hard work we've put into building the Common Craft... Continue Reading
Video: Twitter Search in Plain English
Posted by: leelefever on June 15, 2009- 5:00pm
Categories: Common Craft Video, Explanation, ourwork, plainenglish, twitter, video
Today we released a new video called "Twitter Search in Plain English"
The video uses an metaphor of the small town of "Twitterville." The town has an election and the people use Twitter to track real-time news, a hashtag to organize discussions and trends to find new information.
While it wasn't our intention, the video matches closely with the events currently taking place in Iran, where people are using Twitter to organize and share news about their disputed election.
If you know people who... Continue Reading
A Better Way to Learn Chemistry
If I could have learned chemistry this way, I might have discovered a career in science.
Via Daily Dish
I really love the effect of shadow of the previous image that is left on the chalkboard. I wonder what would happen if we tried this on the whiteboard? I'm sure it wouldn't be nearly as cool.
Firekites - AUTUMN STORY - chalk animation from Lucinda Schreiber on Vimeo.
via: Drawn.ca