TELLING POWERFUL STUDENT STORIES
Aston University
REWRITE WHAT’S POSSIBLE
Some powerful student stories just need to be told. Working together with Yazan and Aston, we redefined traditional student storytelling to inspire more students to start transformational journeys.
Brief
The marketing team at Aston met an extraordinary student who epitomised what the University and their student experience is all about. Yazan always worked hard and gave 100%. He seized every opportunity to learn that came his way, from industry competitions to a one-year international internship. He has a real thirst for personal growth and developing the skills he needs to do a power of good and go on to make affordable prosthetics for people in the Middle East. How could we tell his remarkable story in the most compelling way? That was our brief.
Solution
We met with Yazan and the University’s marketing team to understand more about him and his journey. Together we co-created a structure and outline storyline. To achieve a real cinematic feel yet remain true to Yazan’s story, we identified some great shooting locations for him to recount his story and capture his voice. We then mixed this with user-generated content of his life and learning experience, along with some impactful stock footage.
The result is an incredibly powerful student film told in a sensitive, authentic and very memorable way. We grab attention. We stir emotions. We enable future students to envisage what they could achieve at Aston. We rewrite what’s possible. All delivered in an evocative style that elevates traditional student storytelling.
Results
Beyond views, it will be impossible to measure the impact this film and its shorter social edits have on student numbers. However, everyone involved with the film has been truly inspired by Yazan and his journey. And we’re all incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. It’s a universal story that appeals to everyone and will capture the imagination of future students from around the world for many years to come. It shows them what their experience could be like at Aston and how it could inspire them to push themselves and achieve their ambitions. There are no limits.
“Collaborating with the whole Waterfall team on ‘Yazan’s Story’ was an incredibly fulfilling experience. This content piece carried significant weight for Aston University, and it was essential that the storytelling honoured the depth and nuance of Yazan’s journey. Waterfall approached every phase with thoughtfulness, clarity, and meticulous attention to detail, enabling us to craft a narrative that resonates on a human level while closely aligned to our values. Our stakeholders were astounded by the quality, and we’ve already had fantastic feedback from prospective students. I look forward to working with Waterfall on future projects.”
Emma Tronson, Deputy Director Marketing & Student Recruitment