Documentary-led storytelling to build trust for corporate & NGO campaigns
Film & report design for global research, NGOs & development
Why Research & NGO Leaders Trust Pic Tree for Film and Report Design for NGOs
From FCDO-funded conflict research to academic publications and youth documentaries, we translate complex evidence into human stories that donors, policymakers, and communities actually engage with:
- “The publication is a best-practice example of how to do this kind of thing.” — XCEPT (FCDO Research)
- “The One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Report is a great example of how to share research with the communities that participated in it. We expect that Lydia from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will be really excited about the report and will want to share it around, including with other donors, as a best-practice example of how to do this kind of thing.” — Charlie de Rivaz, Research Fund and Uptake Director, Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT)
- “Artistic genius & atmosphere.” — Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
- “Sylwia’s artistic genius is manifest in the original, exquisite drawings that she designs, as well as a highly refined and sensitive perception to the character of the subject matter and the mood that is intended to be conveyed. Very powerful conjuring of all the elements working together beautifully.” — Prof. Mariz Tadros, Professor of Politics and Development, Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
- “The end product was exactly what we wanted... a double success!” — NCOP London
- “Asking Sylwia, Pic Tree founder, to make some short films for us has been a truly valuable experience. Not only was the end product exactly what we wanted, but there was also a great deal of satisfaction in the fact that Sylwia managed to make me feel that I had been part of the creative process! Making a film which purports to represent seventeen-year-olds is likely to be full of pitfalls, but not only did they all love it, but the government agency we were making it for liked it so much they said that Sylwia could clearly teach them a thing or two. This double success was the result of deep empathy with her subjects combined with a creative flair brought to bear on a fairly mundane brief.” — Mark Ellis, Project Manager, National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) London
- “Sylwia has done an amazing job, and all who have seen it are super impressed!” — Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
- “Our report is looking amazing. Sylwia, our designer, has done an amazing job, and all who have seen it are super impressed.” — Patta Scott-Villiers, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
- “High-quality design service with a real knack for getting to the heart of what we needed.” — SEEDS
- “Pic Tree has provided an end-to-end high-quality design service with a real knack for getting to the heart of what we needed, suggesting solutions that were achievable within our budget and within a short timescale too.” — Yvonne Halloran, Manager, Self Employment Entrepreneurship Diversity Scheme (SEEDS)
Growth & Recognition
Excellence in International Trade 2026: Pic Tree is proud to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards 2026 under the Excellence in International Trade category. This recognition highlights our cross-border creative services and founder Sylwia’s vision for global storytelling, standing alongside category winner Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and fellow finalists.
JP Morgan Founders Forward Alumni: Sylwia offers strategic insight to Pic Tree as a 2024 JPMorgan Mentoring Program (London) alumna, having completed a comprehensive “Perfect Pitch” showcase focused on investor pitching, as well as the Fast Forward Women’s Leadership Development programme.
KEEP+ Programme: Thanks to financing from the European Regional Development Fund (KEEP+) and support from Anglia Ruskin and Greenwich University, Pic Tree has elevated its work in digital storytelling and specialised visual research, laying the foundation for our growth into the progressive agency we are today.
What’s at Stake When Your Research Sits Unread
Billions of pounds are spent generating vital global research, conflict evidence, and social impact data every year. Yet most of it gets buried under multi-page academic density or sterile AI “slop.” When your message fails to connect, donors look away, policymakers move on, and communities lose their voice. Perfection is boring; clarity is currency.
How We Fix It:
- Film & Report Design for Global Research, Authors, and NGOs (Translating dense field evidence into flagship publications that policy donors want to share).
- Documentary-Style Corporate & NGO Video Production (Human-centred stories that cut through the synthetic noise and build unshakeable trust).
- Visual Brand Strategy for Mission-Driven Startups & Charities (Strategic armour, not superficial marketing clothes).
- 1. Why settle for polite agency polish when you need real strategic armour?
- We trained as Madmen in multi-national agencies, but we left the corporate bollocks behind. We partner with you to strip away institutional jargon and build communications with actual substance.
- 2. What happens if you keep broadcasting instead of building belonging?
- Audiences are drowning in automated AI noise and default skepticism. We bring deep local context, unvarnished human truth, and proof of real craft so your message is actually felt and acted upon.
- 3. Why do we start with the problem instead of the video format?
- Because asking ‘we need a video’ or ‘we need a new logo’ misses the point. We dive deep into your core challenge first—ensuring every frame and page serves your ultimate mission, not just a brief.
- 4. What makes a Pic Tree partnership different?
- Each job is unique. Whether it’s an FCDO-funded conflict report or a brand launch, let’s talk over coffee to create a bespoke creative strategy tailored precisely to what you truly want.
Who we’ve worked with
