crash course - complexly

We were the branding and graphics team for the popular YouTube education channel Crash Course from its inception to earlier this year — spanning almost 15 years of production. Covering over 60 subjects in the sciences, humanities, and beyond in 40+ episode series, every episode was based on US curriculum content for high school or college levels, and served as an invaluable aid for students and teachers.

The original creation and inception of the Crash Course brand was applied across each series in a way that brought a new flavour and aesthetic each time; while remaining true to the overarching look. Episodes carried a strong and unique sense of branding through elements such as colour, type sequences, and stylized photographic references; all adhering to a crafted list of segment types we created and applied across the board.

Illustrations were created with the utmost accuracy with the approval of Crash Course's subject matter experts with whom we worked closely and regularly. In almost 15 years we delivered weekly episodes without fail, ranging from 10-15 minutes in length with an average of 30-60% animation coverage.

Crash Course has garnered more than 16 million subscribers and 2 billion+ views and counting, is the recipient of various awards including YouTube Diamond Play Button, and has allowed us to amass an enormous library of proprietary art assets we still use today.

 

in addition we CREATED:

  • Beautiful informative merchandise like posters, mugs, stickers, buttons & more

  • Specialized art for series supporters via Patreon and Subbable

  • Branded assets & promotional art for sponsor websites, streaming platforms, fundraisers, events & festivals (such as Nerdcon)

  • Interactive products like the Crash Course app which utilizing study cards to solidify series learnings

  • Real-world application materials like curriculum workbooks for teachers and students

  • Curated Crash Course series for various organizations like The Broad Institute and Arizona State University

  • Special episode features for popular series like Ryan Reynold’s Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham

  • Series translations and conversions to Spanish and Arabic

  • Kids version of Crash Course for YouTube Kids, Crash Course Kids: Science

 
“Crash​ ​Course​ ​is​ ​a​ ​prolific​ ​educational​ ​YouTube​ ​series​ ​which​ ​garners​ ​over​ ​16​ ​million subscribers,​ ​and​ over 2 billion​ ​views.​ ​Since​ ​its​ ​launch​ ​in​ ​2012,​ ​Thought​ ​Café​ ​has​ ​worked to​ ​brand,​ ​establish​ ​and​ ​maintain​ ​the​ ​series​ ​aesthetic,​ ​while​ ​providing​ ​animated​ ​content​ ​for upwards​ ​of​ ​25​ ​different​ ​series and​ ​secondary​ ​visual​ ​elements: merchandise,​ ​crowdfunding​ ​perks​,​ ​and​ ​branding​ ​for​ ​additional venues​. Our​ ​team​ ​has​ ​been​ ​pleased​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with​ ​such​ ​a​ ​committed,​ ​talented​ ​company.​ ​Their dedication​ ​to,​ ​and​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​the​ ​series​ ​has​ ​contributed​ ​significantly​ ​to​ ​its​ ​success,​ ​relevance and​ ​longevity.​ We’ve​ ​enjoyed​ ​an​ ​efficient,​ ​rewarding​ ​and ever-growing​ ​relationship and continue​ ​to​ ​find​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​our​ ​processes​ ​and​ ​adapt​ ​to​ ​the​ ​changing​ ​landscape​ ​of YouTube​ ​and​ ​online​ ​content,​ ​together.”
— Complexly
 

MERCHANDISE

CRASH COURSE BIOLOGY

CRASH COURSE GAMES - HISTORY OF CONSOLES

CRASH COURSE - AUGMENTED REALITY POSTER

CRASH COURSE ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY