Hand holding cell phone.

COVID Alert App + Greg Dubeau — Graphic Designer

Encouraging Canadians to do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Services: Graphic design and art direction for print, screen, animation, and out-of-home

Product: Omni-channel national advertising campaign

Client

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is an agency of the Government of Canada that is responsible for public health, emergency preparedness and response, and infectious and chronic disease control and prevention.

→ canada.ca

Team

Maude Drouin-Halou

Josée Lacombe

Frédéric Rousseau

Olivier Fortin

Jasmin Brochu

Katharina Gaudreau

Anna Garault

Sébastien Hanssens

Laura Manzi

Nicole Laplante

Rémi Charpentier

Steve Cloutier

Geneviève Renaud

Julie Charbonneau

Marc-André Savard

Nadine El-Whidi

Ariane Gagné

Anastasia Gromova

Maria Halavrezos

Annie Turcotte

Patrick Payeur

Gimmick Studio

Greg Dubeau

Young woman wearing face mask.
Elderly woman wearing face mask.
Adult man wearing face mask.

Prioritizing public health: Informing Canadians amid the lockdown 

As Canadian provinces navigated varying lockdown measures, the Public Health Agency of Canada () prioritized informing and supporting citizens about the latest safety measures to prevent potential future outbreaks of COVID-19. A crucial tool in this effort was the COVID Alert app, designed to notify Canadians about potential exposure to the virus.

Man receiving COVID Alert app notification.
Colourful tile mosaic of COVID Alert app avatars.

Empowering Canadians through visual communication

To effectively promote the app and encourage participation, we developed a cohesive visual language, which included a vibrant colour palette and relatable illustrations. A clear and positive tone of messaging was used across diverse mediums and locations, ranging from clinics and pharmacies to schools, grocery stores, restaurants, and public offices.

COVID Alert app advertising app store download.
Social media promotional posts.
Social media promotional posts.
Promotional ad for Twitter.
Promotional ad for Twitter.
Promotional ad for Twitter.

Spreading awareness to encouraging COVID Alert app downloads 

At the heart of our communication strategy was the need to make sure Canadians know about the COVID Alert app and use it to stop COVID-19 from spreading. We kept our messages short and clear and used illustrations and simple directive animations that were easy to understand. We employed a vibrant color palette to mirror the rich cultural diversity of Canada, ensuring our communications would stand out amidst competing messages online and within our communities.

Animated ad for Twitter.
Animated ad for Twitter.
Animated ad for Twitter.
Animated ad for Twitter.
Animated ad for Twitter.
Animated ad for Twitter.
Social ad for the COVID Alert App.
Mobile phone scrolling though Instagram story ads for the COVID Alert app.
Storyboard of three ads for the COVID Alert app.
Storyboard of three ads for the COVID Alert app.

Maximizing our reach: Executing a national mobile-first campaign

Executing a comprehensive digital and paid social media campaign, we utilized static and video ads, and digital billboard series to maximize reach and engagement. By optimizing our campaign’s visibility across various online platforms, we ensured it resonated with our target audience and appeared prominently in search engine results.

Nationwide impact of the COVID Alert app

The successful launch of the campaign is evident by its widespread rollout across Canada, spanning traditional, digital, and environmental media platforms. The initial traction gained through social media prompted the development of additional infographics and printed collateral. These resources were strategically placed in public health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, rehab centres, and pharmacies nationwide, further amplifying our message and reinforcing its importance in fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Nurse holding simple COVID-19 cheat sheet.
Bilingual COVID Alert app billboard.
Bilingual COVID Alert app billboard at airport.

Mooooooore projects!