ReimaginingProcurement Trainingwith Comic-Strip Style Animation
Project Overview
A well-known institution sought an engaging way to train non-procurement staff on its complex procurement workflows. Traditional instructional methods weren’t effective, leading to costly errors and delays. We transformed the training into a comic-strip style animation, bringing storytelling, humor, speech bubbles, and text animations to the heart of learning. Our goal? To help faculty and administrators like Jordan avoid rejection emails, frustration, and delays—while making procurement processes memorable.
By turning complex guidelines into relatable scenarios, we made the learning process more intuitive and enjoyable. Each module highlighted common pitfalls and best practices, empowering staff to navigate procurement tasks with confidence. The result was a highly engaging, visually-driven training solution that boosted retention and reduced costly errors.
Objective
& Scope
The goal was to create a scenario-driven training module for non-procurement staff at UDC, simplifying complex procurement workflows. The module aimed to replace traditional text-heavy formats with a dynamic, interactive learning experience.
The scope included character development, narrative design, interactive learning paths, visual storyboarding, and animation. The goal was to create a flexible framework that could be easily adapted for future administrative training needs at UDC. The goal was to create relatable characters and realistic office scenarios.
Challenges
01
Understanding Complex Workflows
UDC’s procurement processes involved multiple departments, compliance rules, and approval systems, making it difficult for non-procurement staff to grasp.
01
02
Engaging Non-Procurement Staff
Faculty and administrative teams lacked formal training in budget validation, vendor compliance, and system usage, leading to frequent errors and delays.
02
03
Creating a Dynamic Learning Format
Traditional methods were ineffective, requiring a dynamic, interactive, and visually engaging approach to help learners retain information.
03
Our Approach
BUILDING A SCENARIO-BASED COMIC WORLD FOR PRACTICAL LEARNING
01
Character-Led
Narrative
We created a lead character—Jordan—who walks through common procurement pitfalls in an engaging, comic-strip format.
02
Interactive
Decisions
We built “What would you do?” checkpoints that prompt learners to choose their next action, with immediate feedback.
03
Visual
Storyboarding
From text bubbles to email popups, phone alerts to thought clouds, we layered every moment with real-life tension and comic relief.
04
Department
Personas
We introduced clickable characters representing UDC’s procurement stakeholders—like Olivia from OCP and Dr. Allen from OSP—simplifying who to contact and when.
Results
Delivered
The use of character-driven interactions and realistic scenarios simplified procurement workflows, built learner confidence, and enhanced knowledge retention through visual storytelling.
Improved Requisition Accuracy
Common errors, such as incorrect funding sources and missing vendor details, were significantly reduced through scenario-based learning.
Scalable & Adaptable Training Model
The comic-strip framework was designed for easy adaptation, allowing UDC to extend this engaging format to other training initiatives.
Enhanced Decision-Making Confidence
Learners gained clarity on procurement workflows, empowering them to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Faster Identification of Key Departments
Staff could quickly recognize which department to consult for specific procurement needs, reducing response times and confusion.
Scalable & Adaptable Training Model
The comic-strip framework was designed for easy adaptation, allowing UDC to extend this engaging format to other training initiatives.
Key Takeaways
Why This Approach Worked
SCENARIO & DIALOGUE-LED STORYTELLING
Training content became bingeable and practical—users were hooked, not lectured.
EMPATHISING WITH FIELD USERS
We built from Jordan’s point of view—stress, deadlines, and confusion—creating authentic connection.
Execution Timeline
The project was completed in a 3-day sprint, focusing on concept development, storyboarding, visual design, animation, and review, refinement, and deployment across UDC’s training platform, ensuring quality and relevance.
Impact
The comic-strip style training module had a transformative impact on UDC’s procurement processes. Staff gained a deeper understanding of complex workflows, leading to a significant reduction in errors and missteps.
Decision-making became faster and more accurate as learners could quickly identify the right departments and follow correct procedures. Additionally, the engaging, scenario-based format increased retention, making procurement guidelines easier to recall in real-world situations.
As a result, UDC experienced smoother operations, fewer rejected requests, and greater confidence among faculty and administrative staff in managing procurement tasks.
Comic-strip animation transformed procurement training into an engaging, intuitive learning experience, empowering non-procurement staff to navigate workflows confidently. This approach reduced errors, improved retention, and established a scalable model for future training initiatives.