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Alex Zepherin

@az_does_motion_design

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Founder of @dondadastudio
Holding the torch for @beatsandliquor

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I’m incredibly grateful to be included in @foundervine @wrayandnephewuk Top 25 black businesses of 2026 💫

I started Don Dada Studio in a tiny office space on Croydon High Street at the end of 2021, off the back of a booked and busy motion design freelance career that had been building since 2019.

I wanted to create a space where I could work on projects that tell stories that don’t necessarily reach mainstream audiences, while also creating a working environment that puts office politics aside and focuses on creativity, collaboration and growth.

Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to tell stories about people and issues that deserve to be seen and heard. From Charlie Phillips, the pioneering photographer who arrived in England during the Windrush era and challenged social norms and barriers, to Jane Harry, a woman born into the household of a slave trader who went on to become part of the story of Britain’s abolition movement. From exploring human trafficking operating through Meta’s platforms, to telling the story of how important beans are to the betterment of the world!

I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve created to date, and deeply grateful to @mtdesalu alongside all the amazing designers, clients, collaborators and well wishers who have supported the studio along the way.

Positioning our animation studio in the way we have isn’t easy, but it is necessary.

That’s why recognition like this from Wray & Nephew is so important. It’s not just about publicity; it’s about community, visibility and the encouragement that comes from knowing there are people and organisations who believe in what we’re building.

Don Dada Studio is now a BAFTA and Emmy-nominated animation studio based at Somerset House, and I’m incredibly proud to stand alongside the businesses and entrepreneurs in this year’s Top 25 who are striving to embody change, challenge the status quo and push things forward.

Here’s to continuing to build. 🥂

#WrayForwardPowerbook #WayForward #Innovation #Founders by @az_does_motion_design

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5 days ago

PAST IN PRESENT EXHIBITION OPENING

The energy on the first day of the exhibition was unmatched!

The exhibition continues until Saturday 19th September.

This exhibition is part of the UK/Kenya Season Legacy 2025 supported by the British Council @eastafricaarts

📸 @framed_by_gilead

#UKKenyaSeasonLegacy
#CreativeEconomy
#ArtsandCulture
#Kenyanartists taken in Ngara by @az_does_motion_design

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a month ago

It was a full house this past Saturday as @theartclubkenya opened their new exhibition Past in Present at Shan House. The Painting to Animation Workshop facilitated by @az_does_motion_design had us all painting like kids again and the Extended Realities experience had visitors exploring new worlds.

Make sure to check out @theartclubkenya and the British Council website (link in bio) for more programming coming up this week and in the coming months. by @az_does_motion_design

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a month ago

PARTNER HIGHLIGHT:✨Alex Zepherin✨of @dondadastudio

Art Club's UK partner, Alex Zepherin, is a seasoned animation director and founder of Don Dada Studio. With over a decade of experience in the motion design industry Alex has built a career dedicated to creating impactful and educational animated short fi lms and content, collaborating with major organisations such as The BBC, Tate Britain, Disney, Adoption Project UK, and more.

With a passion for storytelling that raises awareness and sparks meaningful conversations, Alex specialises in crafting animation that informs, educates, and inspires. Whether tackling social issues, historical narratives, or community-driven projects, their work consistently highlights underrepresented voices and complex themes with nuance and creativity.

Don Dada Studio created the animations for Give Me Shelter, a documentary by The Guardian, which received a nomination at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

PAST IN PRESENT
@theartclubkenya x Alex Zepherin of @dondadastudio
Saturday 12th, 12noon at Shan House, Ngara Road. by @az_does_motion_design

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a month ago

We were honoured to produce our third BBC Ideas short animation The Remarkable Story of Jane Harry.

Born in Jamaica in 1755, Jane Harry was a talented artist, writer, and an overlooked pioneer of the abolitionist movement. With no known visual record of her, we drew inspiration from animation pioneer Lotte Reiniger, using silhouette animation to reimagine her story.

The 18th century inspired silhouettes not only reflect the portraiture of the time but also symbolise the fragmentary traces through which many women's histories survive. A visual tribute to two pioneering women whose legacies deserve to be seen.

Here are some screenshots of the animation. To check out a breakdown of the project, please go to our website and visit BBC Ideas to view the full animation✨

#2dAnimation #BBCIdeas #MotionDesign #History #LotteReiniger #WomenInHistory #Abolition #DonDadaStudio by @az_does_motion_design

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3 months ago

Introducing the Momentum cohort 2026/27 - Alex Zepherin - 3/30

Alex Zepherin is the founder of Don Dada Studio and a seasoned animation director with over a decade of experience in the industry. Since graduating in 2013, Alex has built a career dedicated to creating impactful and educational animated short films and content, collaborating with major organisations such as The BBC, Tate Britain, Disney, Adoption Project UK, and more.

With a passion for storytelling that raises awareness and sparks meaningful conversations, Alex specialises in crafting animation that informs, educates, and inspires. Whether tackling social issues, historical narratives, or community-driven projects, their work consistently highlights underrepresented voices and complex themes with nuance and creativity.

Most recently, @dondadastudio created the animations for Give Me Shelter, a documentary by The Guardian, which received a nomination at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Each day of June, we’ll be introducing a different member of the Momentum 2026/27 cohort
Give them a follow, read all about them and get to know more about their work and what they’re up to. by @az_does_motion_design

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4 months ago

The @guardian short documentary #GiveMeShelter has been nominated for an Emmy💪🏾💪🏽💪🏼💪🏻⚡️⚡️⚡️

We are extremely proud to have contributed to such a powerful story surrounding Tina Frundt, one of Washington D.C.’s leading specialists in protecting children from sex trafficking.

@az_does_motion_design,@madeleinedesalu and Britney worked tirelessly producing two animated segments, as well as rotoscoping frame by frame the young girls filmed to protect their identities.

This was indeed close to our hearts, and vindication that animation will always be a beautiful medium for storytelling.

Thank you again to the @guardian for trusting us, and fingers crossed we win⚡️⚡️⚡️

#emmys by @az_does_motion_design

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6 months ago

I hope everyone has had a gentle ease into the new year, against very visceral events happening around the world.

I firmly believe that collective responsibility where possible, is vital to build and maintain communities. Which is why I am excited to say I am now a trustee for @pckdlnch!!

A South London based charity, dedicated to learning and growth through creation. From Workshops, exhibitions, to networking events, Pack Lunch champions neuro and socially-diverse people through artistic expression without judgment and boundaries.

This is abit of meeeeeee🔫 🔫

I am so proud to be a part of their growing journey! Thank you to Roy Joseph Butler, Leo Crane, @ncharles.art, and Jane. And I can’t wait to start with Daisy Rogers-Byrne and Chrissy Thirlaway

I look forward to how this year will unfold for us all✨ by @az_does_motion_design

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8 months ago

Today marks the day we officially lost a legend. @busyfingers It’s been an unimaginable and gutwrenching three years without our beloved Chris in our lives. But every day, we hold him high in our memories.

He was loved from the moment he entered this world to his last breath, so on the 6th of January, it’s not a sad event, just a “see you inna bit”.

Live every moment, seize opportunities when they come, and take time to tell the people close to you how much you love them.

Come see a few of many golden moments. Till next time x
@l.a.b.collective @beatsandliquor @beatmeetlab by @az_does_motion_design

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9 months ago

2025 has truly been a game changing year. So many meaningful and beautiful connections have been made, especially over the past four months alone.

I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with, shared laughs with, invited me onto panels, and given me the space to share my love for animation with others.

As the year comes to a close, I hope we all find moments to rest and breathe. It’s been a turbulent twelve months, not only for our individual paths, but for us as a collective.
So much has happened, yet I truly believe that when we keep community at the centre, and stay connected with those who share our ideals (no matter how broad), we can move forward together, in numbers, and continue to create beautiful experiences in our lives. by @az_does_motion_design

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10 months ago

I am extremely looking forward to speaking at tomorrows animation event @afroanimationsummit #brixtonritzy

I'll be doing the talk with the fantastic @nenejparsotam from @accessvfx, the lovely Amy Ashton from @blackframeanimation and the extremely talented and @bimpealliu (Concept & VFX Artist at @ilmvfx).

It already feels like a cousins link up🎉

Explore the programme & buy tickets via @afro_story_summit

The whole day is going to be super fun, really helpful and supportive across the board for creatives in the animation industry!

Pull up and say hi, if you're attending 🥰

#afroanimationsummit by @az_does_motion_design

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10 months ago

Here’s the second of the two animated sequences we produced for The @guardian documentary #GiveMeShelter.

We named this animation Pandora’s Box because it reflects a young girl’s descent down a path rooted in survival, a path that becomes increasingly hard to escape, particularly for a vulnerable child.

You can watch the full documentary on The Guardian’s website, and we’ve also shared it on our own site with a BTS breakdown of how we created these sequences.

#dondadastudio #animation #documentary #2danimation by @az_does_motion_design

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a year ago