The evolution of Sammy and Frances

Sarah Davis is a Sydney-based illustrator who has been producing eye-catching pictures for Edunity for a just over four years, and has played a major role in the evolution of our much-loved Western Water mascots Sammy the Snake and Frances the Frog. Edunity spoke to Sarah to get a picture of what goes into a great illustration.

How has your process/technique in producing Sammy/Frances images changed over the years? Have you found that modern software has been helpful?
Edunity originally approached me to give Sammy and his froggy friend Frances a bit of a modern makeover. It was interesting taking someone else’s designs and trying to reinvent characters that had already been created. I tried to retain all the original elements, but give them more expressive personalities and open friendly faces. Sammy is a tricky character because he’s part snake- part garden hose, and I had to try and make that look natural! And in the case of Freddy the frog, he needed to undergo a gender change and become Frances! The original Sammy and Frances were hand drawn, but my versions were produced digitally, usually as vector graphics, which means the images can be used for a wider range of purposes.

What are the most important considerations for you when producing a set of illustrations?
For a job like this, kid-appeal is important, as we want Sammy and Frances to be good role models for water conservation – and if kids don’t warm to them, they won’t want to be like them! So they had to be personable and friendly. From a technical point of view, the end use of the illustration is important – whether it’s intended for use on a wide range of merchandise, or a print book, whether it’s destined for one colour or 4 colour printing… that sort of thing.

Do you have a favourite Sammy or Frances illustration?
I like Frances in the shower for some reason – I think the idea of a frog in swimmers is kind of hilarious.

Sarah Davis works in a wide range of areas, including commercial illustration for advertising, film, editorial publishing, and toy design. To learn more about her work visit sarah-davis.org

Sammy and Frances evolve: a timeline

Original pictures, created in 2005, show Sammy without his trigger nozzle.

Sarah was asked to ‘reinvent’ Sammy and Frances to keep up modern water saving trends, and to keep a wider range of students engaged.

Recent illustrations have employed the use of imaging software to assist with colouring and layers.

This year Sarah produced a set of new images for our Sammy and Frances Save Water big book for preschool children.

Sign the petition to prioritise Melbourne Metro rail over the Eastern road tunnel

GO RAIL

Melbourne Metro is the key to expanding Melbourne’s rail network, enabling new lines and more frequent services across the city.

Without Melbourne Metro

• There can be NO new lines to Doncaster, Monash Rowville, Tullamarine or the new suburb of Fishermans Bend
• Passengers will be left behind at stations as trains reach peak-hour capacity

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

GO WEST

The  proposed Western Link from the Port of Melbourne to the Western Ring Road offers a freight transport alternative to the West Gate Bridge, moving trucks off suburban streets and the projected expansion of the Port of Melbourne.

Without the Western Link

• Truck numbers in inner West suburban streets will continue to grow
• The expansion of the Port of Melbourne will be limited.

Support our campaign if you want:

> More frequent trains and new lines to Doncaster, Monash-Rowville and Tullamarine

> Fewer trucks on suburban streets, especially in the inner West

> Employment and economic benefits from major infrastructure projects

> Better road and public transport for Melbourne

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Thanks to the support of sponsors, we are able to offer a limited number of special needs discounts. The discount is offered at two levels, a reduced fee of $500 plus GST or free. Use this form to apply for a special needs discount.

Red Stitch Actors Theatre and the ACTU have combined to bring an exciting drama about work as an incursion to schools in Term 2

The play, WORK! It’s an experience, explores the ups and downs of getting your first job. It follows the progress of three newbies as they figure out where they fit in the world of work.

Tim’s new boss is cool, but wants to pay him cash-in-hand. Sonja’s not sure if her new co-worker is a bit bitchy or a real bully, while Ngaire has a boss that’s a touch too friendly.  With lots of laughs and a little pathos, Work! It’s an experience brings real workplace situations to life and encourages young people to speak up if something is not right.

Written by actor and playwright Peter Hougton, the play brings a cast of young actors from Red Stitch together in a fast paced drama written specifically for Years 9 and 10.

The play is being offered to schools in tandem with a panel discussion about employee rights and responsibilities featuring employer and union representatives.

WORK! It’s an experience is being offered to schools for a strictly limited season in Melbourne and Geelong from 6 May. The incursion costs $1500 plus GST. To book or get more information, call Edunity 9534 2833 or visit edunity.com.au/work

ACTU Worksite for Schools is sponsored by the AEU, IEU and other unions.

Here at Edunity we can pretty much do anything thrown our way – we particularly love working on new media projects and this one we designed for the CFA was tremendously fun.

We developed four new games for the Country Fire Authority website to communicate some of the key fire safe messages to kids in a fun way. The games incorporated the cute and furry cast of Australian native animal mascots Captain Koala, Neville Numbat and Wozza Wombat as well as CFA volunteers James and Sophie.

The four games focused on the messages of

• dialling 000 in an emergency
• making a home fire escape plan
• protective clothing worn by CFA volunteers
• the importance of having working smoke alarms.

The games also give children a valuable insight into what CFA volunteers do.

Have a play yourself and tell us what you think!