BTS: What It Takes to Create a Mixed Media Tech Explainer Video
February 3, 2026
Quick Answer: Creating a mixed media tech explainer video is a blend of art and science. The process involves strategic planning, story-driven design, and intentional creative choices that keep complex tech concepts crystal clear. In this behind-the-scenes look, we’ll show you exactly how Digital Brew crafts a tech explainer video. From concept and storyboard to final mixed media animation, spotlighting our work with Bentley to illustrate what makes this process successful.
- Why Choose a Mixed Media Tech Explainer Video?
- Our Proof of Process: The Bentley Mixed Media Case Study
- The Recipe: Steps to Creating a Mixed Media Tech Explainer Video
- What “Mixed Media” Means for Tech Brands
- The Key Decisions That Drive Quality (and Timeline)
- How Storyboards and Styleframes De-Risk the Creative Process
- Keeping Complex Ideas Clear and Engaging
- Collaboration in Action: How We Work With Your Team
- FAQs
Every B2B marketer has faced it: that moment when you need to turn a complex tech solution into a story your audience understands, and acts on. You know video can help, but what actually goes into making a tech explainer video that’s clear, engaging, and worthy of your brand?
If you’ve ever wondered what drives the timeline, what makes one explainer stand out over another, or how creative teams keep complex ideas from turning into a confusing mess, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain on the Digital Brew process, giving you a true “proof of process” walkthrough. We’ll spotlight our mixed media work for Bentley as a case study, break down the decisions that matter, and share real strategies to reduce risk and boost ROI with your next tech explainer video.
Why Choose a Mixed Media Tech Explainer Video?
Mixed media explainer videos blend live-action, motion graphics, 2D, and even 3D elements into a single, seamless story. This approach is especially powerful for tech brands because it lets us combine the emotional impact of real people with the visual clarity of animation.
Imagine introducing your platform with a real engineer on camera, then using motion graphics to make their complex explanation instantly digestible. Mixed media gives you flexibility and ensures your story is both memorable and clear.
Our Proof of Process: The Bentley Mixed Media Case Study
Let’s dive into a real example. When Bentley, a global leader in infrastructure software, needed to showcase a new product, they wanted a video that would engage engineers and executives alike. Our challenge: turn deeply technical content into a concise, compelling mixed media explainer.
Our Brew Crew worked closely with Bentley to understand their goals, audiences, and technical nuances. The result? A mixed media video that uses live footage, animated data overlays, and story-driven scripting to bring clarity to complexity.
The Recipe: Steps to Creating a Mixed Media Tech Explainer Video
So, what are the main ingredients that go into brewing up a mixed media tech explainer? Here’s our step-by-step process:
- Discovery and Messaging Alignment
We kick off with discovery workshops. Here, our goal is to get to the heart of your message. Who are we speaking to? What is the single most important takeaway? Every storyboard starts with this alignment, making sure we’re solving the right problem. - Scriptwriting: From Complexity to Clarity
Next, we turn your technical product details into a clear, story-driven script. We focus on building a narrative arc: start with the audience’s pain, introduce the solution, and show real-world impact. Story-driven scripts boost information retention by up to 22% compared to data-only formats (Harvard Business Review) - Storyboards and Styleframes: Reducing Risk Before Animation Begins
Before we animate a single frame, we build detailed storyboards and styleframes. These visual blueprints let you see exactly how complex ideas will be presented, so there are no surprises. This step dramatically reduces revision cycles and risk. - Template Selection: Building for Speed and Brand Consistency
For Bentley, we leveraged modular animation templates and brand-specific styleframes. Templates accelerate timelines and ensure every asset matches brand guidelines. - Mixed Media Production: Bringing Tech Stories to Life
Here’s where live action meets motion graphics. For Bentley, we used live-action footage, then layered in animated data, UI elements, and explainer graphics. This mixed media blend makes even the most technical content relatable.
What “Mixed Media” Means for Tech Brands
Mixed media isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a strategic approach. By mixing real footage with animation, we can demonstrate product features, visualize workflows, and highlight human stories, all in a single video. This approach drives both emotional connection and clarity.
In our Bentley project, we used live interviews to build trust, then switched to animated sequences to clarify product benefits. The result was a dynamic tech explainer video that resonated with technical and non-technical viewers alike.
The Key Decisions That Drive Quality (and Timeline)
If you’ve ever wondered what really moves the needle on quality and timing, here’s the truth: clear communication, strong storyboarding, and up-front alignment save more time than any production shortcut.
- Early messaging workshops ensure that everyone agrees on the big idea.
- Detailed storyboards reduce revisions by providing visual checkpoints.
- Template use speeds up design without sacrificing brand uniqueness.
Teams that invest in pre-production planning see project timelines shrink. That’s real time and budget saved.
How Storyboards and Styleframes De-Risk the Creative Process
Storyboards and styleframes are your safety net. They let you “see” the final product before animation or live action even begins. For Bentley, we used these tools to validate messaging, get stakeholder buy-in, and lock in a look and feel early.
This step also helps catch potential confusion or technical inaccuracies, which means fewer last-minute changes and a smoother path to final delivery.
Keeping Complex Ideas Clear and Engaging
Tech marketers know: complexity kills attention. Our team leans into analogies, visual metaphors, and bite-sized scenes that educate without overwhelming. In the Bentley video, animated infographics and split-screen demos helped clarify abstract concepts—making them both actionable and memorable.
Research shows viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading text (Forbes). That’s why we obsess over clarity at every step.
Collaboration in Action: How We Work With Your Team
Creating a great tech explainer video is a true partnership. We collaborate with your subject matter experts, gather internal feedback at every major stage, and provide clear timelines so everyone knows what to expect.
Our Brew Crew uses transparent project management to keep things moving, minimizing surprises and maximizing your peace of mind.
Table: Key Stages and Who’s Involved
| Stage | Key Decision Maker | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Workshop | Marketing Lead, SME | Aligned messaging |
| Script & Storyboard | Copywriter, Creative Lead | Approved narrative & visuals |
| Styleframes/Templates | Brand Team, Art Director | Consistent look & feel |
| Mixed Media Production | Video Crew, Animator | Final tech explainer video |
| Review & Launch | Stakeholders, Project Lead | Business-ready video asset |
Wrap Up: Key Takeaways for Tech Marketers
With the right process, your next tech explainer video can turn complexity into clarity for your audience.
Mixed media explainer videos combine the best of live action and animation to turn complex ideas into stories that connect.
Investing time in messaging alignment, storyboards, and template-driven design reduces risk and keeps timelines on track.
Collaboration and clear communication at each stage drive both quality and speed.
Story-driven video is more than just a creative choice; it’s a proven business tool that boosts engagement and conversion.
Let’s Brew This!
FAQs
A typical timeline is six to eight weeks from kickoff to delivery, depending on complexity, approvals, and production needs. Up-front planning and clear communication can often accelerate this timeline by 20% or more.
Templates help speed up production, ensure brand consistency, and make updates easier down the line. They’re especially valuable for tech brands with multiple products or campaigns.
They let stakeholders visualize the final video before production begins, reducing misunderstandings and minimizing costly revisions late in the process.
While mixed media is versatile and effective, the best approach depends on your brand goals and target audience. We recommend starting with a discovery workshop to align on the best creative direction.
