Papastratos 95 Years
Overview
Documentary Design & Motion Graphics Package
CLIENT / PRODUCTION AGENCY: DANEZIS STORIES
END CLIENT: PMI / PAPASTRATOS
WRITER & DIRECTOR: SOTIRIS DANEZIS
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: ARIS VITALIS
EDITOR: KOSTAS CHRISTAKOPOULOS
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: VARVARA VAGIANOU
VISUAL IDENTITY & MOTION GRAPHICS: GULLWING
ART DIRECTION & MOTION GRAPHICS: PETER KASDAGLIS, LEFTERIS KASDAGLIS
ILLUSTRATIONS: SOTIRIS GRITZALIS
Breathing life into a century of industrial heritage
For 95 years, the monumental story of Papastratos lived in scattered archives, vintage photographs, and the memories of its people. To mark its milestone anniversary, Danezis Stories produced an expansive documentary tracing the company’s evolution from four orphaned brothers in Agrinio during the Great Depression to a modern subsidiary of Philip Morris International.
Collaborating closely with Danezis Stories, Gullwing was entrusted with designing the complete visual identity and motion graphics package for both the documentary film and the immersive corporate event. Our goal was to translate a vast, century-spanning archive into a cohesive, cinematic, and premium visual experience that honors the past while looking to the future.
A cohesive design system
We developed a unified visual language that tied the entire production together. Expanding upon the initial Logo Reveal, we established the core aesthetic rules, curating typography, color palettes, and dynamic backgrounds. From the opening title sequences to the closing credits and lower thirds, every graphic element was meticulously crafted to reflect the brand's historic weight and modern prestige.
Framing the eras of history
To guide the audience through a century of transformation, we designed structural Timeline Graphics that served as narrative chapters. Moving away from standard photo displays, we engineered an alternative "Slideshow" system. We categorized the archival material into five distinct historical eras (1910-1930, 1940, 1950-1960, 1980, and 1990-2000), designing bespoke graphical backdrops and framing devices for each period, allowing the photographs to interact seamlessly with their historical context.
Animating the archives & unseen moments
History is never static. We applied 2.5D Parallax animation techniques to rare archival photographs, injecting them with depth and movement, while animating vintage newspaper clippings and infographics to visualize key technical milestones. Where historical photo archives were non-existent, we brought static sketches by illustrator Sotiris Gritzalis to life through motion design, turning key unseen moments of the past into vivid narrative scenes.
The Result
Unveiled at an exclusive corporate event, the documentary stands as a premium visual record of Greek industrial history. By blending historical reverence with modern motion design, our collaboration with Danezis Stories resulted in a visual identity that seamlessly honors Papastratos’ rich past while pointing confidently toward its future.