Aaron Smillie has worked for big brand names like Healthspan, Sky News, ITV, New Scientist and Twitter.

He’s used the latter to reach out to his 1,600 followers and beyond, encouraging all to heed public health advice to just ‘STAY AT HOME’.

He’s used his digital talents to come up with a short video suggesting we’d all be more wary of covid-19 if we could actually see it. But corona virus can’t be seen, and is often spread by people who may never know they’ve had it as not everyone suffers the telltale symptoms of a fever, sore throat and dry cough. 

Mr Smillie offered his video up to Deputy Gavin St Pier who, as head of Guernsey’s Civil Contingencies Authority, said he would pass it on to colleagues at Public Health, who are fighting the battle against corona virus on the frontline.

With the number of cases now well into double figures the current advice from Public Health, and enforceable by law through new powers given to Law Enforcement, is that no one should leave their home at all except for essential purposes, which includes going to work if you are deemed a key worker, exercise, to go to the food shop or for a medical reason.

 

Having grown up in Guernsey, before moving to the UK where he worked for many years before coming back home, Mr Smillie now runs his own company, Digital Motion Workshop. 

He said he had been enjoying success with brands such as Marvel, the UK Government and Bloodhound (Land Speed Record), but like many other businesses he has been hit by the corona virus pandemic. 

He said that is not going to stop him making content though:

“As an act of defiance to the impact of the corona virus on Digital Motion Workshop, I thought I would start making content for the community.

“We can all play our part in lots of amazing ways, this might be mine.”

“I grew up in Guernsey,” he said, “and moved back with my wife Camilla and two sons Sebastian (7) and Jacob (4) three and a half years ago and it’s been an absolute joy to be home. I strongly believe our Guernsey community knows how accountable we are for each other’s health. We know our neighbours and we know the responsibility we have which is why I’m positive we’re going to beat this thing.”

Mr Smillie said his two young children, like many others across the island, are responding well to the lockdown, but that routine is key!

“Having two children under eight years old at home means my wife and I have to plan out our week with considerable care. The most important thing for us is building a new stable routine that gives us the ability to work and the kids the ability to learn and play.

“It’s a work in progress so the most important thing is we’re all still happy at the end of each day!”

Mr Smillie is continuing to work during the lockdown with an interesting link up with Bloodhound, that he couldn’t tell us about yet.

“With nearly all my clients now pausing their work because of the Coronavirus I’m very lucky to be still making videos for Marvel’s “Color Your Own” IOS app. I’ve just completed a graphic for Bloodhound (Land Speed Record) which is really great fun but can’t talk about it until they have posted it this week!” 

Pictured: Aaron Smillie.