Information Design: Project 2

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17/01/2021 - 04/02/2021 / Week 03 - Week 05
Ngu Kah Shin / 0347666
Information Design / B' in Creative Media / Taylor's Design School
Project 2: Motion Graphics




 LECTURE 

 Week 1: Motion Graphics 

What are motion graphics?
Motion graphics refer to animated graphic design. They are pieces of animation or digital footage which create the illusion of motion. Graphic designers usually combine them with audio for multimedia projects. 

With the advances of websites and apps, motion graphics has been playing a significant role in helping build better interface experiences through the niche area of UX Motion Design.

Step 1: Write a Script That Tells a Story. 
Step 2: Storyboard While You Brainstorm the Visual Treatment. 
Step 3: Take Your Storyboards into Design. 
Step 4: Animate the Final Designs.

Storyboard for Motion Graphics: The sequence of sketches provides visual references for key scenes. 
https://killervisualstrategies.com/blog/what-is-a-storyboard-why-does-every-motion-graphic-need-one.html

Previsualization:
Visual script→ Breakdown (scenes + running times)
https://threesixtyeight.com/insights/storyboarding-motion-graphics/

Create Mood board
Organize inspiration & references
How to produce motion graphics? https://rockcontent.com/blog/how-to-produce-motion-graphics-2/

References:

Examples:

 Week 2:  Motion Graphic or Animation? 

Motion graphics takes graphic design that would be otherwise static and gives it animation and movement, usually without following a specific narrative. Motion graphics are typically associated with setting abstract objects, text and other graphic design elements in motion.

Motion Graphics Anatomy:

Fig 1.4 Text animation: Kinetic Typography & Graphic animation: Graphics elements.

Fig 1.5 Character animation: wiggling.

Fig 1.6 Chart Visualization.

Fig 1.7 Emotions - A kinetic typography by PixelValet

Examples of Motion Graphics:

  1. Bars in your graph rising up for some extra visual flair
  2. Logo on your website spinning around
  3. Setting shapes and letters in motion

    Animation as a specific art form focuses more on cinematic effects and storytelling techniques to craft a narrative. Animation is used for stories and is generally more expensive.

    Examples of animation:

    1. Animating characters to bring a children’s fairy tale to life.
    2.  Photorealistic CGI, hand-drawn or painted artwork, and stop-motion techniques
    Additional Materials:

     Week 3: Motion Graphic Chart 

    Pie chart & donut chart
    Fig 1.8 Pie chart & donut chart

    To animate pie chart/ donut chart:
    1. Trim paths
    2. Create Composition, Select: Mask Tool → Ellipse Tool
    3. Stroke Options → Solid Colour
    4. Hold Shift → Draw circle
    5. Stroke Colour Option → Select colour 
    6. Add → Trim Paths
    7. Add keyframes & Easy ease: Trim Paths 1→ End→ 0% & 100%
    Fig 1.9 Trim Paths result
    1. Duplicate layer
    2. Choose colour from Stroke Colour Option
    3. Rename new layer
    4. Change 2nd Keyframe to 75%

        Repeat TWICE:
    1.  Duplicate layer
    2.  Choose colour from Stroke Colour Option
    3.  Rename new layer
    4.  Change 2nd Keyframe to → 50% & 25% relatively

    Fig 1.10 Pie chart: Final result

        For Donut Chart: Reduce Stroke Width

    Fig 1.11 Donut chart: Final result

    Bar chart
    Fig 1.12 Bar chart by Denys Komarov

    To animate bar chart:
    1. Create Composition, Select: Pen Tool
    2. Fill Options → None
    3. Stroke Options → Solid Colour
    4. Stroke Colour Option → Select colour
    5. Show Proportional Grid
    6. Draw vertical line → Increase Stroke Width
    7. Add: Trim Paths
    8. Add 2 keyframes & Easy ease: : Trim Paths 1→ End→ 0% & 100%
    9. Shape→Path 1→ Click Reverse Path Direction On 
     
    Fig 1.13 Bar with animation

    1. Duplicate Bar & Rename,
    2. Reposition and distribute evenly on X-axis, 
    3. Change Stroke Colour,
    4. Change Trim Paths 2nd keyframe to different value
    5. Offset each layer
    Fig 1.14 Bar chart: Final result


    Line chart

    Fig 1.15 Line chart by Zoltán Garami

    To animate line chart:
    1. Create Composition, Select: Pen Tool
    2. Fill Options → None
    3. Stroke Options → Solid Colour
    4. Stroke Colour Option → Select colour
    5. Show Proportional Grid
    6. Draw the line graph
    7. Add: Trim Paths
    8. Add 2 keyframes & Easy ease: Trim Paths 1→ End→ 0% & 100%
    9. Repeat the process:
    10. Draw few more lines
    Fig 1.16 Line chart: Final result

    Additional materials:

    Create graphics in Adobe Illustrator

    1. Select layers that intend to animate,
    2. Place them on separate layers.
    3. Artboard resolution: 1920 x 1080

    Import to After Effects:

    1. Basic Transform Properties: 
      • Position
      • Scale,
      • Rotation
    2. Advanced:
      • Bounce effects


      INSTRUCTIONS  


     Week 1 

    Individual work:

    1. Install After Effects & Illustration.
    2. Recommend 3 Professional Motion Graphics on blog with Rationales & Inspirations.

    Fig 2.1 Showreel intro by Wevoke

    This simple 6 seconds GIF captured my attention when I was scrolling on Pinterest because of 3 reasons. Firstly, the idea of showing the alphabets one after the other creates a sense of curiosity and intrigued me as to what the alphabets would spell out, hence it drew my attention to watch it towards the end. All the elements drawn at the 'sneak peeks' in front are all shown together at the end of the GIF. The color and art style are meticulously chosen and illustrated with this smooth flowing motion. This piece shows smooth movement, great balance, and definitely harmony.

    Fig 2.2 I Fund Women by Pentagram
    This monogram features three dots inspired by the trio of co-founders as well as the three pillars of IFW. By using only 3 colors, this monogram introduces their logo, and presents what they focus on as a funding platform by playing around with the existing elements in the piece. A lot of emphasis and contrast is called onto this piece for the simplicity, easily comprehensible and lack of distracting design elements fit into this small frame. Everything moves ever so seamlessly with a few moving circles.


    Fig 2.3 Sprite advertisement by Sprite NL

    Using motion typography as the main subject of this piece, this advertisement that pays homage to Sprite is both impactful and iconic. Only the famous green, yellow and white color of Sprite's branding is utilized here, not stained by any other random unnecessary colors. This kinetic typography has a lively hand-drawn feel to it, emulating zestful, youthful energy, appropriate for its target audience. Something about this motion graphic piece is hypnotizing to me. It draws my attention, makes me rewatch the video countless times, losing touch from the beginning or end of the GIF! 

    Other motion graphic GIFs I really liked:

    Fig 2.4 Form of Time GIF

    Fig 2.5 Space GIF


     Week 2: Text Animation 

    Practice AE’s text animation (Individual)

    In class, Mr Martin guided us through this kinetic typography tutorial using Adobe After Effects. The song chosen was So what by Pink. Ah yes, a classic.

    Fig 3.1 Progress work- AE lyrics animation  (13/01/2022)

    Fig 3.2 Final Outcome- AE lyrics animation (MP4) (13/01/2022)

    By the end of the class, I wanted to make sure if I remembered the steps, tips and tricks so I made this simple text animation of the names of my groupmates. Fun fun fun
    Fig 3.3 Self-practice AE text animation  (13/01/2022)

    Fig 3.4 Text Animation (MP4)  (13/01/2022)

    Additional materials:

    Lyrics animation (Group work) 

    Mr Martin allowed us to use any song of our choice. My team and I decided to use a song that doesn't have a high tempo and doesn't have too many lyrics for the ease of editing. We then divided the workload into verses and chorus parts as shown in Fig 3.5. The colour scheme chosen is attached in the PDF as well. Fonts used were Gill Sans and Garamond.

    Fig 3.5 Lyrics breakdown (13/01/2022)

    Part 2A and 2B are the parts I have chosen to animate: 

    Fig 3.6 Part 2A animation (my edit) (16/01/2022)

    Fig 3.7 Part 2B animation (my edit) (16/01/2022)


    When we were all done with our own parts, one of our members volunteered to compile the clips together to complete the whole song.

    Fig 3.8 Group 5 Kinetic typography first outcome (16/01/2022)

    After getting feedback from Mr Martin and making necessary comparisons with our peers' work, our team felt that our work was inadequate and inconsistent. We all made changes here and there to achieve a more cohesive and harmonious text animation video.

    Fig 3.9 Final outcome-Group 5 Kinetic typography(20/01/2022)


     Week 3 

    Motion Graphic Chart (Individual)

    Following the tutorial given by Mr Martin, we are required to make a motion graphic chart. Some people did line chart, some did bar chart. I was instructed to create a donut chart on the Impact of Covid-19 on inbound student mobility

    Fig 4.1 Progress work- Motion Graphic Chart (20/01/2022)

    Fig 4.2 Final outcome-Motion Graphic Chart (20/01/2022)

     Week 4 
    Practise Vector/ Character Animation:

    Video tutorial by Mr Martin: https://youtu.be/ofXkf6JXp-o

    Fig 5.1 Final outcome-Motion Graphic Chart (30/01/2022)

    Fig 5.2 Final outcome -Simple animation exercise (.mp4) (30/01/2022)


     Animated Infographic 
    As a continuation from project 1, we are required to create an animated infographic based on the assets illustrated in Project 1. This project is to create a less than 60 seconds motion graphic where we have to capture the aesthetics, narrative of the poster with movements and music. 

    The animated infographic took a relatively long duration for me to complete because my After Effects skills are rather incompetent. My laptop was also slow towards the end when I added many keyrfames. My Adobe After Effects also crashed, losing my almost an hour of work! Lessons learned, remember to constantly save my work!

    Fig 6.1 Progress work- animated infographic (19/02/2022)

    Fig 6.2 Progress work- animated infographic (20/02/2022)


     FINAL SUBMISSION

    Fig 6.3 Final outcome- animted infographic



     REFLECTION 

    Throughout this project, I learned a lot more about the tools and features used in Adobe After Effects. This project sparked a new found interest in me, that is motion graphics and simple animations. Perhaps during the upcoming semester break I can delve deeper into learning Adobe After Effects and create even better animation. On the other hand, the complications around this assignment was time constraints. The lack of time for completing this project played a big part in producing a quality outcome. The time was limited due to the fact that we only have 7 weeks for this short semester and Chinese New Year took up 2 weeks. I also learned how to juggle better between work and leisure time.

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