The Shape of Things to Come

For this project, you will explore the fundamentals of motion design by animating basic shapes to express ideas and metaphors, while considering temporal and spatial principles.

Project goals

  • Become familiar with the concepts of timing, keyframing, and composition in motion graphics.
  • Become familiar with the After Effects user interface.
  • Understand the importance of generating meaning as opposed to generating movement.

Project Description

You are required to come up with three (3) adjectives that describe your personality or ability. Additionally, you will create a symbol using your initials to serve as a final reveal. Using kinetic shapes, you are challenged to develop an animation that conveys the meaning of the adjectives in a sequence leading to the final reveal of your symbol. As much as possible, incorporate the adjectives as text elements in each scene of your sequence.


Start by identifying a concept you want to convey. Think about how shapes like circles, squares, and triangles can symbolize different emotions or ideas. For example, a circle can represent unity, while sharp angles may evoke tension. As you animate, consider the timing and movement of each shape. How do the behaviors of the shapes influence the adjectives you are trying to convey? Experiment with different motion paths and rhythms to see how they change your message. This exploration will help you develop a deeper understanding of motion design and enhance your ability to communicate visually.

Process

Storyboarding

Storyboarding is an essential part of the motion graphics process. As a storyboard artist, your goal is to effectively communicate your idea using frames to show and describe the action sequence as it occurs. Approach your storyboard process thoughtfully, elaborating on the areas that require detailed explanations. You will need at least 15 drawings for the sequence to makes sense.

Look and Feel

The next step is to take out a few frames from your storyboard and focus on the details of the elements. Using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, you will organize and manipulate the shape elements to give an indication of the animation concepts and aesthetics to be implemented. Focus on the negative and positive spaces and think about how both areas can be activated to create meaning. You are required to design a minimum of six (6) frames from your storyboard— including the end branding.

Technical Specifications

  • 1280 pixels x 720 pixels
  • Duration: Approximately 30 seconds
  • Frame rate: 30fps
  • Black and white only
  • No audio

Things to Do

Rubric

Methodology (10 x 2) = 20 pts.
Proficient Nearly Proficient Below Proficient
Storyboard demonstrates a clear concept and direction of the execution. It is well labeled with frame numbers and text to describe what happens in each scene. Parts of the storyboard are unclear, and it is challenging to discern how it can positively inform the designer during execution. Storyboard is totally unclear or missing.
Type and spatial choices are clearly specified in the look and feel frames making it a useful resource fro the editor when executing. Look and feel frames are fundamentally sound, but does not offer a good indication of design choices for the final execution. Look and feel frames are missing or at odds with the finished execution.
Craftsmanship (10 x 5) = 50 pts.
Proficient Nearly Proficient Below Proficient
Composition adheres to the technical specifications outlined in the project sheet (See above). Certain requirements in the technical specification have been neglected. Composition forsakes the technical specifications in the project sheet.
Layers and compositions have been clearly labeled. Layers and compositions are labeled, but appear confusing to the editor. Layers and compositions labels are program-default and offer no cues to the editor.
Composition of elements generally follows good design principles in layout and use of space. Aspects of the composition lack sound design principles and create voids. Elements are composed poorly and suggest carelessness.
Keyframes have been interpolated and timing looks natural and believable. Timing is convincingly, but animation appears boring because keyframes have not been interpolated. Timing is poor and creates several ‘dead-spots’ in the animation.
Concept is interesting because shapes animate with meaning and not indiscriminately. Concept is sound, but not well aided by a thoughtful application of motion to convey meaning. Concept is boring because shapes animate indiscriminately without meaning.

Also consider the this: How well did you execute the idea to the recommended standards (Canvas Size, Aspect Ratio, Layer labeling, Folder organization, Output resolution, and format).