Motion Design
Audience: Undergraduate JUNIORS in the graduate Graphic Design program
This course focuses on learning and understanding designing with time and space. Since there is so much to cover in the 15 weeks, I have focused more on 2D motion design within this course. (3D is covered in Immersive Design, so the courses combine in an advantageous sequence.) I also found that by keeping the students focused on 2D, the quality of their work has improved. The narrower focus enables students to more fully understand the concepts and refine their skills, learning deeper rather than broader. The course primarily focuses on using Adobe After Effects, but also covers working with Adobe Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and Photoshop, as well as combining all the applications to utilize a full creation loop effectively.
Project #1: Icon
In this project, students consider transitions and visual relationships using simple forms of icons.
Project #2: OPPOSING AMPERSANDS
This project pushes students to create a compelling narrative with their motion choices and designs only. The lead character in their narrative is an ampersand (&). This deepens their design thinking beyond just making something move to having it move with purpose and meaning.
Storytelling in motion design with Ampersands project. Produced by Emma Comtois
Project #4: sequence
This project was originally a longer explainer video format, but I adjusted it in 2020 to follow a tap-to-advance story format to keep students’ work in line with the design industry trajectory and keeping their work marketable.
Project #5: motion reel
In this project, students compile their best motion moments from the semester into a 30- or 60-second reel.
Motion Reel showing work completed during the semester. Produced by Lucy Naland.