Information Design Exercise 3: Kinetic Typography
09/01/2022 - 21/01/2022 (Week 2 - Week 3)Evaleez Voo Lian Yun / 0350275
Information Design/ Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Exercise 3: Kinetic Typography
Lectures
What is Motion Graphics?
- Motion graphics means graphics in movement
- Composition + Animation
- Composition = Graphics + Typography
- Animation = Movement + rhythmn
Step 1: Write a script that tells a story
Step 2: Storyboard while you brainstorm the visual treatment
- Sequence of sketches provide visual references for key scenes
- Visual script:
- Breakdown (Scenes + running times)
- Moodboard
- Organize inspirations & references
Step 3: Take your storyboards into design
Step 4: Animate the final designs
Instructions
Visual Research
For this exercise, we were given small snippets from a P!nk song to practice with. Here, we learned how to animate with tracking, position, null objects, etc.
Practice 1:
Practice 2:
Besides the practical exercise we did in class, I also went to YouTube to find tutorials on how to make eye-catching kinetic typography. Some links to the videos from SonduckFilm:
4 Kinetic TYpography Techniques in After Effects:
Create Seamless Typography Effects in After Effects:
These two videos made a lasting impression on me because of how clean and precise it looked, which suit the cyberpunk theme of our video.
Idea Exploration
Week 2
For starters, we spilt the song into parts, i.e verse, chorus, etc so everyone in the group would have a part to work with. From there, we curated a moodboard containing the colour schemes and font styles we would be using.
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| Fig x.x Colour Scheme (15/01/21) |
From here, we started to design the layouts for each frame. I had the pleasure of doing the last chorus and outro, which has some interesting vocals. Hence I decided to make that part extra "spicy". The result:
At first, I wanted to have the background colours change according the tempo, however I realized that it looks better with a black background and bright colourful fonts. I was pretty much satisfied with the front parts but the 'sympathy' section felt a bit too bland for me.
With it being to bland, I decided to add an xx smiley face onto the background + flickering motion (so it looks like those broken lights in cyberpunk games). I kept the colours bright to give off an LED light feel.
Week 3
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| Fig x.x Process 3 (21/10/22) |
When the more 'climactic' areas were done, I began the composition for other parts, continously using the same colour schemes and fonts from before (just in different shapes and styles).
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| Fig x.x Process 4 (22/10/22) |
This part too the longest to do, not because I had no idea how to do it, I had TOO MANY. I would spend time doing the animations and end up hating it in the end. Finally, I decided to use a wavy motion on the lyrics.
Individual final composition (3rd Chorus + Outro):
Final Outcome
After everyone had finished exporting their parts, our group leader connected them together to create the final group work:
Feedback
- Keep timings right
- Make sure there is a constant theme
Reflection
This exercise gave me hope that I could actually animate. I am glad at how much I've learned from this project, not only has it boosted my confidence in After Effects, it has also spiked up my interest in animation (I would avoid any form of animation in Semester 1 unless needed).
My teammates did a good job in getting our work done on time, with the same colour schemes and font style. One key take-away I received is: You can learn anything from YouTube, just give it a go.
Ps. Might be traumatized by this song after hearing it over and over again but it was well worth it :>.
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