5 Tips I Wish I Knew Before I Started Motion Design

Summary

In this video, the creator shares five essential tips for anyone starting or improving in motion design and animation. Key insights include the importance of mastering graphic design fundamentals, understanding the role of context in building a visual theme, using movement to lead the viewer's eye, and recognizing that not every element needs animation. The video also highlights valuable resources like aescripts.com, School of Motion, Motion Design School, and the free FX Console plugin. These tips and resources are meant to help viewers enhance their motion design skills and workflow.

Takeaways

• 😀 Master the basics of graphic design first: Rhythm, contrast, and hierarchy are crucial for motion design success.
• 😀 Graphic design rules also apply to animation: Knowing how to design one frame properly is essential for creating multiple frames.
• 😀 The importance of context in animation: Your animation's theme (e.g., grittiness or tech) should guide your design choices and effects.
• 😀 Establish visual themes: Use keywords to define and maintain consistency in your animation's style.
• 😀 Lead the viewer's eye with your animation: Use movement and hierarchy to direct attention effectively.
• 😀 Not everything needs to move: Over-animating can distract from key information and disrupt hierarchy.
• 😀 Plan before animating: Decide which elements are important and animate them to maintain focus and flow.
• 😀 Avoid unnecessary distractions: Don’t animate less important elements that could take away from your core message.
• 😀 Useful resources: Websites like aescripts.com provide plugins that can help streamline your workflow.
• 😀 Learn from established motion design platforms: School of Motion and Motion Design School offer valuable educational content.

Q & A

What is one of the most important things to understand when starting with motion design?

One of the most important things to understand is that the rules of graphic design also apply to animation. Mastering basic principles like rhythm, contrast, and hierarchy in graphic design helps make the transition to motion design smoother.

Why is it important to understand graphic design principles before diving into motion design?

Understanding graphic design principles is crucial because animation involves creating multiple frames, and if you can't design one frame well, it becomes difficult to create cohesive, effective movement across many frames.

How does context affect the style of animation?

Context is key in animation as it helps define the visual theme. For example, an animation themed around grittiness might use a lower frame rate and rough textures, whereas one themed around tech might use smoother, more calculated movements to reflect a digital feel.

What is the role of visual themes in animation?

Visual themes in animation create a consistent viewer experience. They help set the tone and feel of the animation by aligning the style and movement to fit specific keywords or concepts related to the animation's purpose.

How can motion design help direct a viewer's attention?

Motion design can guide the viewer's attention through movement, much like graphic design uses placement, size, and color. By controlling the direction of motion, you can direct the viewer's eyes to the most important parts of the composition.

Why is hierarchy important in graphic design and motion design?

Hierarchy helps organize the visual elements in a way that guides the viewer's attention, ensuring that the most important elements stand out and less important ones don't distract from the message.

What should you avoid when animating elements in motion design?

You should avoid animating every element in the composition, as unnecessary movement can distract from the main focus. Not all elements need to be animated; it's important to prioritize which elements require movement.

How does animating unnecessary elements disrupt the design?

Animating unnecessary elements can cause the viewer to focus on the wrong parts of the design, potentially disrupting the established hierarchy and making it difficult for the viewer to digest the information in a clear, organized way.

What resources can help improve your skills in motion design?

Helpful resources include aescripts.com for plugins, School of Motion and Motion Design School for tutorials, and FX Console, a free plugin by Video Copilot that streamlines workflows in After Effects.

What is FX Console, and how does it benefit motion designers?

FX Console is a free plugin that speeds up the workflow in After Effects by offering features like one-click exporting of screenshots and fast searching of effects. It's a time-saver for motion designers and completely free.