Anyone who took a seat on a Sunday night to catch Game of Thrones will know what motion graphics are. The now-iconic opening sequence includes motion graphics, including dioramas of towns and countryside. Designed by Elastic, this opening sequence is a backbreaking work of art in its own right.
At the very beginning, the motion designers made such a mark on TV that they won an Emmy in 2011.
How did someone make such great use of motion graphic designing, and how can you make the most out of it?
Well, read on to find out!
What is Motion Graphic Designing?
Motion graphic design is a sub-element of graphic design that uses graphic design principles in the context of filmmaking or video production (or other temporally evolving visual media) by using animation or film techniques. Examples like in Draftss cover the kinetic typography and graphics used in opening sequences for film and television and the spinning, three-dimensional station identification logos for some TV channels. For decades the art form has been around and, over time, has advanced in technical sophistication.
Graphic Motion Types
Three major types of motion graphics are available.
1. Promotional: These advertise to their intended audience various products and services.
2. Explainer Videos: These, as you might guess, explain various processes and products or help define concepts that are hard to understand. Doing this through animation can help people more easily understand hard thoughts and ideas.
3. Emotive: These motion graphics aim to move the viewer in any way. Whether it’s tugging at their heartstrings or making them laugh, the emotional video is one where an emotional response is sought.
What happens in Designing Motion Graphics?
Artists create different work forms for different mediums. They then put their expertise to use in animation techniques to bring their works to life. Many of your favorite animated movies, shorts, and shows use graphic designers’ work in motion. Cinema 4D is the best software for motion graphic designers. Also widely used are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, and Premiere Pro.
Start your own motion graphic designing journey.
If you possess the below-listed skills and have a little know-how or inclination in them, it’s time to make a career in motion graphic designing.
1. 3D Modeling
Understanding how to render and animate 3D models is critical, and if you know your stuff, it will make your career a breeze.
2. Animation Perspective
While animating, knowing the correct perspective—up, down, left to right, and different views—is important.
3. Organization
This is a very detail-oriented job requiring a keen eye and an organizational knack.
4. Procedural Animation
Comprehending how to create animation and objects using computer programs automatically is a must for moving on to bigger animation projects.
5. Texture effects and lighting effects
Those who want to make animations as vivid as possible should familiarize themselves with lighting and texturing principles.
6. Understanding the context of the big picture
The large image is the game name. To form your short-term goals, you need to be able to picture your long-term goal.
7. Adaptability
Things will not go right 100 percent of the time, and a designer of motion graphics will have to adapt to changing scenarios. A customer could want to change the product the day before it’s due, etc.
8. Timing
Having perfect timing makes it all come together into a cohesive piece, probably one of the most crucial motion graphic design aspects.
It would be best if you started building sooner rather than later for an impressive portfolio of works to turn a few heads. This tells the employer that you have a knack for your free time to get art projects done and your style. It can give an essential and sometimes intimate view of how dedicated you are to the craft and the person hiring you.
If you don’t already have it, research some different graphic design degrees in addition to portfolio work. There are also fantastic certification programs that show how well you are working with specific programs such as Adobe Photoshop and After Effects. If you can’t swing the degree of a bachelor, then those certificates are pretty valuable.
After you feel that you have gained a better understanding of what to show to interviewers and businesses, you should do some research about Graphic Designing jobs and what wages and salaries will be like when you enter the business.
Final words
As creative filmmakers and video producers expand their imaginations and budgets for impressive technology and design to use graphic designing as a service, skilled designers of motion graphics are vital. Without these knowledgeable, innovative artists, your favorite shows, movies, and even websites and apps would look very different. The motion graphics design profession is relatively new on the design front, but it is a growing field and is unlikely to ebb anytime soon.
It’s time to shine!
