Motion Graphics and Compositing/Project 1
22/9/2025-30/9/2025
Cai Zihan / 0378043
Motion Graphics and Compositing / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University
TASK 1- Technical and individual Motion Graphics Sensibilities
TABLE OF CONTENT
LECTURES
Week 1：During the first week, the professor introduced us to this semester's MIB course, outlining the content we would cover. He also assigned a task: list your three favorite motion graphics pieces and explain why you like them most.
Week 2:
1.Lecture Theme
Introduction to Motion Graphics — Its Definition, History and Practical Applications
Primary Goal: Understand how motion graphics combine graphic design, text and movement to convey information and enhance narrative effects.
2.What is Motion Graphics
Core Concept: Motion graphics refer to animated graphic design with text as the primary component.Purposes:
Convey information in a visual way.
Create narrative depth by integrating movement, typography, music and rhythm.
The focus lies on clarity and narrative rather than flashy special effects.
The boundary between motion graphics and full animation has always been blurry:
Full Animation: Usually involves characters, environments, continuous actions and complete narratives.
Motion Graphics: Mainly uses shapes, typography and visual elements to explain or express ideas.
Early Milestone: The opening credits of Hitchcock’s Psycho — a powerful integration of sound, movement and graphic design, setting a benchmark for modern title sequences.
3.Examples and Applications (Class Demonstrations)
-Brand Examples
Nerdo Creative Studio — Fashionable, magazine-inspired brand design with strong typography.
-TV Title Sequences
Example: HBO’s True Detective — Dark, atmospheric visuals with restrained typography that reflects the characters’ inner worlds.
-Storytelling
Animation supports voiceover narration; here, motion graphics serve as “dynamic illustrations of the story”.
-Awareness-raising
Simple black-and-white graphics combined with music and voiceover to deliver powerful social messages.
The lecturer emphasized that simplicity has a stronger impact than complex visuals.
-Explaining a Concept
Example: Using motion graphics to explain blockchain — visuals help audiences understand abstract or complex concepts.
-Product Videos
Motion graphics make product videos more engaging, appealing and cost-effective compared to full animation.
4.Key Takeaways from the Lecturer
Motion graphics = Information + Story + Consistent Visual Style.
Good design typically adopts simple typography, a limited color palette and balanced rhythm.
It is widely used in advertising, branding, film and television title sequences, promotional campaigns, explainer videos and product marketing.
Always prioritize the story and information first, then select an animation style that supports them.
Week 3
The Core Definition of Composition
Composition refers to the arrangement of artistic elements such as lines, shapes, and colors in design. Its essence lies in ensuring all elements harmoniously align and function cohesively.
2. Seven Core Composition Principles
◦ Unity: Create a cohesive visual effect by repeating shapes or colors to harmonize all design components.
◦ Variety (Variation): Add interest to the design through contrast and differences, avoiding monotony.
◦ Balance: Imparts stability to the design, categorized into symmetrical (calm and formal) and asymmetrical (dynamic and energetic) types.
◦ Movement (Visual Guidance): Guide the viewer's gaze to flow naturally through the work using element arrangement and line direction.
◦ Rhythm: Like musical beats, creates visual cadence through element repetition, capable of conveying slow tranquility or rapid energy.
◦ Emphasis (Visual Focus): The most attention-grabbing area of the work, highlighted through contrast, size, color, etc., preventing the viewer's gaze from wandering aimlessly.
◦ Contrast: Shapes effects through pronounced differences in light/dark, size, texture, etc. High contrast heightens drama and impact, while low contrast fosters a soft, tranquil atmosphere.
Week 4
This week's learning focuses on motion typography, an art form that conveys meaning, rhythm, and emotion through the movement, presentation, and transformation of text. Its essence lies in integrating motion design with typography to achieve visual communication, where the motion itself becomes part of the narrative rather than merely displaying words. The professor emphasized that movement imbues typefaces with voice and personality, elevating them beyond static design. Key points are summarized as follows:
1. Definition of Kinetic Typography: The fusion of motion design and typography, centered on conveying rhythm and emotion through text movement, where action participates in storytelling—distinct from static screen text display.
2. Two Primary Types:
◦ Kinetic Typography: Text moves via scaling, rotation, and positional shifts, prioritizing legibility (e.g., the character “风” [wind] flows smoothly like a gentle breeze).
◦ Fluid Typography: Text transforms into shapes, symbols, or other visual effects (e.g., “flame” text morphing into realistic flame graphics).
3. Design Theory and Animation Patterns:
◦ Core Theory: The Theory of Conveyance, aiding comprehension of meaning shifts during text movement/transformation;
◦ Seven Common Animation Patterns: Create/Destroy (constructing and deconstructing text), Enter/Exit (guiding the gaze), Morph (transforming into other objects/metaphors), Creative Metaphor (personifying letters), Curve/Path Motion (adding fluidity and direction), Storytelling (matching rhythm to narration/music), Signal Action (hinting at subsequent actions).
4. Key Design Principles: Focus on “control” and “clarity” rather than flashy effects. Key considerations: Maintain text relativity, ensure readability and balance, control effect duration, match emotion and rhythm, respect left-to-right reading logic, guarantee smooth transitions, prioritize audience accessibility, monitor file size and bandwidth, and establish fallback states for animation failures.
TASK 1 - Technical and individual Motion Graphics Sensibilities
Week 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PDg4jQjbjw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ShEBejOOZQ
Part One:
Dimensions Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HDTV) 25fps
Format: QuickTime (.MOV) or (.MP4)
Duration: 8 seconds
Part Two:
Dimensions Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HDTV) 25fps
Format: QuickTime (.MOV) or (.MP4)
Duration: 16 seconds
FEEDBACK
Week 1:
General feedback:During the first week, the professor introduced us to this semester's MIB course, outlining the content we would cover. He also assigned a task: list your three favorite motion graphics pieces and explain why you like them most.
Specific feedback:The teacher looked at the image I selected during class and offered suggestions: I could choose colors as vibrant as those in the image for my project. She also mentioned that enlarging the font size in the image would be feasible.
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