How to Think Like a Motion Designer

Let’s start by establishing the only two rules you should never break:

1. Be simple
2. Be clear

Motion is a language we all speak. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Everybody has their “thing” they do well — this is what makes your work feel like you. Being unique is the best thing you can be, so don’t try to force a style that doesn’t suit you. Art for everyone is art for no one.

Having the right tools can only take you so far. You need to develop your taste.

Find the agencies, artists, and weirdos whose work you love and follow them obsessively. The more you absorb, the more you’re inspired, the better you’ll be.

There is a common adage in motion design: “feel it, don’t see it.” How do we accomplish this? My advice (as always) is to be slightly dramatic. Exaggerate what’s important and leave out what isn’t. When you do this, you keep things simple (remember rule #1!) and give your audience a distinct point of view.

To make the soup:

1. Start with the basics. Learn them so well you can perform them under general anesthesia.
2. Exaggerate them.
3. Perfect them.

Good news for all you Type B personalities out there: Imperfection is important.

Done right, it draws us into the experience, leaving room for our creative imagination to fill in the details. Take stop-motion animation. The jerks and leaps don’t look natural, but we see the imperfection as charming, not flawed. For a great example, check out this Mac mini commercial.

Don’t wing it. The research and storyboarding phases are often more important than the animation phase.

Finally, learn to trust your instincts and believe in your material. Only you can create the art you want to see in the world.

Want a closer look at how One North brings stories to life through motion, animation, and interactive experiences? Request access to our Motion Design Showcase to explore selected work, creative approaches, and the thinking behind it.

Photo Credit: Ryunosuke Kikuno | Unsplash