The art of the moving image
Over the past few decades, motion has become a crucial part of the digital landscape. Adding movement to images and graphics enhances user engagement and creates a more effective experience. From websites to social media and even billboards, motion is everywhere.
My knowledge of motion graphics is basic. I’ve experimented with After Effects and Photoshop to create simple animations, but I haven't explored the field in depth. Over the next few weeks, my goal is to learn as much as possible so I can incorporate motion into my graphic design work and make it stand out.
To start, I created a simple bouncing ball animation in Adobe Animate. Since drawing isn’t my strength, I kept it minimal. My focus was on giving the ball weight—slowing at the top of each arc, accelerating downward with gravity, and using squash and stretch to enhance realism. While the drawings could be refined, it was a solid first attempt.
Next, I used Photoshop to create a stop-motion-inspired animation of my name using paper cutouts. Though simple, this piece demonstrated how motion can guide the viewer’s eye more effectively than a static image.
For my final piece, I animated my personal logo icons in After Effects using trim paths. My brand identity is whimsical, with hand-drawn elements, so I wanted the motion to reflect that. Initially, the animation felt lifeless, but after tweaking the timing, I achieved a fluid, expressive result. I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Readings
Animated Storytelling by Liz Blazer (Introduction, Ch. 1)
The beginning of Liz Blazer’s Animated Storytelling emphasizes the importance of intentional storytelling in animation and motion graphics, as moving images can often distract from the clarity of the story. Pre-production is crucial for establishing a strong foundation, beginning with key questions like “What is it?”, “What does it look like?”, and “What is it made of?” to develop a creative brief that defines goals, audience, and timeline. Brainstorming techniques, such as the “Yes, and…” rule, help refine ideas into concise formats like elevator pitches and taglines, ensuring a clear emotional core. Mockups and sketches further refine the vision, allowing for iteration and inspiration from past works to create a compelling final piece.
Research
Animated Infographic
Graphs and infographics can sometimes overwhelm viewers. It is important to make the information as digestible and inviting as possible so that the viewer can fully understand the information within these graphics. Adding a little bit of motion like seen in this one adds interest but does not distract.
Stop Motion Boy
This is a really great example of a stop motion gif. The character feels alive thanks to the anticipation at the top of the swing and the impact at the bottom. It is also important to note how seamless the loop is, giving the illusion that it goes on forever.
Google Animated Logo
Google is known for their “doodles” or different types of logos that go with different holidays or celebrations throughout the year. This example is one that stood out to me. The clever use of the different letters to create interactions with characters as well as the trim paths effect to reveal them create an incredibly appealing piece.
FedEx Animated Logo
This is another great example of an animated logo. The difference with this one is that elements that represent the brand are being used to reveal the logo, rather than using the logo to create an image like with the Google example. Both are important and useful and can be used to represent a brand in different ways.
Greens Blend Stop Motion
This is another great stop motion example. What’s nice about this one is how effective it is at presenting the product. Without knowing much about it, I can see how many real fruits and vegetables are packed into it. It is effective and fun despite how simple it is.
Hi! My name is Peyton McKenzie.
I am a professional graphic designer, photographer and content creator.
I encourage you to explore my portfolio to get a better idea of the work I create. If you are interested in working with me or have inquiries of any kind, don’t hesitate to reach out over email.
