Motion Graphics
Infomotion: Families as Experts
In collaboration with: Zaiboon Gani, Nokubonga Ndlovu, Maryam Omar, Uyanda Sibiya, and Luke Williams.
Project Brief
This project was a collaboration between students and a group of clients/practitioners on various early childhood interventions (ECI). A series of infomotions was to be developed that showcases strategies for equal collaboration in ECI provision, tailored to these practitioners’ needs within a South African context. The research from the practitioners provided various methods of collaboration and modes of communication, across 3 overarching categories that constitute a total of 9 infomotions.
Students were divided into 9 groups of five students each with an assigned theme (a method of collaboration or communication). Each group of students were required to conceptualise, script, storyboard, design and animate a 120-180 second Vox or Kurzgesagt‒style infomotion video that unpacks their assigned theme. The aim of this project was to create an animation that is engaging, relevant and easy to understand for a viewer based on the research provided.
Design Strategy
Families can play a key role in identifying the routines that will be part of a joint plan for problem-solving and by involving them in transdisciplinary processes, they are empowered and are able to engage with strategies in order to achieve outcomes.
To achieve this, we communicated that families need to be supported in the following:
1. Identifying their own priorities for intervention, based on their own needs and on the needs of their children;
2. Identifying daily routines that may be difficult and that can be improved upon so that children can practise new skills;
3. Expressing and advocating their viewpoints in joint decision-making through active listening.
Conceptual Development
Our process initially started "for the practitioner" and eventually developed to communicate "with the practitioner." One of the biggest things constantly kept at the forefront of our minds was the fact that this project is no longer a ‘hypothetical situation’ but something that is going to be used in the real working world. We also understood that the viewer is the hero, not us, which improved our approach as designers (hero's journey). With help from the project supervisors, we decided to convey the message of families as experts through the 10 000 hour rule. This was the basis of our animation.
Script & Soundtrack
The script process was initially a challenge since we were unfamiliar with this process and had never done it before. Our key learning point was the change in tone from an academic to a more narrative tone.
The soundtrack started off with a radio edit, to get the pacing and flow right before recording the voice-over. After recording with TuksFM, the voice-over was taken into Premiere Pro to be chopped up for better pacing and soundtracks to be added.
Find our script process here.
Visual Exploration
We first created three style mood boards and narrowed down our style through consultations with our lecturers and each other.
In the end we took a vector approach with blending and textural overlays. The colour palette we employed was warm and analogous to communicate the homey feelings that promote the comfort of a child and provide a sense of security.
Illustration Refinement
Storyboards
The visual development was not as challenging as the scripting process as it allowed for us to better envision scenes while writing. It taught use how to storyboard conceptually rather than literally.
Some initial rough story boards
Some final story boards
Animation Process
Initial knowledge on animation involved animation that was typographically driven and the process proved quite challenging. However, as the project progressed, smoother animations and transitions were developed as our animators payed attention to secondary motion to ensure that everything was more realistic rather than rigid.
Their thinking had to shift from treating parts of the animation as separate pieces to rather looking at them as interlinked and part of one idea. Therefore, they learnt how to carefully consider and acknowledge how transitions are equally as important as the overall animation.
To view our process more in-depth, please see our medium article.
Final Infomotion Animation
