Motion Graphic Extension
Quick Facts
Timeline: 6 Weeks
My Role: Production Designer
Tools: After Effects, Photoshop, Adobe Stock, Adobe Asset Manager, and Workfront.
I created images for three web pages on the Thomson Reuters website. Each set consisted of three motion graphics and matching static PNGs. I had a Figma document, a PNG reference, a rough After Effects template, and Photoshop for refrence. Based on the client's descriptions, I sourced images for each page and created additional graphics by taking screen grabs of the product. I also worked on motion graphics and set up templates for future use.
Making Components
The animation set comprised three images for each animation: a person and two abstracted graphics of a screen grab of the product it's advertising. Initially, I worked with the still imagery used if the animation failed to load on the website. Once all images were created, they were sent for approval. There were three rounds of revision for each image, which included tweaking colors, reworking the abstraction, and photo crops. (Stock photography was approved in a previous round.) After ironing out these details in Photoshop, I started animating.
Animating
I began my animation project by opening the After Effects file as my starting point. It helped me keep the timing consistent with the current graphics on other pages. Afterward, I removed all the unnecessary components from the file that made it more confusing and large.
Next, I replaced the old components with my new ones and fitted them into the file to ensure consistent timing, even with changing graphic sizes. I aimed to achieve a unified, polished look for the final product.
Archiving the Project
After getting the green light from the client, I began the task of uploading the animations to Adobe Asset Manager (DAM). However, I soon found out that there was no specific procedure in place for uploading animations to the DAM.
To overcome this, I collaborated with the librarian to decide on the naming conventions and the relevant components that needed to be linked and uploaded. Together, we were able to successfully upload all the animations to the DAM.
The End Result
After working for about six weeks, I designed templates to facilitate future designers in extending both the static images created in Photoshop and the animation in After Effects. These templates ensure consistency in sizing and timing throughout the iterations. I also added a new file type to the DAM and worked with the librarian to make it easily accessible and searchable. Furthermore, I created a total of 18 deliverables, including static images and motion graphics, which are currently in use on various pages of the Thomson Reuters website.