For our first project, you will be assigned one the Gestalt principles or Additional visual principles listed below (explained more in-depth at the end of this page) and use them as a point of departure from which to develop the concept and design for a series of three short (10-15 second) motion sequences. The goal of the sequences is to communicate the selected principle, utilizing the traditional design attributes of composition, color, shape, depth, tension, and contrast, while beginning to explore time-based attributes such as pacing, rhythm, and sequence. Design elements to be incorporated are abstract shapes, letterforms, and sound\u2014no representational forms or readable text are to be used for this project (incorporated letterforms should be treated as shapes, not as pieces of readable words).<\/p>\n
As much as this project is an exercise in formal design skills an introduction to After Effects, it\u2019s also an exercise in using a time-based media to construct a narrative. Even short, simple motion graphics without recognizable imagery or readable text have a tone and mood, a beginning, middle, and end, and the fundamental change and progression that make a narrative.<\/p>\n
DESCRIPTIONS OF GESTALT\u00a0PRINCIPLES Figure \/ Ground<\/strong> Proximity<\/strong> Similarity<\/strong> Symmetry \/ Asymmetry<\/strong> Closure<\/strong> Continuation<\/strong> If you feel you need further explanation of Gestalt, the following resources are helpful:\u00a0The Gestalt Principles<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Gestalt Theory of Visual Perception<\/a> Spatial Layering Structure \/ Randomness Rhythm + Repetition OBJECTIVES<\/strong><\/p>\n – Create a time-based piece that successfully utilizes both \u201ctraditional\u201d design attributes (color, composition, shape, depth, tension, contrast) and \u201ctime-based\u201d attributes. Homework (1\/21\/2025):<\/strong> SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n Project Schedule \u2013 See http:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/semester-week-by-week-schedule-2026\/<\/p>\n PROJECT DELIVERABLES *Please do not delete in-process drafts of your final project as you revise the project \/ upload newer versions to our drive! I will use the in-process animations to evaluate the progress that you\u2019ve made while working on the project.<\/p>\n RESOURCES If you would prefer to find\/use your own 10-15 second clips of audio (no vocals) feel free! Otherwise, these are here for you to choose from.<\/p>\n Storyboard Template:\u00a0<\/strong>storyboard_template_tabloid<\/a> After Effects 101 Tutorials:<\/strong> Illustrator Files to After Effects<\/strong> Understanding Shape Layers<\/strong> Shape Layers in Motion<\/strong> Morphing Shapes<\/strong> Trim Paths<\/strong> Behaviors\/ Effects<\/strong> Channels to references<\/strong> —- Animate along custom path:<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tQ5wqg10x_I<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Trim Paths:<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G_f2Brb1L_E<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Camera:<\/p>\n <\/span>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Axa38beTBvo<\/a> Technical Resources<\/a> &<\/strong> \u2014 For our first project, you will be assigned one the Gestalt principles or Additional visual principles listed below (explained more in-depth at the end of this page) and use them as a point of departure from which to develop the concept and design for a series of three short (10-15 second) motion sequences. The goal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assignments"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/dot_line_gifA.gif?fit=300%2C240&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8je1l-va","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1932"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2379,"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1932\/revisions\/2379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acmgd.info\/md1B\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nGestalt Principles:<\/strong>
\nFigure \/ Ground
\nProximity
\nSimilarity
\nSymmetry \/ Asymmetry
\nClosure
\nContinuation
\n
\nAdditional Visual Principles:
\n<\/strong>Spatial Layering
\nStructure \/ Randomness
\nRhythm + Repetition<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Gestalt psychology, developed in the 1920s, explores how we perceive and organize visual information. The principles below describe common patterns in perception \u2014 ways we tend to group visual elements and interpret relationships between them, often without conscious awareness.<\/p>\n
\nThe relationship between a perceived object (figure) and the perceived space (ground) that it exists in. Our perception of what is figure and what is ground is not absolute\u2014the relationship of visual elements can cause it to shift back and forth, or be “ambiguous.”<\/p>\n
\nObjects placed close together are often perceived as a group, rather than as separate shapes.<\/p>\n
\nObjects that look or act similar to one another are often perceived as a group.<\/p>\n
\nSymmetry is when objects are arranged in a balanced composition, they are often perceived as a whole rather than individually. Asymmetry is when elements are unevenly distributed within a composition, creating visual tension or imbalance. Asymmetry activates the frame\u2014directing attention, suggesting movement, and encouraging the viewer to search for relationships across space and time.<\/p>\n
\nPeople tend to fill in missing information to perceive an object as a whole. If enough of a shape is indicated, it can be perceived as a whole if incomplete or not fully enclosed.<\/p>\n
\nWhen a viewer\u2019s eye is compelled to follow a path from one object to another or to follow a certain pattern of motion through time, the individual objects are perceived as a group.<\/p>\n
\n
\nADDITIONAL VISUAL PRINCIPLES<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The perception of depth, hierarchy, and relational space created through overlapping elements, scale shifts, motion parallax, or changes in focus. Spatial layering allows viewers to understand how elements relate to one another within a visual field over time, even in a flat frame.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/strong>Structure is when visual elements follow a clear organizing system or rule, allowing the composition to be perceived as coherent and intentional. Randomness is when elements break from that system, introducing variation, tension, or unpredictability. Randomness activates the composition\u2014drawing attention to change, disruption, and contrast across space and time.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/strong>The perception of patterned movement or recurrence across time. Repetition establishes expectation, while variation in timing, scale, or motion creates rhythm\u2014guiding attention and shaping how a sequence is experienced and remembered.<\/p>\n
\n– Introduce time-based design attributes such as progression, pacing, rhythm, sequence, velocity, and kinetic behavior
\n– Introduction to constructing a narrative arc in time and space
\n– Introduction to the \u201cprinciples of animation\u201d
\n– Introduce and explore effective use of music (i.e. juxtaposition of sound and image)
\n– Introduce using After Effects as a design tool, and develop technical skills and experience<\/p>\n
\n– View the\u00a0Animation in AfterEffects | The Power of Animation Principles<\/a> from School of Motion
\n– Install After Effects & Media Encoder on your machine (it is installed on lab computers)
\n– Review Story Board PDF<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>+ Hand-drawn storyboards for 4-6 concepts (w\/ 2-3 “key frames” to show design)
\n+ Three final 10-15 second long animations*
\n+ Written response to project reflection prompt, at least 1 paragraph response for each question, no working files…please export as a PDF for submission<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Audio Files:
\n<\/strong>Project1_audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s fine to make your storyboards instead of printing and using this template, but if you do: make sure that to work in 16:9 proportioned frames, and keep in mind that this will have to be pinned to the wall and critiqued by the group next class.<\/p>\n
\nIntro<\/a>
\nEffects<\/a>
\nAnimation<\/a>
\nRendering<\/a>
\nSchool of Motion<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSchool of Motion
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JVKspknn1hQ&t=22s<\/a><\/p>\n
\nKeyframe Academy (In-Depth explanation on Shape Layers)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=98ro7x3kl8A&t=73s<\/a>
\n(Tricks for Shape Layers – Trim Paths, Shape Morphs, Wavy Lines, round corners…)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fNcU6G3NSVs<\/a>
\nNoble on More about working with shapes
\nhttps:\/\/www.nobledesktop.com\/learn\/after-effects\/shape-tool-basics-in-after-effects<\/a>
\nShape Resources Resources from Adobe
\nhttps:\/\/helpx.adobe.com\/after-effects\/using\/overview-shape-layers-paths-vector.html<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/helpx.adobe.com\/after-effects\/using\/creating-shapes-masks.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSunduck Films (Animate along custom path)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tQ5wqg10x_I<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBen Marriot (Morphing shapes in Movement)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3EGuLX6PsQ4<\/a>
\nSmertimbaGraphics ( Morphing Shapes in position)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o1v-fmPwFQ0<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMotionXP (Explore possibilities of trim paths, create line movement)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G_f2Brb1L_E<\/a>
\nBrooker Films ( Animate Lines)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z84O5ZkOrxE<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMove Shapes (Pop Effect)
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=y-HOD2C3b1M<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@MotionNations<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@BenMarriott<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@schoolofmotion<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTutorials Referenced During Class 2\/18<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n—-
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nResources for Storyboarding<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nImage: The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, 1965<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"