Thoughtful Chunk 4: Motion Graphics/Animation

Stephen Watkins - 2011 Showreel from Stephen Watkins on Vimeo.

I chose the above video as a sample of various ways to use visuals as animated graphics and because I really enjoyed watching it. Stephen Watkins, the video producer,  is an award winning designer and animator.  Read about his experiences and view further work at http://www.watkins.com.au/about.htm
and http://vimeo.com/user5779769/videos/sort:date 
The above particular video is a mash-up of some of his work in order for him to advertise his abilities and the quality and variety of his work, plus the many applications or methods he is able to use. I think it works very well indeed!

I have very much enjoyed creating animations with students that I have taught. We have created stop motion animations using a camera and many different materials, such as scrap materials, Lego, shapes, cut-out figures etc. I have used this process as a strategy for students to explain and teach to other students through the animation, a process, an idea, a story, a concept, etc. We have used his process to demonstrate mathematical, scientific, social studies concepts and ideas, plus animated "the how we did something" to demonstrate to parents. It appears to be very motivating to use and create with in this type of setting. From this creator view it is a worthy visual to create and use. The class Media Wiki will explore whether it is also worthy from a viewer's perspective and/or whether it is valid or appropriate visual representation for product tutorials, advertising, Web-pages and the like. Here is a link to the Animation section of our group Wiki: http://mediawiki6792011.wikispaces.com/Animation

In my User-Centered Design course, my group is at the development stage for an extension to the Virti-Cue product we have designed. We are considering and comparing the efficacy of different formats to use in presenting a series of tutorials for our users. We have played with the idea of using basic cut-out images to show the step-by-step actions needed to create a new story and add pictures using the Virti-Cue application. Here is our mini-sample:

Here we are trying out the idea that an animation can clearly map out and demonstrate a function or an action that would be more complex if shown in real-time video with the real objects: The person would be much bigger in relation to the item, and the item would need to be much smaller which would make this simple process much more complex to view and complicate the learning for the user. Also, here,  the application itself is simplified down to its basic functions, as a strategy for teaching and learning. An animation can be recorded at whatever speed is deemed appropriate for understanding to happen.

My own current understanding of animation as an effective visual representational method revolves around the notion that it is a sound way to show otherwise inanimate objects moving! This can be purely an artistic and fun endeavor or it can have some utility. For example, demonstrating how various parts of an item come together into a oneness: this may well  be an impossible and task to show in real-time video (length of film, size of item etc.) but could be shown by 'stitching' together each of the screen shots until the completed item can be viewed. In other words, animation can make 'alive' that which is not! An animation creates the illusion of reality which is very useful, for example, in the 2d environment of the computer screen: Here we can animate a 2d object and make the viewer see its 3d-ness. We can demonstrate the function of, say, various tools, both of the physical and iconic kind.

However, too much use of animation is a distraction as we see on many a web page. Here, the animations may have no purpose, no content that is of value or concern to the visitor, and does not serve to explain or demonstrate anything of worth to the user. Animations need to be carefully crafted so that they, for example, are not running too slow or too fast--losing the user in either boredom or eye-strain!

Here is a very simple student made animation demonstrating the use of Tangrams to create a Fish!

To be continued...