06 | Motion Graphics
Project Brief
Information in motion (infomotion) affords the designer and sequencing as tools to unfold an infographic based narrative. The objective of this project is to create a 40 - 180 second infomotion based on the theme, ‘I’ve always wondered ...’ . The motion graphic needs to evoke rhetorically powerful signs and symbols quickly in order to effectively and intelligently communicate complex concepts. Overall the final outcome has to be unique and strategically incorporate, concept development, research, script writing, storyboarding, sound, illustration and animation. The infomotion needs to be tailored for a wide and varied target audience as it will be displayed on the Information Design Youtube channel.
Deliverables
01. Process work
• Workshop assignments
• Moodboard
• Research
• Conceptual development
02. Original script
03. Storyboards
04. Infomotion
Design Strategy
Cake. A friendly face, a companion to most of your happy memories: birthday songs, wedding bells, Christmas carols. Cake is a celebration. Cake is comfort. Cake cares. But, is cake, perhaps, too good to be true? This critical, reality-altering question leads us through a maze of research and rhetoric to discover the horrible truth of the world; Your birthday cake might kill you.
Our tongue-in-cheek take on the harsh reality of cake satirises the seriousness of most infographic animations, presenting the issue of cake as a life-threatening one. The tone of the whole project was set once the core concept (the darker side of cake), was decided. From the silliness of our idea, we derived a script and visual and audio style. We decided to juxtapose the apparent lightness of our problem with a mostly serious style, emphasising the absurdist humour of the script. This led to a dark and gloomy stylistic approach, with a bit of wonkiness, reminiscent of Tim Burton’s mysterious worlds. The colour palette adds to the dramatic script by contrasting gloomy blues with bright pinks and yellows.
We realised that the strength of our infomotion didn’t come from the usefulness of the information, but rather from the enjoyment and engagement of the viewer. Therefore, the story arc was a vital element to our success, and the script was tweaked right until the end of the project to achieve the smoothest and most engaging flow. To balance our deeply distressing narrative, we opted for the secure and soothing voice of Granny Liz, who gently guides the viewer through a rollercoaster of cake crime.
Everything, from the script and the sound mixing to the illustration and animation styles, works together with the common goal of transporting the audience to our absurd little world, where cake reigns supreme and no one is safe.
Personal Contribution
From research and conceptualisation to illustration, animation and sound, all members of the group were involved in the project's design. As a team, we compiled research, wrote the script, and made conceptual decisions. Each scene was storyboarded together by our group to ensure clarity and a cohesive end result, and to make sure that our project was what we all envisioned.
My main contribution, aside form conceptualisation, was with the illustrations and animation of the final infomotion. I also created the colour palette and assisted with sound sourcing, although I didn't have any hand in the compiling or editing of the final sound. My work included the base animating for some scenes as well as refining motion on other scenes.
A Slice of the Cake
Process work
What is cake? This was the question that set our brainstorming in motion. During the conceptualisation phase of the project we explored multiple concepts and ideas about the history of cake, before focusing on the darker side of cake and the many crimes that cake has been entwined in over the centuries. Multiple rounds of research and script writing were conducted to arrive at the quirky, darkly humorous, granny-driven script of our final information. This section represents a small portion of the work behind the scenes of the final information. To view our full collection of process work, please visit our miro board here.
Moodboard and Style Tests
Our infomotion's quirky mood is carried through from the script into the visuals. We drew reference from animation styles like those of Tim Burton and Hotel Transylvania to create the dark, wonky and mysterious world of the infomotion.
Moodboard
Styletests and development
Icing on the Cake
Illustrations
Each scene has its own collection of illustrations and components that came together to form the final infographic. Our colour palette is predominantly made up of a collection of blues, pinks and yellows which in combination add to the drama and mystery of the narrative. All members of the group worked on illustrations in varying capacities and then lighting changes and animation was added in during the animation phase.
Extended colour palette
Scene 1: Introduction
Sweet, fluffy, soft, and spongy - a heavenly balance of layered goodness, It's the perfect treat at all of life's celebrations. Cake is the joy of making a birthday wish, the first bite shared between newlyweds, and the coming together of family. But, hidden in our cake history, is something far more, deceptive.
This isn't about Marie Antoinette nor the line she didn't actually say, cake is much more sinister.
I illustrated the first cake with the cherries, the wedding cake topper, the backgrounds, the frame by frame 'poof', and the balcony background.
Scene 2: Cake in Medieval England
Judge, jury, and executioner: In medieval England, cake held the power to decide whether you live or die. It was a trial by cake. The accused would stuff a dry, crusty, wedge of holy bread down their throat. If you could swallow, brilliant! But, if you couldn't...
Nell and Marcholette took the lead in illustrating most of the scene 2 elements. I illustrated the gravestones and grass in this scene. After the base animation done by Nell, I continued animating, with more focus on smaller movements like the sign, gravestones and doors. I also placed some of the illustrations in the scene and animated the base camera movements. Thereafter, Bronwyn refined most of the movements to create the final smoothed motion.
Scene 3: The Grim Activities of Cake
We worshipped it in pagan rituals, which descended into drunken riots, and other grim activities.
Marcholette and Nell illustrated the majority of the large cake. I assisted with the illustration of some components like the candles on the pagan cake and the pagan dancers.
Scene 4: Cake in the Southern States
Cake was also entwined with slavery in the Southern States. At parties, slaves were ordered to dance for the entertainment of their owners to compete for a piece of cake.
Bronwyn and Hendrik illustrated the majority of this scene. I illustrated the slave feet and chains and the crumbs.
Scene 5: Cake and the Witch Trials
In the 17th century, Salem, New England was rife with the fear of witches. At a witch trial, urine from an alleged victim was baked into a cake and fed to a pet. After having eaten the urine cake, the animal points out the witch. Some of the most brutal deaths - burning, hanging, stoning - have been committed at the hands of cake.
Bronwyn and I illustrated the beginning half's elements of scene 5, whilst Marcholette and Nell illustrated the majority of the components in the second half. I also illustrated one of the backgrounds of the second half of this scene, (from the witches to the skeleton). Bronwyn animated the base of the motion, after which Hendrik and I assisted with the motion of the cat. Thereafter I placed the elements after the cat in the scene and animated the base of the scene, where Bronwyn assisted with the smoothing of some motion.
Scene 6: Cake Crimes
And cake seems to be the weapon of choice for claiming life-insurance payouts, taking out cheating husbands, a scarred lover committing revenge, and attempting to prevent the fall of the Russian monarchy. But, it doesn't stop there...
Nell was responsible for the illustration and animation of scene 6 with Bronwyn and Hendrik assisting with graph editing.
Scene 7: Lizzie's Tea Time Troubles
In 1991, a tiny tea-time chocolate biscuit single-handedly threatened Her Majesty's economy. Let me explain. Chocolate coated cake is 0 rated for tax. But, chocolate coated biscuits are 20%. The company that produced Jaffa Cakes - a biscuit looking thing - took the British tax body to court to prove that their biscuits were actually cake. They emerged victorious with a 3.5M pound payout in tax returns. That's a lot of Jaffa Cakes.
Marcholette and Bronwyn illustrated the components of London and the Queen at tea, whilst myself, Marcholette, Hendrik and Nell all illustrated second half of the scene. I illustrated the big Jaffa cake, the frame by frame 'poof', the holy glow and the protest signs. I animated the base of the first half of the scene with Bronwyn assisting with graph editing. Hendrik, Bronwyn, and myself then animated and smoothed various overlapping sections.
Scene 8: Closing and End Credits
Can you imagine the cake-proving implications for rice cakes, or fish cakes, or even beef cakes? Golly, I hope they don't get any ideas.
Marcholette illustrated and animated scene 7 with Nell illustrating the background. I then animated and compiled the end credits.
Putting Together the Layers
Sound Editing and Voice Over Artist
Elizabeth Sole is an 88 year old granny, who just so happened to be the perfect voice over artist for our script. We chose a granny to do our voice over to add the irony of an innocent person explaining what is actually quite dark and strange subject matter. The final result is almost like a granny telling the story of cake - albeit in a slightly twisted manner to what one would expect. Once the voice over was recorded and spliced together, multiple layers of sound effects - both ambient and direct - were added, as well as background music to add to the mood of each section of the infomotion.
All members of the group was involved with sourcing music and sound effects, as well as recording the voice over artist. Bronwyn was solely responsible for compiling, editing and mixing the final sound of the infomotion.
An Invitation to Tea
YouTube Thumbnail and Description
Is cake really that innocent? From early childhood through to our adult lives, cake marks the passing of life’s greatest occasions. From birthdays to weddings, to anniversaries and more, cake is central in so many events. But, is that all there is to this fluffy tea-time treat? The history of cake reveals something far more sinister. BEWARE! Your birthday cake might kill you.
Serving Up the Cake
Final Infomotion
Cake Crumbs
Storyboard
