I would love to get some feedback.

[Walter Soyka]

Hi Jonathan,

It’s probably easier to get a more detailed critique on a finished piece; most of these look more like motion tests or experiments.

I can share a couple general thoughts — perhaps you will find them helpful.

I think that motion graphics is a combination of several disciplines: graphic design, typography, cinematography, lighting, direction, and animation. Good mograph pieces show strength in all these areas.

You might want to check out Angie Taylor’s book, Design Essentials for the Motion Media Artist: A Practical Guide to Principles & Techniques. This will give you a nice foundation for some of these cross-discipline skills and help you improve your work.

I felt in each of the pieces you linked to that you were only focusing on one thing at a time; the type layouts, the sound reactor, the particle system. Your work will feel a lot more dynamic if you combine multiple techniques.

Check out the 12 basic principles of animation [link] for some suggestions on making your work more dynamic.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Jonathan Granskog]

Thanks for the reply.

To be honest most of those videos were only testing, so you are correct, except the typographies they weren’t tests.

I will be sure to read that book and I will try to take all this advice. 🙂

Thanks a lot for replying,
-Jonathan