Circle beats Square, Square beats Circle, Triangle Wins from erik simmons on Vimeo.

Another gem from the “Circle beats Square, Square beats Circle, Triangle Wins” exercise. Here is what Erik Simmons has to say about his work:

Describe a little bit of your thought process in addressing the project brief (why this solution?)

Since it was supposed to be a ten second video, I felt that I should try to do something a little simple but still hold some aesthetic appeal to me. Even though it was an exercise, I needed to figure out a theme that would flex that creative muscle while still finishing it within the deadline.

Describe a little bit of you working process. (Did you seek out tutorials, help, knew it all, what difficulties did you encountered, etc.)

While making the video, I mostly stuck with what I learned in class. However, it was a little difficult to figure out how I wanted the video to flow from scene to scene. To solve this problem I drew up a quick storyboard and sketched out the shapes. After that, it was just a matter of creating them in illustrator.

While some of the inspirations are obvious (Legend of Zelda’s Triforce) what other things inspired you?

Other than Zelda, Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” inspired me to a make the shapes play music while changing color.

What did you gain from this experience?

The experience of applying what I learn to make these videos has been an enlightening one. Making these short videos has given me a lot of ideas for my personal projects. As a creative outlet, I make music, write and draw. I’ve always wanted to find a way to combine all three. Taking this class has given me a chance to learn how to do that.

Anything else you would like to add.

“Pre-compose” is an awesomely convenient feature.

This is the first in a hopefully ongoing series featuring student work along with a short interview about their process.

For one of the first exercises in the Motion Graphics class this Winter students were asked to create a short-short animated sequence interpreting the theme “Circle beats Square, Square Beats Circle, Triangle Wins.” Below is short interview with Ryan Haury about his work above.

Describe a little bit of your thought process in addressing the project brief; why this solution?

When I saw the project brief, I automatically thought “make cool battle sequence”. My first idea was to mock one of the sequences from the Matrix when they’re dodging bullets, but I figured that would take a lot more work to make look cool; Tron would be just as engaging w/ much less complications.

Describe a little bit of you working process. Did you seek out tutorials? Were there any difficulties you encountered? Or did you just know it all?

The basis of the animation was really just animating masks and parenting. The only problem I had was turning the lightbikes while keeping a “light wall” behind them. I ended up just creating new walls and masking out the old ones since they were all parented to the bikes. As for tutorials, I found the “retro film look” and the “3D Letters” online at Graymachine.com (“Retro Style Graphics Tutorial”); I think they definitely help the video look more “Trony”.  

While some of the inspirations are obvious, what other things inspired you?

Besides Tron itself, the Graymachine.com tutorials definitely paved the way for this animation. They set the guidelines for me and I did the rest. Oh yeah, and definitely the “Tron Guy” from youtube. He proved to me that the 27 year old movie still kicks digital ass.

What did you gain from this experience?
This is the first time I actually used multiple cameras simultaneously in AE-it felt like I was actually making a movie.

Anything else you would like to add?
One thing that I discovered myself is the “faking” of 3D objects. Since AE is 2.5D, it’s hard to create an object that’s fully 3D, and that’s not a cube. The best way to fake it is to create multiple layers at different depths (z-space), then blend camera work and motion blur together. If the camera/object moves fast enough and/or the layers are close enough to each other, motion blur will likely do its job, and blend the layers together, giving you a “3D” object (or at least enough of one to fool the viewers eyes).

found this site: boardpusher.com.  you can design your deck and sell them through the site as well. probably better to sell them elsewhere – like etsy, but what do i know.

You can learn a lot from watching how things are made behind the scenes. Here are some videos that I’ve come across lately that have great makings of.

The Seed above, and a making of it below.

Making of ‘The Seed’ from Johnny Kelly on Vimeo.

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So I am posting this a day early, but I am long overdue in posting the Round up. From co-curating an exhibition on Dimensional Typography (above) to installing a solo exhibition January has been busy for me. But that doesn’t stop the internets, so here is a sampling of things seen since I last left off:

A great article on diacritics (the things above and below letters).

Flickrdesign catalogs the best design work on flickr.

An amazing and fun looking game: Plain Sight.

Radiohead’s In Rainbows animation contest winners.

Mr. Trash

The saddest news that I learned this week was that London design firm The Designer’s Republic is no longer in business.

CuteXdoomII, interesting videogame mod.

Deconstructing Dumbo cleverly re-imagines/reinterprets the Republican party logo.

Hooray! Instant film may return!

Awesomely entertaining game: Grow Tower!

The National Film Board of Canada has an amazing collection of films online.

Yulia Brodskaya has some beautiful type illustrations.

Happy New End.

Black Tide Warriors of Time, nice animated spots.

Fun work by Hvass & Hannibal.

More fun work by Antoine+Manuel.

Awesome tutorial on making Isometric illustrations.

The right kind of wrong.

The reverse graffiti project.

Grid designer, for all your CSS needs.

The book cover archive.

IdnWorld Online. Has lots of motion work to feast your eyes on.

Time Magazine’s Style and Design 100.

Amazing collection of iPhone sketches.

The Johnson Banks thought for the week review of design 2008.

Awesome miniatures made by Dan McPharlin.

Krazy Kat stop motion.

9 looks pretty amazing.

Origami in pursuit of perfection.

Interview with illustrator Kustaa Saksi.

Gallery of 100 cereal boxes.

Eyelash typeface.

Handmade beards.

Collection of Nuclear slide rules.

From the creator of Katamari Damarcy comes Noby Noby Boy.

Lastly Good luck for 2009!.

I find it very appropriate that shortly after I introduced students in the motion class to the various distortion tools I find this great use of one of them. I knew there was good reason to show people how to manipulate eyebrows; enjoy.

Since LOST starts up tonight….
Dharma Initiative Rebranding

Rebrand Your Company

Here’s some career info on the Motion Graphics arena:
Effects Corner
VFXhack
NOTE: They may be saying “visual effects”, but after using After Effects for either or, I’m pretty sure “motion graphics” can be applied to this as well

Wow, I wish my computer wasn’t broken. To do homework and scan my drawings? Sure those things. But also so I could play Crayon Physics Deluxe.

http://www.crayonphysics.com/

 That game is such a cool idea.