Telling stories through animation has become increasingly popular, with Walt Disney being the pioneer in creating captivating 2D animated stories. Animation plays a crucial role in digital product design, not only adding beauty but also informing and engaging users to navigate through products more easily. The principles of animation allow digital interfaces to mimic real-world experiences effectively, making motion design an essential aspect of product attractiveness and usability.
As animation becomes integral to digital platforms, it also leads to a rise in job opportunities in the field. Many enthusiasts seek animation tutorials to fulfill their learning needs, and prominent platforms like HeadSpace and Google have contributed significantly to animation education. These platforms have unveiled game-changing facts for learners, which are outlined below:
Fact 1: Let motion show instead of saying
The world is accustomed to physical products, but experiencing a product’s type and quality no longer requires ownership. Animation designers have a unique advantage in creating interfaces that profoundly impact user interaction: knobs turn, switches flip, and buttons depress. While software products are accessed through two-dimensional screens, users may become confused when their actions don’t yield the expected results. According to author Ryan McLeod, animation adds significant value to software by providing context without requiring physical movement. Even without moving parts, animation can simulate visible change.
Motion invites discovery and enhances software usability by capturing attention and guiding users intuitively. Instead of simply telling users what to do, animation demonstrates actions, making interfaces more engaging and emotionally resonant. Examples include Tinder’s playful gestural animations and the soothing, subtle animations in the HeadSpace interface.
Experts emphasize that animation has the power to evolve and enhance users’ understanding of features, transforming technical tools into extensions of human thought processes. As a result, the use of animation is becoming increasingly vital in creating user experiences that not only guide users effectively but also elevate software into extensions of the human mind.
Fact 2: Always consider animation’ 7 basic principles
Sometimes beginners feel overwhelmed when it comes to creating effective motion design. However, experts suggest that everything becomes manageable and effective when you follow the seven principles of animation outlined in Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston’s book, “Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.” These principles have the power to create magic in animation.
The 7 principles are timing, pacing, staging, follow-through, secondary action, overlapping action, and appeal. These principles have been developed after reviewing various eras and mediums of work, and they have been proven to create a significant impact on audiences. This impact is particularly evident in the work of modern designers.
When observing cartoon videos, you may notice that when characters collide with a rock or a wall, their ears don’t come to a sudden stop. Instead, they display a natural springiness, continuing their trajectory even as the main body comes to rest. Designers apply similar principles to motion in digital products. According to author Ryan McCleod, if objects slightly overshoot their final resting place with a subtle springiness, it adds realism and engagement to the animation.
Fact 3: Align some human natures to products for engagement
An appeal is a crucial aspect when creating captivating animations. Many popular animated characters are characterized by exaggerated features, such as larger eyes, floppy ears, and oversized heads, which lend them a more human-like quality. According to author Ryan McLeod, incorporating these features into animated characters makes them more relatable and endearing to audiences.
Expert designers acknowledge the importance of imbuing products with appeal to achieve business success. Appeal in animations goes beyond mere branding—it can help attract users, retain their interest, and foster engagement. For instance, in the case of HeadSpace, the use of friendly and quirky animations makes the abstract concept of mindfulness more accessible to users. By incorporating metaphors and endearing characters, HeadSpace creates a more engaging experience for its audience. Additionally, designers have observed that polished animations with personality tend to garner more positive responses from users.
Fact 4: Collaborate early to ensure victory
Collaboration is a crucial aspect of product design, especially when it comes to implementing motion in interfaces. According to industry leaders, integrating animation at the outset of the design process is far more effective than adding it as an afterthought. Starting with animation from the beginning allows for deliberate inclusion and ensures that it is seamlessly integrated into the overall design. It also enables designers to communicate effectively with their engineering counterparts, helping them understand the limitations of the medium and the constraints of the programming environment. Additionally, early integration of animation allows teams to allocate sufficient time for building and testing animation features, including accessibility and support for assistive technologies.
Fact 5: Balance with design systems
Design systems play a crucial role in maintaining consistency across products, reducing duplication of effort, and enabling teams to develop products more efficiently. Integrating animation into design systems is essential for incorporating motion design into products at scale.
Google, a leading search engine giant, annually hosts the Material Design Awards to showcase companies utilizing their design systems effectively. Design systems offer an efficient way to scale efforts across various platforms, products, and devices by:
- Documenting and centralizing a source of truth for motion design decisions
- Establishing core principles for all design efforts
- Defining every interaction to create a shared understanding of usage
By integrating motion into their design systems, product teams can identify areas where motion can have a significant impact without redesigning the entire experience for each new service, product, or feature.
Eric Henry, a Senior UI designer at Google, emphasizes that motion celebrates important moments in the user journey and serves as an effective means of demonstrating empathy.
Fact 6: Earn trust through consistency
Design systems are vital for maintaining consistency across products, while consistency within a product is equally important for a good user experience. Inconsistencies in motion can lead to cognitive load for users, undermining confidence and hindering exploration. Therefore, it’s essential to adhere to interface principles to maintain consistency and promote usability.
In addition to consistency, three principles—nuance, humanity, and fluidity—are key to successful motion design:
- Nuance: Motion should enhance the user experience without distracting from essential elements.
- Humanity: 2D animation can humanize software by introducing thoughtful pauses and transitions.
- Fluidity: Motion should reflect the user’s decision-making process, allowing for easy redirection, cancellation, and adjustment.
Following and implementing all these principles will make interactive experiences more cohesive, subtle, and human.
Conclusion
Enhancing product design through animation has become essential in today’s digital landscape, with animation playing a crucial role in digital presence. Many individuals are pursuing careers in animation, recognizing its significance in creating innovative designs. Staying updated with new animation tutorials is vital to remaining competitive in this field.
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