CV: Introduction to Jacki Reed
Project Description
An animated introduction to Jacki Reed and their work as a motion designer.
Credits
Client: Personal Project
Animation and Design: Jacki Reed
Software: After Effects, Illustrator, Audition, Premiere Pro
Music: “Through the Glass" by Cloud Revolution. Premium Beat Standard License.
Goal/Brief
To illustrate my artistic and storytelling abilities through a fully animated version of a written cover letter and resume.
Conceptual Development
I began by breaking down my original cover letter into a maximum of 5-6 statements. I then workshopped them into digestible lines I could recite for the voice-over element. These lines served as the foundation for each scene of the animation.
The script gave me a good idea of the story elements. I knew I wanted to create the abstraction of a computer and have an avatar guide the audience deeper into a computer program. Each scene would highlight a particular skill set as outlined in my cover letter. For the style, I took inspiration from graphic design trends. I also studied how web design integrates brand identity and UX to create interactive experiences for potential clients.
Script
Mood board
Storyboard and Sketches
I usually plan the motions of my animations through storyboards. Doing a rough sketch on paper allows me to get ideas out quickly. The loose material also allows me to write notes, refine designs, or layout any parenting chains before I hop into a program.
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For this animation, the computer and avatar served as a metaphor for how I approach the conceptual development process. A project can be broken down into individual steps similar to how a computer can be dissected into individual parts.
Style Frames
After finalizing the storyboard, I created some style frames so I could determine the color palette. I ended up incorporating two color palettes so I could juxtapose the soothing cool colors of the calming scenes with the vibrant neon tones of the energetic scenes.
Sound Design
Key Skills
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Transitions
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Anticipation
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Overshoot
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Eyetrace
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Graph editor
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Timing vs Spacing
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Audio syncing
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Sound design
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Depth of field
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Bounces
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Color theory
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Overlap
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Secondary animation
Challenges
A major challenge was figuring out how to piece together multiple scenes of varying styles into one story while having it synced to music and voice-over. The transitions had to be snappy and interesting so I focused on creating a variety of different movements to maintain eye trace and keep audience retention. I also kept a clear sense of direction by utilizing the foreground, midground, and background. For the voice-over and music elements, I kept the script as simple as possible to make room for the changing musical beats. The sound effects helped support the computer-generated theme established by the visuals. The result was a smooth crescendo of motion and sound that left the audience curious for more.
Gifs
