NBC Digital Explainers
I've always been a big fan of explainer videos. There's something super cool about how they break down tricky topics into exciting videos. The colorful animations and catchy narrations make me want to watch and learn so much information. Plus, they're way more entertaining than just reading from a textbook!
That’s why, when it came to picking a project, I naturally gravitated toward the NBC digital explainers. It's like merging learning with creativity, and I'm super excited about it!
Click here to learn more about Project Brief
Animation
Square Format
Article Selection
This the final script
This script includes top 10 key points from the article..however, it's still too long and boring. We want to keep it SHORT and SWEET..so that's why the current script only has 3 recommendations.
In the beginning, I just tried to narrow down the key words from the article and put it in the script..but...it's too LONG
Research
Brand: NBC News Digital
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and visually engaging stories on your platform of choice.
The target audience demographic for NBC News can be broadly categorized as adults aged 25-54 years old. This age group is typically more engaged in current events and news consumption.
Style
For the style, since most of explainer videos right now are 2D, collages, we will use 2D combine with 3D style to make it stand out and grab attention across all age.
Color Palette
The color scheme is influenced by the vibrant and bright NBC News Digital logo. This choice of colors is intended to capture attention from a distance, ultimately enhancing the impact and effectiveness of the message.
Proposed Design Approach
For the style, since most of explainer videos right now are 2D, collages, we will use 2D combine with 3D style to make it stand out and grab attention across all age.
Direction 02: Media 101
This direction uses mixed medias such as collage, 2D and hand-drawn elements as a design approach because it allows to convey a lot of information in a compact space. Also, it creates a visual hierarchy and help viewers understand a narrative much easier.
Direction 03: In-Focus
This direction is a combination of mixed media: 2D, 3D, collage, and hand-drawn. It utilizes screen interfaces in the article to visually demonstrate media screens and provide guidance on managing and reducing screen time.
Direction 01: Navigate
By using mixed medias of 2D and 3D together, this direction will tell the stories in an engaging way and create memorable content.
Notes
We decided to move forward with Direction 01 since it ultilize color best. However, the art director wonder the white background as it looks now, seems empty. How does color help tell the story?
Storyboard
The narrative will illustrate the visual corresponding to the voice-over to effectively convey the message
Final Style Frames
Style frames Development
If you are interested in seeing the entire progress, WHAT I’VE LEARNED including design, concept, style frames, and animation development, etc. please click the link below
This is the FINAL LOOK.. I'm very happy how it turned out! :)
The feedback I got from this version is the characters' ears are too big...the color skin of the red girl is a little too dark
This color palette is not matching the brand colors, NBC News. That's why it needs to be changed based on the Peacock colors
The style is too basic, not thing stands out. Overall, the character design needs to be more unique
Mock-up
After finishing the project, I used one frame as a key art and put it in an Instagram mockup to see how it appears in the real world.
The Final
After 6 weeks of working on this project, it was finally done and I could be able to look at it proudly! This has been not an easy challenge, but I’ve learned so much from this project. It taught me how to effectively deliver a message by matching visuals with the voice-over. Also, designing nice and clean but informative images is not easy. The important part is to constantly ask for feedback because as a designer and animator, things that we think it is easy to understand but to the audience, sometimes it is not.
Click here to see more about all the initial development:
I’ve also learned about character design and animation, which I am always interested in and want to explore more. The color palette also has a significant change from the beginning to fit better with the mood and the brand. I have to say the animation is a huge difference now (compared to the beginning). I’ve learned how to make movements much more fun and energetic. In the end, I am very happy with the final and want to say special thanks to everyone who has given me critique and helped me move forward! This project is definitely a top challenge I’ve had! :)
Square Format
