Information Design - Project 2

15/02/2026 - 30/12/2026 (Week 3 - Week 5)

Shema Goldie Angwen / 0372129
Information Design
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Project 2

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CONTENT LIST

• Instructions
• Lectures & Class Exercises
• Tasks
• Feedback
• Reflection

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INSTRUCTIONS

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LECTURES & CLASS EXERCISES

WEEK 2
This week, Mr. Martin showed us a demo on how to create kinetic typography. Since I know that I have minimal skills in After Effects, I made sure to take notes during the exercise to help me understand the process better. Below is the process I noted down during the class demonstration:

1) Create a New Composition → Change the FPS and Duration according to your project needs

2) Drag the MP3 of the song from the panel project into the timeline
3) In the timeline, press L + L (double L) to reveal the Audio Waveform to see where the audio starts and the details of the gaps

4) Background Setup (Go to Layer → New → Solid)

5) In this project, add texts, each word in different layer and arrange them based on your liking

6) Null Object (Go to Layer → New → Null Object)
7) Select all the texts layers and Parent to the null object layer (animation layer)

8) Select all texts layers + null object layer to enable 3D

9) Do the animation in the null object layer, in this project I only use position & z rotation tools

Figure 1.1: Doing Animation 

10) Makes the animation more dynamic / Smooth Animation by Right-click keyframes → Keyframe Assistant → Easy Ease. The keyframe will then appear like this:

Figure 1.2: Smooth Animation

Figure 1.3: Individual Exercise Kinetic Typography Exercise Process

Here is the result:

Figure 1.4: Individual Exercise Kinetic Typography Exercise Result (Week 2, 11/02/2026)

WEEK 3

This week lecture is about chunking method. Mr. Martin asked us to research the definition and examples of the chunking method so that we could understand the concept more clearly and deeply. This presentation slide was created by our group, Group Yellow. 

Figure 2.1: Presentation Slides by Group Yellow (Week 3, 16/02/2026)

After that, Mr. Martin demonstrated how to animate a pie chart, bar chart, and line graph. I followed his tutorial step by step, and here are the exercises I completed with the notes of the steps that I follow:

Pie Chart Animation
1) Go to Layer → New → Solid (create background).
2) Select the Ellipse Tool and create round shape.
3) Set Fill to No Fill, and use Stroke only. Adjust the stroke size.
For a pie chart, increase the stroke until it fills the center.
For a donut chart, do not fill all the way to the center.
4) Set the Anchor Point to the center.
5) In Contents, click Add → Trim Paths.
6) Animate by adjusting the Start and End values.
7) To smooth the animation: Select the keyframes → Right-click → Keyframe Assistant → Easy Ease.

Figure 2.2: Pie Chart Exercise

Figure 2.3: Pie Chart Exercise (Week 3, 16/02/2026)

Bar Chart Animation
1) Go to Layer → New → Solid (create background).
2) Enable Proportional Grid.
3) Use the Pen Tool. Hold Shift and draw a straight line from bottom to top (do not draw from top to bottom).
4) In Contents, click Add → Trim Paths.
5) Animate by adjusting the End value only.
6) To smooth the animation:
Select the keyframes → Right-click → Keyframe Assistant → Easy Ease.

Figure 2.4: Bar Chart Exercise

Figure 2.5: Bar Chart Exercise (Week 3, 16/02/2026)

Line Graph Animation
1) Go to Layer → New → Solid (create background).
2) Enable Proportional Grid.
3) Use the Pen Tool to draw a zigzag line like a line graph.
4) In Contents, click Add → Trim Paths.
5) Animate by adjusting the End value (focus on the two points).
6) To smooth the animation: Select the keyframes → Right-click → Keyframe Assistant → Easy Ease.

Figure 2.6: Line Graph Exercise

Figure 2.7: Line Graph Exercise (Week 3, 16/02/2026)

WEEK 4

This week’s lecture focused on Manuel Lima’s 9 Directives method. Mr. Martin asked us to research examples of the the 9 directives so we could gain a clearer and deeper understanding of the concept. The presentation slides were created by our group, Group Yellow.

This week’s lecture focused on Manuel Lima’s 9 Directives method. Mr. Martin asked us to research examples of the chunking method so we could gain a clearer and deeper understanding of the concept. The presentation slides were created by our group, Group Yellow.

Figure 3.1: Presentation Slide by Group Yellow (Week 4, 25/02/2026)

This week, Mr. Martin gave us a demonstration on how to create vector/character animation. I write down detailed notes during the session to better understand each step of the process. Below is the workflow I took notes from the class demonstration:

Figure 3.2: Vector/Character Animation Exercise (Week 4, 25/02/2026)

1. Open your file in Adobe Illustrator and fix the grouping.

2. Go to Window → Artboards and choose the preset.

3. Set the width and height to 1920 × 1080.

4. Separate the three different subjects into three different layers.

5. Open Adobe After Effects.

6. Go to File → Import → File.

Import Kind: Composition

Footage Dimensions: Layer Size.

7. Double-click the composition named “Vector Animation Demo” (make sure you open the composition, not the folder).

8. Rename each layer: Middle, Left, and Right.

9. Arrange the layers and place the Left layer on top.

10. For the left layer, press P (Position)

Create 2 keyframes.

Animate it sliding from outside the frame (left side) into the composition.

11. For the middle layer, press S (Scale)

Move the Anchor Point to the bottom (so it looks more natural).

Animate the scale.

12. For the right layer, press P (Position).

Create 2 keyframes.

Animate it sliding in from the right side.

13. To create bouncing effect, add one extra keyframe one frame before the final keyframe.

Make the position slightly higher than the final position to create a small bounce effect.

Figure 3.3: Vector/Character Animation Class Exercise Result (Week 4, 25/02/2026)

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TASKS

Exercise 3: Kinetic Typography (10%)

For this exercise, we were required to create a lyric video animation that follows the timing of the music. Our group chose the song Stateside by Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress. 

 

Figure 4.1: Chosen Music Video, Group Yellow

We then divided the lyrics among the group members so that each person was responsible for animating a specific section.

 Figure 4.2: Lyric Distribution, Group Yellow 

We also discussed and finalized the color palette, typography style, and mood board to ensure a cohesive visual direction.

Figure 4.3: Moodboard, Group Yellow 

Figure 4.3: Moodboard, Group Yellow

I tried and learned various effects by watching many tutorial videos to animate my part since I know that I have minimal skills in After Effects, I knew I needed to put in extra effort to improve and catch up

First of all, I divided my lyrics into 3 group because I want to make 3 different edits:

1st animation

"Is it right? I don't know
Yet you're taking my control"

Concept & Reference : 3D Cube Rotating

Figure 4.4: Reference, Source: https://youtu.be/Izgn36DLeqA?si=M5ZKm498_dMCno-5

2nd animation

"Never been abroad before"

Concept & Reference: Text Rotate Around Objects

Figure 4.5: Reference, Source: https://pin.it/gskzOQvOp

3rd animation
"Now I'm knocking through your door"

Concept & Reference: Text appearing by sliding up per character and also rotating in Z-axis

Figure 4.6: Reference, Source: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmUv9VC9/

For the first animation,

"Is it right? I don't know
Yet you're taking my control"

1. I decided to divide the lyrics into four lines.

2. Starting in After Effects, I added the four lines of text and applied the two fonts our group had previously decided on (Black Han Sans & Ephesis), alternating them across the lines.

3. Arranged the text sequentially and aligned it horizontally.

4. Adjusted the anchor point of each text layer to the center.

5. Added a null object.

6. Parented all four text layers to the null object.

7. Animated the position, scale, and XYZ rotation to create a 3D cubic text effect.

8. Added Easy Ease and motion blur to make the animation smoother.

Figure 4.7: First Animation 

For the second animation,

"Never been abroad before"

1. I created a different After Effects file with a wider composition than the first one. In this file, I wrote all the text lyrics in a single line and applied the two fonts.

2. I imported this file into the main After Effects project.

3. I duplicated the text layer to make the text appear both in front of and behind the object.

4. I imported a postcard image from the music video. My idea was to visualize the postcard flying in, then zoom in on the subject, and have the text appear, rotating around the object.

5. To make the object appear between the two text layers, I placed the postcard image in a layer between the two text layers.

6. For the postcard image, I animated its position and scale.

7. For the text animation, I adjusted only the Y rotation, animating the text to rotate around the object with a speed that follows the rhythm of the lyrics.

8. I also added Easy Ease and motion blur to make the animation smoother.

Figure 4.8: Second Animation 

For the third animation, 

I couldn’t find any tutorial similar to this; the only reference I found was on TikTok, and there was no detailed online tutorial. So, I decided to try it myself, which took me over three hours.

• I created the text one word per layer.

• I arranged the words and set the anchor point to the center of each layer.

• I added a null object and parented all the word layers to it.

• I animated using offset and Y rotation to achieve the effect I wanted.

• I also added Easy Ease and motion blur to make the animation smoother.

Figure 4.9: Third Animation 

Since there is a lyric about a door, I wanted to animate the door opening.

• I created another After Effects file for this.

• I used the Rectangle Tool to create the door and the Ellipse Tool for the handle.

• For the animation, I adjusted and skewed the shape paths to make the door appear as if it is opening.

Figure 4.10: Third Animation (Door)

• I then imported the door file into the main After Effects project and adjusted its position and scale. 

Figure 4.11: Third Animation (Door)

This task wasn't easy for me, as I had very limited skills in animation, especially After Effects. But turns out I managed to complete this task and felt quite satisfied with the results. It’s not because my work was the best in the group, but because I can clearly see how much my skills have improved. I became much more familiar with After Effects by watching many tutorial videos, experimenting through trial and error, and applying what I learned. For the last animation which is the third one, there wasn’t any tutorial available online, so I had to figure it out entirely on my own. I’m proud that I was able to explore, experiment, and combine my knowledge to complete it on my own. 

Here is the results of my part:

Figure 4.12: My Part - Kinetic Typography Music Video Result (Week 3, 17/02/2026)

Group Google Drive: Click Here

Here is the final results of Group Yellow's work compilation:

Figure 4.13: Compiled - Kinetic Typography Music Video Result 

Exercise 4: Animation Chart (5%)

Each student was assigned a different type of chart, and I was assigned with creating a donut chart based on the given information. Fortunately, I had taken notes during the earlier lectures and completed the exercises beforehand so this task was not too difficult for me, I was able to complete it within a few minutes.

Figure 5.1 : Assigned Task 

Figure 5.2: Given Information, 

Source: https://whattobecome.com/blog/college-student-stress-statistics/

Here is the process of my work: 

1. Go to Layer → New → Solid to create a background.
2. Select the Ellipse Tool and draw a circular shape.
3. Set the Fill to No Fill and use Stroke only. Adjust the stroke thickness as needed. As I am creating the a donut chart, the center is not filled.
4. Adjust the Anchor Point so it is positioned at the center of the circle.
5. In the Contents panel, click Add → Trim Paths.
6. Animate the donut chart by adjusting the Start and End values in Trim Paths.
7. To smooth the animation, select the keyframes → right-click → Keyframe Assistant → Easy Ease.
8. Add text for the description or labels to explain the data shown in the chart.
9. To expand on what I had learned, I decided to create a count-up effect for the percentage numbers using a slider control. I added two keyframes: the first at 0% and the second at the target percentage.

Figure 5.3: Count-Up Animation

Figure 5.4: Donut Chart Result (Week 3, 18/02/2026)

Exercise 5: Vector/Character Animation (5%)

Each student was given a different composition to animate, and I was assigned to work on Composition B. Fortunately, I had already taken notes during the previous lectures and completed the practice exercises, so I was familiar with the process.

Figure 6.1 : Assigned Task 

Here is the process of my work:

1. I opened the file in Adobe Illustrator and fixed the grouping. I separated the layers for the cloud, hanging decoration, rabbit, person, angpao, coin, and angpao container because I planned to animate them individually. I renamed everything directly in the AI file to keep it organized. Then I renamed all the layers properly.

2. I went to Window → Artboards and selected the preset.

3. I set the width and height to 1920 × 1080.

4. I ensured all the different subjects were separated into their own layers.

5. I opened Adobe After Effects.

6. I went to File → Import → File.

   • Import Kind: Composition

   • Footage Dimensions: Layer Size

7. I double-clicked the composition to open it.

8. For the rabbit and the person, I added a sliding animation by creating two keyframes. I animated them moving from outside the frame (left side) into the composition. To create a bouncing effect, I added one extra keyframe one frame before the final keyframe and adjusted the position slightly higher than the final position to make it look more dynamic.

9. For the middle section (the angpao container), I adjusted the position. 

10. For the cloud, I animated both the opacity and position. 

11. For the hanging decoration, I adjusted the position to create a gentle swinging motion. 

12. For the angpao, I animated it one by one by adjusting their positions individually. 

13. For the coin and the man’s head, I used the Puppet Tool to create more flexible and natural movement.

Figure 6.2: The Process (Week 4, 28/02/2026)

Figure 6.3: Vector Animation Result (Week 4, 28/02/2026)

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FEEDBACK

WEEK 4

For the kinetic typography lyric music video, our group received feedback that some parts of the kinetic typography video were too overwhelming, causing the audience’s attention to shift away from the typography itself. However, for my part, I only used kinetic typography along with a single image and did not include any video elements. Therefore, I don't need to make any changes for my part.

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REFLECTION

These tasks allows me to see how my After Effects skills have improved. Through experimenting and applying what I learned from Mr. Martin's lectures with additional youtube tutorials, I was able to create animations on my own, Looking back, I used to dislike creating animations and had very minimal skills, but thankfully now I am able to complete these tasks. Surprisingly, watching animation tutorials recently has become addictive to me, a thing I have never like before.