PROJECT 2 - EXERCISE 4: MOTION GRAPHIC CHART: BAR CHART
PROJECT 2 - EXERCISE 4: MOTION GRAPHIC CHART: BAR CHART
February 4, 2025 | Week 1
NAME: Miao Xinjun
STUDENT I.D: 0379525
Information Design / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media/ Taylor's University
Project 2 - Exercise 4: Pie Chart (5%)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Instruction
2. Process
3.Submission - Motion Graphic Chart - Bar Chart
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
1. INSTRUCTION
1.1 Lecture
In this week's lecture, Mr. Kannan demonstrated how to create chart animations using Adobe Effect.
1.2 Instruction
In this week's lecture, we learned how to create dynamic charts using Adobe After Effects (AE). We use the Pen Tool or shape layers in AE to draw full circles or straight paths with varying thicknesses, then add the Trim Paths animation effect and keyframes to achieve the desired dynamic chart animations.
This is an individual assignment, and each student is assigned to a group. We were required to check the chart information corresponding to our respective groups in the presentation slides and then produce animated charts based on the provided data.
2. PROCESS
My group is A. So I checked the chart information corresponding to Group A in the slides. What I need to make is a bar chart about the percentage of sources of anxiety among college students.
I started creating the chart animation in After Effects (AE). The provided content for the bar chart was relatively concise. My design concept was to place the bar chart in the center of the frame and have the bars rise one by one sequentially. Additionally, I moved the legends that were originally positioned below each bar chart on the slides to the upper-right corner of the frame. This arrangement ensures good readability while maintaining overall balance in the composition.
Next, I further refined the animation, creating the sequence in which the bar charts rise one by one to gradually form the final effect shown in the above image. I applied the Trim Paths animation effect to the thick black baselines of the bar charts, then added percentage keyframes to produce an animation where the black lines extend from 0% to 100%. Meanwhile, as the black lines extended, I set the corresponding percentage values of each bar to appear sequentially along with the line growth.
After that, I used the same method with the Trim Paths percentage keyframes to create the rising animation of each bar chart in sequence.
After completing the initial dynamic bar chart, I presented the finished product at my next offline lecture and received feedback.
Based on the feedback, I further optimized and refined my animated chart.
In the feedback, Mr. Kannan suggested that for information design tasks, it would be better for me to try more interesting and theme-appropriate fonts instead of using common standard fonts.
After careful consideration, I replaced the original font with Khmer MN - Bold, a sans-serif typeface, for the legend section of the chart animation. Meanwhile, I also adjusted the font color: the near-black color was changed to a more prominent dark brown, creating a more harmonious match with the overall background color of the animation.
Finally, I completed the animated chart of Exercise 4 and submitted it.
3. SUBMISSION - MOTION GRAPHIC CHART - BAR CHART
- YouTube Link Here: https://youtu.be/x9GPCebz6Is
4. FEEDBACK
1. There should be sufficient white space in the frame layout.
2. The current bar chart animation uses lines and fonts in near-black tones. Although these colors are not pure black, the near-black shades undermine the work's visual effect. It would be better to replace them with dark colors with more distinct hues.
3. Avoid overused conventional fonts as much as possible; instead, try more appropriate and distinctive engaging fonts.
4. Removing the stroke effect on the percentage figures at the top of each bar can effectively improve the overall visual presentation of the work.
5. REFLECTION
Experience：
Exercise 4 is a simple practice designed to help us consolidate and apply the knowledge learned in lectures, as well as master a new animation technique in After Effects — the flexible use of Trim Paths. For this exercise, I did not spend much time on animation production. Instead, most of my time was spent thinking about the composition, fonts, color matching, and creative concepts of the animated chart. During this process, the tutor’s suggestions were of great help to me. I feel that my understanding of information design has deepened continuously as I practiced and refined my work.
Observation：
I found that the selection of fonts and the design of font styles can sometimes greatly affect the visual effect of a work. For example, in this exercise, I originally used a font with black strokes for the percentage labels on the bar chart, while adopting a regular sans-serif Thin weight for the legend. After receiving feedback, I removed the strokes from the percentage figures on the bar chart and modified the font style and color of the legend. The overall visual effect became much more harmonious as a result.
Findings：
I realize that in information design, those easily overlooked details in a work can greatly improve the overall visual effect after optimization. Meanwhile, I often need to experiment repeatedly through practice to find the best combination for a better presentation. An information design work is composed of every single component within it. Elements, including fonts, font styles, colors, frame composition, and color schemes, all require careful consideration from designers.
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