TEDx TEASER
01.
02.
SELECTED!
This concept builds on the phrase “march to the beat of your own drum,” using rhythm as a visual metaphor—conformity appears as mechanical repetition, while individuality emerges through playful, surprising variations.
-Rhythm is universally understood and clearly conveys Williamson’s message
-Highlights that stepping out of sync means freedom, not failure
-A break in rhythm draws visual and auditory attention, amplifying impact
DELIVERABLES
Unique design for both 4x5 and 16x9 formats-
Case study documenting the animation process-
Inclusion of speaker and title of talk-
Animated TEDx logo and website link-
03.
DESIGN OBJECTIVE
Create a 10–15 second animated teaser using a brief clip of the speaker’s voice to grab viewers’ attention. The animation should spark curiosity and direct them to watch the full TEDx talk.
IDEATION
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04.
DEVELOPMENT
The ‘normal’ human-like figures took the most work before kicking things off, in the original style frame, things weren’t feeling quite right.
One of the hardest parts of this project was making the forms fit their environments while still showing a clear contrast between the “normal” and the “weird.” The patterns, textures, and colors had to be different enough to show that contrast, but still fun and expressive so nothing felt boring or out of place. It was about finding the right balance between consistency and surprise.
05.
STYLEFRAMES
CONCEPT 1
DEVELOPMENT &
EXECUTION
ANIMATION DEVELOPMENT
While building the assets, I focused on which parts needed movement and how that movement supported the overall tone. Most human figures were rigged to blink and move their arms in a simple cut-out style. This kept the animation minimal and stylized, adding just enough personality without overcomplicating the process or distracting from the rhythm-based concept.
06.
ANIMATION
1ST PASS
I started by building the storyline, flow, and movements through an animatic to set the base for what I would take into After Effects. During this time, I also built and rigged most of my assets.
2ND PASS
I finished around 3 out of a total of 12 scenes around this pass, slowly gaining speed as I built my After Effects scenes and began to block them all out.
FINAL PASS
The entire animatic sequence was able to be fully animated. I did have to sacrifice time by missing out on some animation opportunities, but I will absolutely return to make those changes.
REVISIONS
Almost the entire 30-second piece was finished, no adjustments or textures added over top, and no minor movements in the characters just yet.
CC particle world effect - for the rain effect
Noise & grain effect - overlayed texture
07.
EXECUTION
Each ‘normal person’ and each ‘weirdo’ had to be stylized, then broken apart and labelled in order in Photoshop. Then they have to be taken into After Effects and properly rearranged. I rearrange the body part anchor points and connect everything with null objects.
In After Effects, I use the Puppet Tool to animate human movements and subtle facial expressions—while many of these details may go unnoticed at full speed, they add a layer of nuance that makes the characters feel more alive and helps draw the viewer's eye, even if only subconsciously.
Puppet warp effect - for facial movements
CONCEPT 2
Abstract human-like figures show the contrast between “normal” and “weird.” Neutral colors, patterns, and rigid poses represent conformity, while bright colors, mismatched textures, and surreal body parts express individuality.
Conformity → disruption → authenticity-
Hiding weirdness flattens the world; embracing it adds- depth and beauty
Abstract, relatable figures let viewers see themselves-in the “normal” vs. “weird” divide
Bold shapes, strong contrast, and simple movement- work across formats
I referenced the content I used as a backbone when I originally compiled references for this design style. After referencing the root of the style, I decided to alter it to fit my own fun and expressive tone. I abstracted the facial features to appear wonky and uncanny, almost mocking.
