Creating Motion Graphic Projects on a Budget

When there is talk of motion graphics or videos in any media project, clients immediately begin to worry about escalating budgets. However, if you are able to channel some of your learnings from your student days when you pursued your motion graphic design diploma in Singapore you already know that there are a number of ways to create great animation and videos for your clients without having to burn a hole in their pockets.

 

Processing is an extensive part of creating a good motion graphics design and perhaps the costliest aspect of the project. Here are a few ways in which you can help your client save money and deliver great results on a shoestring.

·         Keeping it Simple

The simpler your motion graphics design, the faster and cheaper it will be to create, and more often than not, the better it will look. Leverage your creative sense to come up with great ideas on how to make the simplest of iterations as against doodling on your PC. Doodling often adds to the complexity of the project, and before you know it, you will have crossed your client’s budget.

·         Repurposing from your Library

As a motion graphics designer it is always beneficial to create a library of some of your best ideas, illustration techniques and designs. So when you are working on a budget or working against a strict deadline all you need to do is repurpose something you have already invested significant time on. There will hundreds if not thousands of amazing designs, concepts and treatments that may have been discarded by other clients but work extremely well for your current project. It is always good to save all your experiments and versions.

·         Rely on your Inspirations

While plagiarising is a strict no-no in the world of design or any other creative field, there is nothing wrong in going back to some of your top inspirations every once in a while. This means that you save time in experimenting with concepts, giving you a chance to start on a strong and already successful foundation. Most often you will find that your end project will be completely different from the one you were inspired from in the first place. However, you saved significant time and thus money for your client.

·         Mixing Media

You will find that some elements are easier to create in real life than on a PC. If you feel that it is going to be cheaper to simply photograph or film certain aspects of your motion graphic design projects, go for it. You will also be able to bring a touch of realism into your assignment enhancing its overall quality.

Before you make any big decisions regarding the project in question, make sure you work closely with your client to understand his or her capacity to spend, the extent to which they are willing to push their budgets and their quality expectations. It will be your job to find the right balance between quality and cost to deliver what your client truly likes.

Specialised Education in Creative Technology and Multimedia

The Creative Technology Industry has been turning heads recently—with an increasing number of companies turning to Animation, Motion Media and Visual Effects as an alternative media to support and propagate their products and services. Designers and artists are no longer limited to their traditional industries, and opportunity-seekers the world over are clamouring to have a piece of the pie. However, one must first learn to walk before attempting to run. A good education and proper guidance from industry professionals will ensure that aspiring creative have a solid foundation and understanding of the industry before embarking on their journey.

A good education not only entails skill training, but preparation for the working world. In the case of animators and designers who specialize in visual effects as well as motion media, it is not just as simple as looking for an institute with internship programmes. Any industry professional worth his salt will tell you that it is imperative that aspiring animators have a top-class demo reel, showcasing their strengths and works. The demo reel should tell YOUR story and your specialisation.

While some general education institutes do offer these courses, it is better to pursue your education at specialised schools, although you will be hard-pressed to find say, Motion Media Colleges that offer expertise only in that area. Institutions like MAGES Institute of Excellence however, come as close you could get to motion media colleges, offering specialised education in niche courses, but somehow managing to cover a variety of courses from related industries, offering students the exposure to different aspects and the opportunity to encounter and work with people of different skills that they may have to work with in their future career.

At MAGES, the focus is not simply on academics, but prime importance is also given to developing your portfolio. We nurture and arm our students with the knowledge needed to apply themselves in the working world. Students will find that besides shaping their portfolios, through industrial projects, our institution also offers assistance in job placement.