FEELING THE MOTION

Motion Design Trends Of 2022

More than just an execution, motion design & animation informs so much of what we do at Traffic. In fact, our content and social media teams are endlessly planning and imagining new ways for our brands to be experienced to not just keep them innovative and fresh, but to prevent content fatigue in the fast paced and ever transformative digital world. 

The world of motion graphics has experienced a big boost over the last few years. While in-person events took a hit throughout the global pandemic, video creators turned to footage animation and began experimenting with motion graphics to come up with fresh ways of delivering content.

Over the past few years, our motion team has grown to be more involved in every project from the early stages of strategy through to the creation of amazing live campaigns, and we have really had to stay on top of trends in this space. In previous years, motion graphics trends have consisted of eye-catching colour palettes, dynamic animations, simplistic design, and retro elements. But, 2022 saw the introduction of some amazing new trends.  

Here is our wrap up of some of the top motion graphics trends for 2022 so far.

Thin Lines & Minimalism 

Lines perform many functions in a video or animation, yet this year thin lines have been playing a very interesting role. Making them super-thin yet extra-distinctive, artists try to create animations that look like real hand-drawn pictures. It adds a unique style to the videos.

Kinetic Typography 

It is not unusual to find designers who are a little hesitant to experiment with kinetic typography due to the high likelihood of reduced legibility. However, this year saw many including Traffic take up new challenges in this space, breaking traditional rules which resulted in some great results. And, it has been very well received due to the fact it draws more attention to a brand, creates a more memorable experience and demonstrates high performance across digital expressions. 

Smooth Transitions 

A transition is the change from one frame to another in an animation or video. The design of the transition affects the overall impression of this. There are many techniques for designing transitions. Using a smooth transition creates a feeling of naturalness of what is happening and is effective if you want to evoke a sense of calm. Dynamic transitions are used to reveal energetic shots. Thanks to the capabilities of After Effects, designers can safely use seamless transition techniques in their motion graphic videos. 

Restricted Colour Palette 

This trend is telling a visual story using only a few primary colours instead of a rich palette with many semi-tones, resulting in a straightforward and sophisticated outcome.

Animated Logos

Motion graphics breathe life into static typography and icons, making a brand more attractive and dynamic-looking for customers. Animated logos, due to their unexpected movements and twists, are often associated with the brand’s tendency to innovate and deliver something unique to its customers.

Grain 

The grain is a tool, which is used by designers to enhance the authenticity of images, creates an effect of texture in the imagery whilst adding some life. It results in the visuals possessing a more natural “real-world” look in line with natural surfaces and textures. A good effect to use when trying to achieve a “holistic / home-made” quality outcome to the audience. 

The animated videos with the grain effect stand out from others and help brands deliver eye-catching visuals to customers. Such animation shows that a company stands for home-made quality and creativity.

Vertical Animation 

Did you know that the number of mobile phone users worldwide is around 6 billion? This number represents the number of people that have vertically inclined devices, so it is only natural for this number to impact the way we receive perceive media daily. For example, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook – all have one thing in common – that is that for best part of the time, we consume their media products vertically. Which is why, vertical videos for Instagram stories, TikTok, and Facebook ads have gained so much popularity over recent times and will continue to do so. 

Feeling inspired? View our recent case studies to view applications or contact us today to discuss your design, social media and content creation needs.