Since the conception of our idea for Thought Bubble, we’ve spent hours upon hours gathering inspiration from existing videos online, observing the medium’s growing impact and use across the globe. I thought it would be interesting to share some examples of motion graphics – or, as I’ve seen it referenced recently – infographics (I think this term actually describes the type of videos we make more accurately), that successfully communicate a vast array of messages.
What Barry Says, by Simon Robson
This is one of the first infographics we laid eyes on. At the time of its release we were in school and motion graphics were still a relatively blurry medium for us (for me anyway). We had just begun experimenting with it for various purposes, but What Barry Says showed us its unmistakable effect at informing an audience of an otherwise complex and lengthy subject to research, in just a few minutes. As designers, it showed us the untapped power that we had to inform and mobilize people. We could now look outside of commercial services. We could now branch off and become activists with our existing skill set, and with a university-driven sense of relentless hope, we could change the world. What made this video so impactful was also the timing of its release, as it coincided with (and, I believe, catalyzed) the growing awareness around the war in Iraq.
The Crisis of Credit Visualized, by Jonathan Jarvis
Another informative and timely video, this time explaining the credit crisis. Here we see a seamless, clean explanation of another complex topic, and in a visually engaging, entertaining way. The narration paired with the crisp sound effects drives an understanding that deepens with the use of supporting iconic imagery. As Jonathan himself explains, “the goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated.” Therefore, viewers are inspired by their enlightening experience to (hopefully) delve deeper into the subject, or come away at least a little more educated. Thought Bubble plans to have this effect on viewers also, and with the formation of an online archive and social network, we hope that videos like this drive discussion and debate among viewers.
The Declaration of Human Rights, by Seth Brau
This video exemplifies just how powerful a soundtrack can be, and how useful an infographic can be in sharing an otherwise dry and lengthy information source. I mean really, how many of us have read through the Declaration of Human Rights? The founder of the Human Rights Action Center (HRAC), Jack Healey, states that “The UDHR was signed by the United Nations 60 years ago and, unfortunately, less than 1% of the world’s population is aware that it exists.” What’s wonderful about this video is that it achieves true global exposure by being translated into other languages. With such a simple style and text-central approach like we see here, it’s quite simple to do.
350.org: Because the world needs to know, 350.org
A great example of how effective an infographic can be without the use of typography (text). This way, there isn’t even a need for translation and the message is understood around the world as is. 350.org uses this video to explain their central motivation, which is to lower the CO2 in the atmosphere to a safer (and less globally-destructing) ratio of 350 ppm (parts per million).
Wedding Crashers: The Perfect Girl in Typography, Brian Cain
The last example is of a simpler, typographic video that visualizes dialogue from a character in the 2005 movie, Wedding Crashers. The nature of the dialogue is comical, which makes for a comical video in general, but the concept remains strong in that the visual support of text, a.k.a. typography, emphasizes the message being communicated (or in this case, spoken). The subtle animations of the text (such as the word dating becoming a set table) compliment particular moments in the conversation and add visual interest.
There are so many more examples out there, but we hope to add videos to that landscape that inform the audience, educate them, and motivate them to learn more about a given topic or issue. Our main goal at the end of the day, is to spread awareness, and help share knowledge.
That’s why we are looking for clients like NGO/NPOs, authors, great thinkers, and so on, who generally have important, informative, and educational messages to relay to the public. If you’re wondering about our videos, how we intend to make them, or what our service details are, please contact us. We can fill you in, and we’ll be posting all of that information to the blog very soon!
your thought bubble: