

PRIVATE CLIENT
ANNIVERSARY SERIES
ILLUSTRATION / ANIMATION
The Happy Anniversary Series is a collection of looping animations designed for a private client. The initial scope of work was to create a looping GIF celebrating work anniversaries for each month the company’s employees were assigned to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of nine months, our team developed 24 concepts and 10 final looping animations spanning March through December of 2021.
Our team had a few points to keep in mind starting out. The client’s brand standards dictated the shape of the cake and the allowed colors to use in the illustrations. Fortunately, their color palette was expansive, and their design direction was minimal for the series. However, it was vital to the client that each month portrayed the seasons as accurately as humanly possible for their specific region.
In the initial stages, we spent days researching seasonal fruits, vegetables, and flora in the Farmer’s Almanac until we had a total of 24 concept sketches to pitch. Each concept featured a real cake made from seasonal fruits, and the background featured seasonal blooms. Once our concepts were fully fleshed out, the client narrowed the scope until each month had a single course of action.
Each month, I challenged myself to learn a new skill in Adobe After Effects. My favorite part of the final reel is seeing how far the production quality has come from its humble beginnings in March.
This series was particularly personal because it helped me develop as a motion graphics designer. Each month, I challenged myself to learn a new skill in Adobe After Effects. From learning a basic April rain effect to manipulating different warp and light settings to create a dramatic June heatwave, I was able to expand my toolkit along the way. My favorite part of the final reel is seeing how far the production quality has come from its humble beginnings in March.
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If you have a vision, let’s pair it with my flair for design! Feel free to send me an email to learn more about my experience, freelance rates, and availability.