Philadelphia Phillies Motion Graphic Prototype
GIT 314: Multimedia Design, Planning, and Storyboards
Arizona State University | Professor Quest Rogers
01/09/23-03/15/23
GIT 314: Multimedia Design, Planning, and Storyboards
Arizona State University | Professor Quest Rogers
01/09/23-03/15/23
Introduction
This motion graphic prototype pays homage to the Philadelphia Phillies by incorporating three tiers of custom lower thirds, meticulously crafted in After Effects. Developed using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects, the project blends brand storytelling with technical animation, aligning motion design with user-centered principles to deliver broadcast-quality assets. Guided by a creative brief, detailed storyboards, and a strong foundation in UX design, each tier was designed to meet multimedia goals and ensure visual clarity across digital platforms. My favorite part of the project was animating the three-tier lower third, which includes a custom fireworks sequence.
Documentation
This section features the foundational documents that guided the production workflow. The creative brief defined the campaign’s goals, branding elements, and audience insights, while the storyboards mapped out the timing and visual logic for each animation. Together, they shaped a design system that remains consistent, engaging, and technically sound across all three tiers.
🎯 Creative Brief
This creative brief outlines the branding goals, audience profile, and visual direction for a set of motion graphic templates designed for the Philadelphia Phillies. It serves as the foundation for a three-tiered lower third system celebrating the team’s 2022 National League championship and upcoming season opener.
✏️ Storyboards (3)
These storyboards visualize the motion flow, timing, and animation logic behind each lower third. Built with continuity in mind, they guide transitions, hierarchy, and on-screen pacing to ensure clarity and visual consistency across all tiers.
One-Tier Lower Third
The one-tier lower third is designed for simple, high-impact messages like event names or sponsor highlights. Its minimal layout prioritizes speed and clarity while reinforcing the Phillies’ brand identity with dynamic animation and pinstripe styling. From the soft glow-in to the directional wipe-out, each phase is timed to guide viewer focus and reinforce visual hierarchy.
This tier delivers essential messaging through a concise animation loop using blend modes, masked transitions, and smooth easing. The timing simplicity made animation refinement critical, requiring deliberate control of every element's movement and opacity.
Storyboard Tier 1
This storyboard for the one-tier lower third showcases 6 of 13 animation steps, highlighting how motion and timing were used to prioritize clarity and legibility.
From the soft glow-in to the directional wipe-out, each phase is timed to guide viewer focus. The animation is anchored by a clean entry and exit path, reinforcing hierarchy and clarity for rapid information delivery.
Two-Tier Lower Third
This storyboard presents 6 of the 11 total steps used to animate the two-tier lower third, focusing on timing offsets and text hierarchy. Each tier animates in with subtle delays to maintain flow, and fade-out transitions were refined to prevent overlap and preserve readability. Each tier animates in with subtle delays to maintain flow, and fade-out transitions were refined to prevent overlap and preserve readability.
Engineered in After Effects with blend modes and layered transitions, this animation adds complexity through sequential text reveals. The timing structure required precise alignment between movement, duration, and exit behavior to ensure seamless pacing.
Storyboard Tier 2
This storyboard for the one-tier lower third showcases 6 of 13 animation steps, highlighting how motion and timing were used to prioritize clarity and legibility.
Each tier animates in with offset timing, building anticipation and focus. The fade and scale techniques used in the exit phase were refined to avoid overlapping motions and maintain clarity, ensuring the subline supports rather than competes with the primary message.
Three-Tier Lower Third
The three-tier lower third was built for moments that require layered context, ideal for highlighting player stats, promotions, or social media highlights. Its complexity supports storytelling while retaining the polished look expected in a professional broadcast. Each tier is timed to build downward momentum, drawing attention through staggered reveals while maintaining a clear and clean visual flow.
This version required the most attention to detail because of the combination of blend modes, text masks, and looped timing cues. Additionally, the visuals flourish, like the custom fireworks, adding energy at the beginning.
Storyboard Tier 3
This storyboard illustrates 6 of the 13 steps that guide the layered motion of the three-tier lower third.
Designed to lead the viewer’s eye from top to bottom, each tier builds on the last, guiding attention through layered reveals. Precision in spacing, delay, and exit sequences was essential to avoid clutter and keep the visual flow clean and readable.
What did I learn?
I learned how motion graphics can enhance UX by delivering information clearly and visually, reinforcing brand trust while improving viewer engagement in fast-paced digital environments.