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FER RUGAMA | ART & DESIGN

BRIEF

Infovideo that explains the manufacturing process and traditional crafting of a Japanese Katana based on the information given in an infographic made for the same project.

​INFOVIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC

2018 | COLLEGE PROJECT

Design IV: Infovideo, Costa Rica Institute of Technology

COURSE

COLLAB

Individual project

ROLE

Writer, animator, conceptualizer and editor

TECH

After Effects
Illustrator
Hype

OVERVIEW

For this course, the general theme was the explanation of a manufacturing process for any product of our choice. There were two main projects we had to complete based on the product we chose: designing an infographic of the manufacturing process and then using that information to create an animated info video. In my case, I chose to focus on the traditional crafting of a Japanese Katana.

Skip process, jump to final solution →

PROCESS

​PHASE 1: INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS

The selected manufacturing process is entirely handmade and follows an ancestral technique that requires years to master in order to produce a high-quality product. Due to its manual nature, the manufacturing process is extensive and complex, resulting in a wealth of information that needed to be synthesized into the least amount of steps (I was able to reduce it to 10).

In terms of the visual approach, many aspects of how the project would be visualized became clear after conducting research and drawing on my previous knowledge and appreciation of Japanese art. From the outset, we opted for an ancient style, given that the chosen theme was the traditional crafting of a katana. To achieve this, we decided to draw inspiration from old Japanese scrolls as the primary visual guide.

Topic investigation > Synthesization of info > Graphic Style analysis >  Storyboard > Draft Design > Final Infographic design > Video benchmark analysis > Design the adaptation for the video > Final animation

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CHALLENGES

The biggest challenge of this project was synthesizing a large amount of information in a coherent and engaging manner. Additionally, since much of the information was in Japanese, there was the added challenge and anxiety of ensuring accurate understanding and portrayal of each step respectfully.

Furthermore, I faced the challenge of defending my decision regarding the visual direction for the project—the traditional Japanese style. Many of my Design School teachers advocated for the idea that 'less is more,' and my supervisor suggested a simpler, white-background style. However, I believed it was crucial to represent the visual richness of Japanese culture to maintain visual interest. Despite this, the project was  completely well-received at the final presentation of the project.

SOLUTION

The solution consisted of a 5 minute video that explains the manufacture process of a katana in 10 animated steps.

​PHASE 3: FINAL INFOGRAPHIC DESIGN

I would like to first start explaining this phase by emphasizing the size for which the project was designed and printed (Extra-Large print format of 33.11 x 46.81 inches, as pre-established by the teacher). This is important because if I don’t stress it enough, the paragraph size in the infographic may appear extremely small on a screen, but it was completely legible in the printed version.

For the final design, I used the typeface Dekiru to give a subtle Japanese vibe. Additionally, for the body paragraphs, I opted for a simple sans-serif font, Futura, to enhance legibility in large text paragraphs.

Graphically, I employed subtle colors and transparency to avoid over-saturating the composition and to simulate the toned-down colors used in ancient scrolls. I also used a handmade-looking stroke on the illustrations to simulate brush strokes, and a textured background to reinforce the semantics of ancient scrolls. Finally, I incorporated circles and the color red, which are commonly found in Japanese symbology, the national flag, and both traditional and modern graphic styles.

The goal with all of these elements was to create a blend of traditional and modern visual aesthetics, to capture the attention of the readers/viewers.

​PHASE 2: STORYBOARD

The 10 main steps of the manufacturing process needed to be visually represented, and that's where the storyboard comes into play. Several illustration proposals depicting each step and accompanying text to reinforce the illustration were created. Following discussions with my teacher, the final sketches were selected.

​PHASE 4: VIDEO BENCHMARK ANALYSIS

After completing the Infographic design, we conducted an extensive analysis of how Infovideos represent and animate their information. This step was crucial because translating information from a printed medium to a digitally animated format requires careful consideration to ensure a successful adaptation. I analyzed thirteen different Infovideos, and some key conclusions emerged from this analysis:

​Give an internal visualization of what is happening in the necessary steps to be able to explain them effectively (implementing a lateral cut of the elements to show their inside).

Using a timeline as a complementary guide to represent the time taken for each step, the extensiveness of the process, and to also give the visual comparison between each step.

GOALS

  • Efficiently explain a complex manufacturing process through eye-catching visuals and a didactic experience that captures the viewers' attention.

  • Summarize the manufacturing process succinctly without omitting relevant information.

Using recognizable elements such as kanji writing with ink and brushes is a very efficient way of contextualizing Japanese culture and the correct perception of the time period in which the process was invented.

The effect of sounds and music are key to help create a more immersive experience that efficiently holds the viewer's attention.

Using graphic guiding elements is a good option of presenting a detail, and at the same time it gives a visual guide to show the viewer what you want them to see specifically.

Animating a process in which you DON’T show all the unnecessary intermediate actions in between each step will help the expectator understand that those are a sequence of actions to perform as steps.

​PHASE 5: FINAL INFOVIDEO

Many steps had to be eliminated, modified, or abstracted to simplify the process. Firstly, this was necessary to translate the information from a print format to a digital/animated one. Secondly, it was essential to condense centuries of information and years of practice into a matter of minutes efficiently. Aesthetic choices were also crucial. Given the volume of information presented, it was essential to capture the user's attention. This was achieved through the chosen graphic style, which contextualized traditional Japanese culture and the relevant time period.

FINAL INFOVIDEO

​The final video was done using a combination of Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator and Hype.

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