What are the best practices and principles for designing and animating for different platforms and audiences?

1 Know your platform

Different platforms have different specifications, limitations, and opportunities for designing and animating. For example, web design and animation need to consider factors such as loading time, responsiveness, interactivity, and accessibility, while video design and animation need to consider factors such as resolution, frame rate, duration, and sound. Therefore, you need to research and follow the best practices and guidelines for each platform you are working on, and test your design and animation on different browsers, devices, and screen sizes.

2 Know your audience

Different audiences have different preferences, expectations, and needs for visual communication and animation. For example, children may respond better to bright colors, simple shapes, and playful movements, while adults may prefer more subtle, sophisticated, and realistic effects. Therefore, you need to define and understand your target audience, and tailor your design and animation to their interests, emotions, and behaviors. You can use tools such as personas, user journeys, and feedback surveys to gain insights into your audience.

3 Know your purpose

Different purposes have different outcomes and strategies for visual communication and animation. For example, if you want to inform, you may use clear, concise, and factual design and animation, while if you want to persuade, you may use emotional, appealing, and persuasive design and animation. Therefore, you need to clarify and align your design and animation with your communication goals, and use appropriate techniques and elements to convey your message and call to action. You can use tools such as storyboards, scripts, and prototypes to plan and refine your design and animation.

4 Know your style

Different styles have different impacts and impressions for visual communication and animation. For example, if you want to create a professional, authoritative, and trustworthy design and animation, you may use a formal, consistent, and minimalist style, while if you want to create a fun, friendly, and creative design and animation, you may use a casual, varied, and expressive style. Therefore, you need to choose and apply a style that suits your platform, audience, and purpose, and use consistent colors, fonts, shapes, and motions to create a coherent and distinctive identity for your design and animation.

5 Know your principles

Different principles have different rules and guidelines for visual communication and animation. For example, some of the basic principles of design are contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity, while some of the basic principles of animation are timing, easing, anticipation, and follow-through. Therefore, you need to learn and apply the principles of design and animation to create a visually appealing, functional, and dynamic design and animation. You can use tools such as grids, guides, and curves to help you follow the principles of design and animation.

6 Know your tools

Different tools have different features and functions for designing and animating. For example, some of the popular tools for web design and animation are HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SVG, while some of the popular tools for video design and animation are Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Premiere. Therefore, you need to choose and master the tools that best suit your platform, style, and needs, and use them efficiently and effectively to create and animate your design. You can use tutorials, courses, and communities to learn and improve your skills with the tools of design and animation.