The Role of Explanatory Motion News Graphics in Online Journalism

My Master’s degree thesis is finally done!

I am happy to report that I have completed and submitted my thesis, “The Role of Explanatory Motions News Graphics in Online Journalism,” back in early December. Now I’m in the home stretch of completing this 5-year journey to get my Master’s in Fine Arts in Motion Media Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Just three more classes to go, and I’ll be walking the stage at SCAD’s Savannah campus in June 2017.

The thesis is based on a theory I’ve cultivated for more than 5 years, starting when I first applied motion graphics in my work as as a graphics reporter at the South Florida Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. in the early 2010s, our staff was experimenting with animations. We were working on a variety of projects from animated maps, to animations showing how motorists could expect new off-ramps to work, and even an animation explaining the basics of the foreclosure process. Unfortunately, we felt it was too great of an uphill battle to get editors to see the vision for animated infographics. So I left the paper and focused on my own infographics design firm where I could continue to make these type of motion graphics.

So back to my thesis. I firmly believe the next step in the evolution of news infographics is in animation. Motion news graphics are a way to push a visual story narrative further. You can do anything — from showing how a new highway ramp will work to visualizing the number of gun deaths in America in each day of 2015. Motion graphics are popular with readers, and not only can be educational and informative, but entertaining as well.

This thesis explores the role of motion news graphics in online news. It includes interviews and polls, as well as some of the best motion news graphics I’ve seen in 2015 and 2016. I hope to be able to speak on my findings and theory, but for now I hope you’ll at least check out the thesis.

The thesis shows how motion news graphics can engage and inform audiences with a variety of stories from simple animations to complex, relevant news stories told through animated maps, charts, and illustrations — much like their predecessor: the print infographic.

Visual Thesis Project

Election 2016: How the U.S. Presidential Election was Won. My motion graphic highlights the results of the 2016 Presidential Election. The purpose was to prove that a motion news graphic with breaking news elements could be produced. Project took approximately 4-5 weeks from concept to design, and included 3 days time to update with live numbers with election results. Graphic incorporates 2D, 2.5 D and 3D animations, and was produced in After Effects and Cinema 4D. These type of animations are really engaging, and I got a lot of positive feedback on the subject. Check it out!

Full Thesis

You can read the full thesis at the Savannah College of Art and Design Digital Collections – Graduate Thesis collection.