Zen and the art of motion in user interfaces

Everyone is talking about transitions and motion in interfaces these days. But how does motion benefit UI? As designers, we face the challenge of communicating how motion should work (and its value) to other stakeholders. Mike Gadow and Russell Wilkins, motion designers turned UI designers, show how they use motion graphics and advocate for motion in user interfaces.

Interface animation has long been misunderstood as just adding finish and excitement to interfaces. With the prominence of animation in iOS 7 and Google Material Design, animation is becoming recognized as a vital part of interface design. But this perception is not changing quickly enough. As designers, we face the challenge of communicating how motion should work (and its value) to other stakeholders. Mike Gadow and Russell Wilkins, motion designers turned UI designers, show how they use motion graphics and advocate for motion in user interfaces. Russell and Mike are passionate about animation and motion graphics as well as the impact it can have on contemporary interface design. At Fjord, a service design consultancy, they strive to create insight-driven experiences that people love. Here, they explore the ways that motion in user interfaces can truly elevate an experience and discuss how to communicate UI motion and sell its value to others. Russell and Mike will review the latest methods of creating, iterating, and sharing UI motion with other stakeholders in a way that attendees can understand and build into their final product. Additionally, they will go through the most common roadblocks during design and development and explain how to overcome them.