"Digital Horizons"
In collaboration with Gensler and Dell Technologies, I designed and animated a 70-foot motion graphic for the Interactive Community Wall at UT Austin’s Moody Center, showcased during live events. The project was part of Dell’s Welcome to Now campaign, emphasizing motion, color and branding without direct messaging.
To refine the concept, I developed 18 iterations, experimenting with composition, motion, color and brand integration to navigate technical constraints and client feedback. The process involved exploring three-dimensional space within a two-dimensional display, seamlessly incorporating circuitry elements and the Dell Technologies logo, and ensuring a visually immersive experience despite the wooden panel diffusion layer and 252 x 41 resolution.
This page documents the evolution of the motion graphic—from initial concept and storyboarding to design constraints, technical refinements and final execution.
Completed Motion Graphic
Storyboarding
This storyboard was conceptualized in collaboration with Bukola Adekunle, but I took the lead in developing the design and later brought it to life in Blender. To capture "Welcome to Now," I leveraged the 70-foot length of the Interactive Community Wall to create a sense of movement and immersion, making viewers feel as if they were traveling through space. Using optical illusions and perspective shifts, I aimed to push the boundaries of a two-dimensional screen into a dynamic three-dimensional experience. Incorporating computer chip and circuitry elements further reinforced an immediate visual connection to Dell Technologies, grounding the abstract motion in the company’s identity.
Design Constraints
Designing for Dell Technologies’ "Welcome to Now" campaign came with unique challenges, requiring a balance between creative expression and technical limitations. The motion graphic had to fit a 252 x 41 resolution, displayed behind a wooden panel with a diffusion layer, which softened details and altered contrast. Additionally, Dell Technologies wanted messaging that was implied rather than overt—we couldn’t even include the phrase "Welcome to Now." To ensure the design worked within these constraints, every stakeholder presentation included an overlay simulating the diffusion and overlay effects. While working in Blender, I placed this overlay directly on my workspace and, upon exporting, applied a 10px Gaussian blur to high-quality renders to mimic real-world conditions. This process allowed for precise refinements, ensuring the animation remained impactful despite the physical display’s limitations.
Design Journey
Exports 1 thru 5
The first five exports focused on establishing the foundational elements of the motion graphic—determining the look, speed, color palette, and thickness of the three-dimensional grid. At this stage, the goal was to develop a visual language that balanced immersion with brand alignment while ensuring clarity on the 70-foot Interactive Community Wall. These early iterations served as proofs of concept, demonstrating the core idea to Dell and Gensler design professionals. Their feedback helped refine the structure and motion, guiding the project toward a more polished execution.
Exports 6 thru 8
With initial feedback in mind, these iterations focused on refining the motion graphic to better align with Dell Technologies' brand identity. A key request was the integration of the Dell logo, ensuring it felt naturally embedded within the animation rather than an afterthought. I also implemented circuitry elements, reinforcing the technological theme while maintaining a sleek, dynamic aesthetic. Using Geometry Nodes, I established a more rigid setup for the circuitry, allowing for selection of starting and ending points for individual paths and greater control over movement and precision. Additionally, I expanded the color palette to incorporate more hues consistent with Dell’s branding.
Exports 9 thru 13
At this stage, a major design constraint was introduced—the Dell Technologies logo could not be altered in any way and had to include the full company name. This required rethinking how to seamlessly incorporate it into the animation while maintaining the immersive, three-dimensional feel. I experimented with different methods of featuring the logo, including fading it in, moving it into the background, and integrating it naturally into the motion flow. Additionally, I began testing looping techniques, ensuring the animation could run smoothly in a continuous cycle. One key experiment was reintegrating the first frame into the final sequence through a pixelated reformation of a 'gate,' creating a visually cohesive loop that reinforced the futuristic, technology-driven aesthetic.
Exports 14 thru 16
These iterations focused on refining the color story, ensuring the animation felt more dynamic and engaging while staying true to Dell Technologies’ brand identity. I explored ways to breathe life into the color palette, enhancing contrast and movement to create a more immersive experience. Additionally, I refined the representation of the ‘gate’ element, shifting from a pixelated formation to a more deliberate closing motion from the outside in, making it feel more structured and intentional. Small adjustments were also made to the timing of the gate’s closure, ensuring it aligned smoothly with the animation’s overall pacing and visual rhythm.
Exports 17 thru 18
In the final stages, I focused on optimizing the animation based on Dell’s design team’s final feedback. A key requirement was ensuring the Dell Technologies logo appeared as both the first and last frame, reinforcing brand recognition within the loop. To enhance the visual narrative, I introduced a computer chip formation, serving as the origin point from which the circuitry flows. This addition provided a more cohesive and structured progression, strengthening the connection between Dell’s identity and the motion design. These refinements brought the animation to its final polished state, ensuring clarity, brand alignment, and a seamless viewing experience on the Moody Center’s 70-foot Interactive Community Wall.
