Creative Design Process for Time-based Media
A Step-by-Step Overview
by Chris Gargiulo
The creative design process for time-based media such as film/tv and motion graphic design consists of three general steps: pre-production, production, and post-production. Pre-production consists of writing, planning, and sketching the story and concept. Production is when all assets are designed, created, shot, animated, and produced at full production quality. Finally, during post-production everything is put together with final audio through an iterative process of refinement to ensure that the end product is a polished piece of time-based media.
Pre-Production
Story & Pre-Visualization
Production
Asset Creation & Gathering
Post-Production
Refinement & Display
The primary goal of the pre-production phase is to develop the story and concept and to pre-visualize the product prior to beginning production. This early stage consists of writing, planning, and sketching. Once the story and concept are fully developed and tested, the next stage of production begins, where the primary goal is to create all of the assets that are needed at full production quality. Depending upon the project, this stage can consist of photo shoots, video shoots, the design of all graphics, principle animation, and audio gathering/recording. Once all assets are produced and all individual scenes are complete, the next and final stage of post-production genius where the everything is put together and refined. Final audio is added such as music, voice overs and sound effects, and through an iterative process of refinement consisting of multiple drafts, the finished product is rendered and exported for final display on targeted media.
The creative design process for motion graphic design and film/tv production consists of three general steps: pre-production, production, and post-production.
The 3-Step Process in More Detail
Pre-Production
- Writing and Planning
- Logline
- Synopsis
- Outline
- Shot list
- Script
- Pre-visualization
- Storyboard
- Story reel
- Tests & Design Explorations
- Typography studies
- Color studies
- Graphic studies (i.e. graphical styles for all elements, character designs, environment designs, etc)
- Technical tests (i.e. animation tests, video tests, sound tests, etc)
- Sound tests (ie. music tests, sound effects, voice over tests, etc.)
Production
- Design
- Graphic production converting sketches to full production quality
- Illustration
- Photography
- Photo shoots
- Replacing stand-in images with full production quality photos
- Animation
- Animating each scene at full production quality
- Video/Film
- Shooting footage on set
- Logging
- Sound & Audio
- Gathering & recording music, voice overs, special effects, etc.
Post-Production
- Putting it all together
- Editing
- Sound Design
- Iterative revision (1st draft, 2nd draft, 3rd draft > Final)
- Recreating assets if needed (ie. re-animating, re-shooting, re-recording, etc)
- Final editing, polish, and mastering
- Final Output for Display
- Exporting for targeted media
Conclusion
It doesn't matter if you are producing a live action film or an animated motion graphic web promo, the general creative process is the same. During pre-production phase, you develop the story and concept by writing, planning, and sketching your ideas. During production, you create all assets that are needed, via photo shoots, video shoots, the design of final production quality graphics, and animation. Finally, during the last stage of post-production, you put everything together with final audio such as music, voice overs and sound effects. Through an iterative process of refinement consisting of multiple drafts, the end product is a polished piece of time-based media.
