The Team
An Animation on the History of the LEGO Logo
BACKGROUND:
The wonderful world of Lego has a played an influence on many people's lives including my own from a very young age when living in the Netherlands to the present day as an adult, including introducing and teaching it to my family members. I have personally always been interested in working for the company in some design capacity, hence my sincere interest and desire to discover more about the branding design of Lego.
PROJECT OVERVIEW & GOALS:
In this case study, I chose to research and learn about the history of the LEGO logo and present it in a storyline fashion through an animation video. In the process of creating this animated film, I wanted to educate myself on new techniques in Adobe After Effects when it specifically came to typography (text) and shape animation. In addition, through the use of YouTube tutorials, I wanted to adapt more effects into my roster of knowledge with the After Effects software.
TECHNOLOGY USED:
SOFTWARE:
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Premiere Pro
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
Adobe Firefly
Google Meta
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS:
When exploring and researching the history of Lego including their business logo, I utilized the web for overall insight along with a well-established book, ‘The Lego Story’ which contained a very descriptive story about the overall development of the company and brand. It was interesting to reveal the entire historical timeline of the logo whether beginning with its conservative approach to ending in a more fun and entertaining manner.
OVERALL CREATIVE PROCESS:
PRELIMINARY SKETCHES:
Sketches were utilized to better understand the shapes, tones and overall composition that each Lego logo took on throughout its lifespan. In addition, I wrote down various ideas I had to animating each logo throughout the film. Following this traditional procedure, I continued by inventing new conceptual renditions (sketches) of what the Lego logocould transform into in the future.
STORYBOARD:
I continued with the process of this animation film project by creating a storyboard unleashing any imaginative and creative ideas that came to mind. I made sure not to have limitations to the conceptual sketches in relation to what I knew on how to accomplish it with the appropriate software (After Effects).
The final film product does differ from the original storyboard due to my lack in knowledge on how to complete some of these conceptual ideas. I made sure to not let this interfere in the learning process by taking on other approaches to effects and animations when it came to logo and text animation.
FINAL SOLUTION:
This completed animation project resulted in a truly eclectic mix of various typography design accompanied with animated transitions throughout the entire composition. It comes across as educative and entertaining story about the historic journey of the Lego logo.
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
When looking back at the entire process of my first accomplished case study on a major brand, I've realized the true challenges that come with attempting to layout and execute your creative and imaginative ideas into actual tangible design assets. You can create anything in your mind, but transferring that mental vision into something actual through the applicable software and digital tools that are at your disposable, is a very enjoyable challenge.
I appreciated the hurdles that came with learning new techniques and approaches to animating typography and shapes through After Effects. There were true struggles learning specific approaches and mechanics of the logo going from non-existent to completion, but each new logo animation brought joy when seeing the entire animation come to fruition. Connecting each logo in the timeline also presented some new obstacles when it came to morphing and dissolving between logos. Overall, I am more skilled and able to create my animated visions through the software that I have educated myself in.