Tips and Tricks to Designing Instructional Videos
1. Weave an Overarching Theme or Concept that Carries Through the Video
Developing elements that will tie the entire piece together and that can be reused or used in tandem with other elements will help create a more cohesive product.
2. Frame the Scenes
When considering framing, always refer to good layout and design.
3. Think About Transitions
Determine opportunities to bridge transitions with visual elements. This will help bring continuity to the piece.
4. Determine the General Tone
Consider the information and overall purpose of the video. Match the style of the video to appropriately and effectively communicate the message.
5. Establish an Effective Workflow
When working in a linear fashion it is easy to run into scenarios where spacing can become tight as more and more elements are added. It is often a good practice to incorporate a maximum amount of content and work backwards to reduce the on-screen elements to maintain proper spacing and comfortable layout aesthetics.
6. Use Visual Devices
In traditional animation, there is a technique called a “smear.” When real life motions are extremely quick and captured at a relatively slow frame rate, the image may look blurry. A smear is the analog version of motion blur and can produce some interesting and stylistic results.
