Project 04: Nabi Animation

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Creating this animation for my publishing company, NABI, was both a challenging and rewarding experience. My logo consists of a simple butterfly that is half red and half blue. This served as the foundation for the animation, and I aimed to bring it to life in a way that reflects the company’s identity and connection to Korean culture. The animation begins with the butterfly gracefully flying into the frame, accompanied by a subtle fluttering sound. This movement not only introduces the logo but also symbolizes the idea of growth and transformation, core values I envision for NABI as a brand.

The highlight of this project is the butterfly’s transition into the Taeguk shape, which mirrors the same red and blue symbol of the Korean flag. The spinning motion and gentle fade between the two forms emphasize harmony and continuity, themes central to the company’s mission of bridging languages and cultures through publishing. As the Taeguk spins and reforms into the butterfly logo, the simplicity and elegance of the design become clear, showcasing the logo’s versatility while maintaining its visual impact.

To conclude the animation, I incorporated the word “NABI” appearing beneath the butterfly, accompanied by three black lines on the left upper wing that represent the Geon trigram from the Korean flag. The soft gong sound that plays as each line appears adds a calming, rhythmic element that ties into the traditional East Asian background music. Together, I feel that the sounds and visuals complement the logo’s simplicity while paying homage to Korean cultural symbolism in a subtle yet meaningful way.

Overall, I am proud of how this animation turned out. The sleek white background, the calming music, and the well-timed sound effects all work together to represent the NABI brand’s core identity: simplicity, balance, and a deep respect for Korean culture. This project allowed me to not only enhance my technical skills in After Effects but also thoughtfully connect my design work to the cultural and conceptual themes that inspire me. If I were to change anything, I may have tried to make the flying butterfly animation more realistic or added more to the Taeguk symbol itself. However, I feel that the final result I have is cohesive, intentional, and reflective of my brand’s vision.