The Decibel Chart

0 dB
Nothing

10 dB
Normal breathing

20 dB
Rustling Leaves
Buzzing insect

30 dB
Soft whisper

40 dB
Very soft music

50 dB
Quiet Radio

60 dB
Electric toothbrush
Normal speech
Dog barking

70 dB
Average (busy) street noise
Orchestra
Vacuum cleaner
Typewriter

80 dB
Alarm clock
Telephone ring

90 dB
Lawn mower
Train whistle
Subway train
Police whistle

100 dB
Loud crowd noise
Heavy city traffic
Chainsaw
Pneumatic drill
Car horn
Farm tractor

110 dB
Accelerating motorcycle
Train

120 dB
Thunder
Megaphone

150 dB
Fireworks
Firecracker
Balloon pop

Creative Brief

Overview
After looking at designers who’ve explored the idea of visualizing sound and music in the format of motion graphic design, I’ve come up with the idea of exploring the concept of 10 through sounds and how sound is measured in decibels (dB).

Sounds will be translated into visuals using simple line elements and change in colours.

Goals
To further explore the relationship between what we hear and what we see.

Audience
Anyone from the age of 10 and up. As the video explores how sound is measured, it can in turn be an educational video for younger audiences.

Content Planning
Make sound waves in After Effects and use masks to combine illustrations. Find and record all sounds.

Course Reflection

On the whole, I wouldn’t say motion design is much different from other design specialties. The same principles apply, only they are applied in a whole new dimension in which we also have to concern ourselves with timing, space, movement, and the way we see movement in space, not to forget music and sounds. Most of all, how all that affects and changes the way a message is communicated. With all that combined in the right way, how the message is communicated and how we feel about it can in turn be more powerful than what an ordinary print can do. I think this is what makes time-based communication stand out from other areas of design.

My favourite part of this class (other than not having to worry about printing issues and costs) was starting this blog. I’ve benefited most from it as it forced me to look deeper into the world of motion graphics and not only look at them on the surface. I was able to look at them in a way that I never would have done if I didn’t have to write about them. I’ve learned a lot about how certain things were created to finding people who do this as a job. As much as I’ve enjoyed writing my own posts, I always learn something new reading my classmates’ blogs. Whether it’s a post about a new designer or a video, the fact that it’s design that’s not static makes it all the more entertaining.

I took this class having some idea of what to expect. I was most excited about learning how to put design in motion, seeing that I’ve never used After Effects before coming in here. Although this whole process truly is time-consuming, I did find myself enjoying it and having the patience for it — if only I had more time!

Now that I’ve had my fun with After Effects, film is something I could always look into next. That was the one thing in this class that I didn’t do. What I took from this class was valuable. I can now look at a video and know it’s not impossible to create.