Every now and then, you get to work with people who remind you why you fell in love with this field in the first place. For me, that’s Steve, a ridiculously talented designer I first worked with years ago, now an Art Director turned studio founder. When he called about collaborating on a new piece for Ancestry.com, the answer was immediate: of course.
The project was a motion overview video introducing Ancestry’s new DNA testing kit and how it helps users explore their origins with ease. My role was to handle the animation, motion direction, and compositing, translating Steve’s visual direction into a sequence that felt bright, friendly, and effortlessly informative.
The concept relied on a clean, stylized visual language — approachable and modern, but with enough personality to avoid feeling corporate. I focused on creating smooth narrative transitions that guided the viewer through each step of the process: from DNA collection to data visualization to personal discovery.
Using principles of anticipation, hierarchy, and temporal spacing, I built a motion flow that mirrored the clarity of the product experience. Each scene moved with intention — transitions were treated as connective storytelling rather than simple cuts, using shape morphs and parallax to maintain visual continuity.
The best part? It was approved in a single round. A testament to great creative direction, a trusting client, and a shared understanding of how good design moves.
Above is the full version of the piece (there were several cut-downs, as well)
Role:
Motion Design
