Demand for more digital

2016, so far, has been another pivotal year in the world of digital marketing at OceanBarefoot. We’ve seen a huge increase in the production of rich media, interactive design and motion graphics video too.

Video, as we predicted last year, continues to gather momentum…..

In April 2015 it was revealed that over 4 billion videos were being played back each day on Facebook alone. By Sept, this number had doubled to a staggering 8 billion video views per day! Cisco now predicts that 80% of all Internet traffic will be streaming video content by 2019, up from 64% in 2014.

Impressive stats!

This also hints at just some of the reasons why OB clients’ demand for video has continued to grow over the past year or so. As our video production ramps up, we are excited to announce the expansion of our digital team with our newest addition, Rob Monk, our new Head of Motion Graphics and Digital Development.

As a warm welcome, we decided to ask Rob a few questions to find out more about the man behind the impressive beard and big smile 🙂

How did you first get involved at OceanBarefoot?

Initially I freelanced, having worked on a variety on animation projects like the example below;

[vimeo id=”154619167″]

I became more and more involved with OB as the demand for video production increased and was offered the role of department head. This was a very exciting opportunity, which I am very much looking forward to!

What was the first project you worked on?

The first project I worked on was a motion graphic for Equifax. This was a great introduction to the company and I worked alongside various members of the team who had created the assets & storyboard. I came to realise that OB was very team-orientated and invested a lot of care into each project.

Which project(s) are you proud of so far?

I am proud of the work we have done for the QinetiQ Trusted Solutions video. It was an extremely challenging project mainly because of the shear scale of it! We needed to showcase around 25 products and solutions into one video – in a fluid and engaging way. One of the main challenges for the team was to learn about the variety of products (how they work, what they do etc.) and create a detailed storyboard.

For such a large project, the storyboard was essential to the workflow because we knew which assets to create and could get timings in place for the animation. There was also a huge amount of 3D modelling involved, and a lot of assets work through. The client was extremely happy with the result, which was a great reward for the whole team.

Are there any animation trends that excite you?

I think it is important to keep an eye on what is happening in the creative industry, as it can provide inspiration and also motivation to create the best possible work. Animation trends tend to come and go but a couple of my favourite trends are:

Low Poly Animation
This a very popular and much loved style, because of its simplicity and abstract nature. This is generally done using 3D animation software, and objects are given a blocky triangular look. This is the polar opposite of photo realistic animation, as details are deliberately lost in order to create a stylised and unique appearance.

[vimeo id=”53618201″]

Liquid Motion
The idea behind ‘liquid motion’ is that the elements appear organic in their movement, and can change shape at any time. I really like this style as it can encourage abstract thinking and lots of crazy ideas!

[vimeo id=”77149266″]

Generally however, I like a good mixture of elements in various styles. This can often lead to a more unique look and feel.

[vimeo id=”152598158″]

What are you most looking forward to with joining OB team?

I am excited by the opportunity to work for a dynamic, creative team, which is looking to push the boundaries in the digital industry. With advances in technology on the horizon, there will be plenty of new opportunities to explore. In terms of animation, I am looking forward to working with the team to create fun and engaging videos and show off what we can do!

Very exciting times ahead…..

To find out more about how we can help you generate engaging and quality content across both digital and print platforms, please contact our Marketing Manager, Natasha French by email at natasha.french@oceanbarefoot.com or call us on 0208 390 0035.