Figma has skyrocketed to fame

There is a high demand for designers and layout artists with knowledge of After Effects, as motion design has become a fundamental skill in design and layout. Figma is a powerful program that can support work in the program in an enjoyable way. Steinar Júlíusson, a motion designer at Brandenburg, will be teaching After Effects this winter and providing insight into the possibilities of Figma.

Steinar is one of the country's leading motion designers and has a strong command of the After Effects program. In Denmark, motion design has become part of the basic curriculum in studies related to graphic communication (media grafiker). Here in Iceland, union members can take advantage of continuing education to enhance their skills in using the program, as Iðan offers a robust course in After Effects. We spoke with Steinar about After Effects and its use, but this winter he also plans to introduce the use of Figma, which is also widely used in digital design.

What is After Effects and how is it useful in layout and design?

“After Effects is a comprehensive program when it comes to video and motion design, especially in 2D. It's quite accessible; beginners find it fairly easy to grasp the basics of this program. It's something of an industry standard; designers who specialize in motion design are more or less all familiar with After Effects.”

What is Figma and how does it relate to After Effects?

“Figma has shot to stardom as a fundamental design tool for web designers and developers. It's an open, cloud-based program and is outstanding when it comes to collaborating with others in real-time. It was designed from the ground up with digital use in mind. You can create websites or apps, from a draft to a fully finished website. In addition, there are several points of intersection between Figma and After Effects where they can support each other.”

Why should designers and layout artists learn to use After Effects?

“It grows with you; it can be both simple and complex. There is also a demand in the market for people with After Effects skills. The program is useful in the advertising industry, marketing, films, performing arts, education, and the list goes on.”

Can you name an example of recent motion design that you find interesting?

“JKR Global made a very cool branding video for M&Ms that is worth checking out.”

And perhaps one you've been involved in?

“At the Brandenburg advertising agency, we are constantly working with exciting and interesting companies. A good example of this is our recent collaboration with Krónan, which got a little facelift earlier this year. I was lucky enough to be part of that work.”

“Clients like NOVA, VÍS, Isavia, Indó, Blush, Amnesty, Bioeffect, Vífilfell, Orkan, and others have also chosen to work with us on all sorts of great projects, and most of these clients are very open to using motion design.”

What are your thoughts on the development and future of motion design?

“Development is rapid in this sector; constant innovations like artificial intelligence are emerging. These are fun tools that can be utilized well. However, what is always classic and stands out is the importance of being able to convey a strong narrative, to be able to tell a story and captivate the viewer. No matter what trendy method is used to do it.”

The next course will be on October 17th, and you can register for it here.