How to Use Interactive Animations for Your Brand Design

Interactive animation has become an increasingly popular way to engage viewers in a game or virtual experience. These can be efficient tools to create immersive experiences and offer unique visuals to help promote your brand.

But creating a winning interactive animation requires more than just attractive images and fancy technology — it needs purposeful design, powerful storytelling, and thoughtful execution for success.

Interactive Animations vs 3D Design

Interactive animations and 3D design can often be confused with one another. It’s important to note that the two are different mediums, each with its own strengths and weaknesses:

A 3D design is a static visual that creates highly detailed three-dimensional objects. In graphic design, 3D design can be used for logos, fonts, packaging, and other visuals that require dimensional depth.

An example of a 3D design is a logo that gives the illusion of 3D shapes, such as raised letters or logos with light and shadow effects.

Interactive animations, on the other hand, provide an interactive experience in which users can explore and interact with 3D objects. This type of animation is great for creating immersive, dynamic visuals that engage viewers and drive interaction.

An example of an interactive animation in brand design is this immersive and interactive virtual tour of a dollhouse:

Interactive Animation vs Traditional Animation

Interactive animations should also be distinguished from traditional animation.

Traditional animation creates a series of static images or drawings that are shown in sequence to create the illusion of movement. This type of animation is often used to create cartoons, movies, and other types of videos.

Interactive animation, on the other hand, is a more dynamic type of animation that allows users to interact with the content. It is frequently used to create virtual reality experiences, video games, and web-based applications.

The Benefits of Using Interactive Animations for Your Brand Design

Using interactive animations in your brand design can offer many benefits. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Enhanced engagement: When customers are able to engage more with your brand, they’ll be more likely to remember it. Interactive animations allow viewers to explore and interact with your content and gain a deeper understanding of your brand.
• Increased visibility: Interactive animations are eye-catching and can draw attention to your content. They’re also more likely to be shared across social media and other platforms, which can help increase the visibility of your brand.
• Improved storytelling: Interactive animations offer a unique way to tell stories and create memorable experiences. With the right design, you can craft an engaging narrative that resonates with viewers.

What Are Ways You Can Use Interactive Animation to Your Brand?

Here are some ways you can use interactive animation to your advantage:

1. Create immersive experiences

Interactive animation is an efficient way to create immersive experiences that allow viewers to explore a brand’s environment, products, or services. IKEA’s Place app, for example, allows users to virtually design a room using their products.

2. Create interactive tutorials

Interactive animation can be used to create tutorials and how-to guides. This type of animation provides a more engaging way for viewers to learn about a product or service. An example is the use of augmented reality to provide recipes using Bombay Sapphire.

3. Create interactive games for marketing

If it makes sense for your brand, you can create an interactive game to engage users with your products or services. Gamification can be used to promote products and services, such as creating a virtual store or an online game.

An example of this is McDonald’s Pick ’n’ Play interactive billboard game where customers can simply use their smartphone to interact with the digital screen and win a goodie or freebie of their choice.

Best Tools to Create Interactive Animations

If you’re new to interactive animation, there are various tools and software available to help you get started. Here are some of the best tools for creating interactive animations:

• Adobe After Effects: This software is used to create 2D and 3D animations, motion graphics and visual effects. It also has a range of pre-made templates and plugins that can help speed up your workflow.
• Flinto: This easy-to-use tool allows you to quickly create interactive prototypes for mobile apps and websites. It also has a range of tools that allow you to animate transitions, add interactions, and preview your designs.
• Unity: This is a powerful 3D game engine used to create games, virtual reality experiences, and interactive simulations. It has a range of features that make it easy to create immersive 3D environments.

3 Quick Tips for Developing an Effective Interactive Animation

Creating an effective interactive animation can be a challenge, but here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Focus on storytelling

Make sure to create a story that resonates with viewers. Try to focus on creating an engaging narrative and avoid relying too much on visuals. Some tips to help with creating a compelling brand story include using meaningful characters, having a strong message, and a captivating ending.

2. Keep it simple

Try to keep things simple and straightforward. A cluttered design can make it harder for viewers to follow the story. Aim to have a minimalistic yet engaging design. Some tips include using fewer colors, simple transitions, and minimal animations.

3. Test and optimize

Testing your animation on different platforms before launching is essential to ensure it works correctly. You can use analytics such as heatmaps, and user surveys to review the performance of your animation and optimize it as needed. Aim to create a smooth experience that viewers can easily follow.

Making Your Brand Design Stand Out

Interactive animations are a great way to add an engaging element to your brand design. By using these, you can create unique experiences for viewers and capture their attention. However, it’s important to align your animation with your overall brand design to make sure it resonates with users.

For more branding and design tips, check out our blog at ilfusion.com/blog.