Quality and Quantity

Here are some tips to optimize your design workflow and do quality control on your own work as an MMD. The optimized workflow will speed up your process and ad production. Not to mention the QCing your own work means fewer revisions, fewer errors, and quicker delivery.

• Optimizing your workflow
  • File Structure COUNTS
    • Match your file structure in the Finder/GDrive to the development program (AE, Premiere, etc.)
    • Find a file structure that works for you and keep it a standard/consistent for all your projects.
    • Preferably keep your structure simple and easy for other MMDs to understand for if you are out, or if another MMD needs to pick up after you.
    • Make sure all assets used in your project are located in the project folder and connected to the project files themselves.
  • Shortcuts and Key Commands
    • Learn the most common key commands for your build programs and practice using them.
    • Feel free to search out or create your own macros/keyboard shortcuts for your most common or often repeated tasks.
  • Templates
    • Create your own templates for some of your most often utilized ad sets and clients (slideshows, mashables, carousels, etc.) so you don’t have to start from square one each time.
    • If you find an ad you like made by a team here at CTC, reach out to that team for projects files so you can build off their existing work.
  • Plugins and Scripts (Expressions)
    • Learn and use some basic expressions that help reduce your amount of keyframes.
    • Install and share any free plugins that might help speed up your build out process.
    • Learn and utilize “Essential Graphics” and Pre-Comps to keep from unnecessarily duplicating work.

• QC your work
  • Watch your videos back and re-view images after exporting
    • Sometimes, things don’t export the way they looked in-program.
    • Sometimes, you catch spelling errors or missing punctuation.
    • Transitions and effect animations sometimes appear slower/faster than when building out in-program.
    • In-program previews don’t always display in real-time or at full-resolution.
    • Reviewing exported work sometimes helps to see if they make sense outside of the context of the building program.
  • Double Check all of the copy against the brief
    • A properly written brief should contain all the requested/required copy for the ad exactly as written.
    • Make sure you aren’t adding or subtracting from the copy or capitalizing/lowercasing any font that does not match the brief unless instructed to do so or left open for creative interpretation.
  • Double check that the brief instructions/requirements are being met
    • When re-watching your ads, make sure to compare them to the brief and make sure the concept/request/purpose of the ad matches.
    • Sometimes, things can get lost or forgotten in the process of making the creative portions of the ad, especially if it is a complex ad.
  • Make sure you can easily tell the purpose of your ad
    • Know where your ad will appear. Is there any part of the ad that will be cut off, or covered up by in platform UI overlays?
    • Can you answer the “Who, What, and Why” of the ad when watching it?
  • File Naming / Organization
    • Make sure your exports are named to match the official MMD guidelines.
    • Double check that your exports are dropped in the appropriate folder and sub-folder that makes it easy for review, and for the buyer to find the finished assets.
    • Make sure the reviewing platform and GDrive file structures match both in name, and organization.
    • Test your links to both GDrive and the reviewing platform before sending off in Asana to your CS and Client.

Resources:

• https://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/post-haste-motion-design
• https://medium.com/@vinzent/file-management-for-motion-designers-d41bfeeea1b6
• https://aescripts.com/
• https://motionarray.com/