eXPLAINER VIDEO - MARINE PLASTIC CONTAMINATION

An Explainer Video & Infographic Poster for Ocean Conservation Awareness

This self-initiated project is a multimedia awareness campaign I created to highlight the rising threat of marine plastic pollution. It combines a motion graphics explainer video and an infographic poster, designed to educate and inspire viewers to take action.

The content was fully built by me — from concept to visuals to animation — using Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, and AI-powered tools for scripting and narration.

PROJECT REVIEW

The primary objective was to visually simplify a serious, data-driven environmental issue in a way that could connect emotionally with viewers — without overwhelming them.

Challenges:

  • Converting a stat-heavy topic into an engaging visual story

  • Balancing empathy, urgency, and optimism in both video and poster

  • Animating abstract ideas like plastic pollution and marine damage in a way that's clear but not heavy-handed

  • Working solo on scripting, design, voiceover sync, and animation

OBJECTIVE & Creative Challenge

I wanted both the video and poster to feel educational but accessible — professional without being too scientific. The visual style is clean and flat, with a calming oceanic color palette of teal, navy, and soft blue, accented by bright coral to highlight key points.

The motion pacing is smooth and purposeful. I focused on gentle transitions, vertical scroll animations, shape layers, and opacity fades to mimic the flow of water and draw emotional connections.

Typography was kept large and readable with a focus on bold statements, especially for data like “1 out of every 3 fish contains plastic” — designed to land hard but stick softly.

CREATIVE DIRECTION

  • Illustrator – For designing all vector assets, icons, scenes, marine life, and plastic debris

  • After Effects – For keyframing animations, using graph editors, null object parenting, trim paths, shape morphing, and camera movement

  • Premiere Pro – For final syncing and sound design refinement

  • Text-to-Speech & AI Tools – For generating and refining the narration script and audio

TOOLS USED

  1. Script Breakdown & Scene Planning
    I started by converting the script into narrative beats — breaking it down into 7 visual sections that could each represent a key idea, statistic, or emotional moment. Each scene was storyboarded using simple thumbnails.

  2. Illustration
    In Illustrator, I created assets like:

    • Marine animals (turtles, fish)

    • Plastic items (bags, nets, bottles)

    • Underwater backgrounds with layered depth
      All assets were designed with animation in mind — grouped by layer, flattened only where necessary, and named for quick After Effects import.

  3. Animation in After Effects

    Each scene was brought to life using:

    • Shape layer morphing for plastics transforming into marine animals

    • Trim Paths to reveal infographics and underwater lines

    • Opacity + Position keyframes for floating debris and marine motion

    • Camera layer (2.5D) for a soft parallax effect, giving a sense of underwater depth

    • Ease Graph Editor for polished, organic motion

    • Audio waveform syncing with the voiceover to time emotional pauses and reveal key stats

  4. Audio & Synching

    The AI-generated narration was synced with layered background music and soft ambient water textures. Each animation beat matched voice inflection, creating a more immersive experience.

MOTION DESIGN & ANIMATION WORKFLOW

RESULTS & REFLECTION

This project gave me an opportunity to combine visual storytelling, data visualization, and motion design into one cohesive experience. I also challenged myself to manage every part of the production pipeline — from research and scriptwriting to design and animation.

It deepened my skills in:

  • Scene transitions and shape animations

  • Creating emotion through motion

  • Designing for social/environmental impact

Most importantly, it reminded me how design can help people see the invisible — like the plastic floating beneath the surface.

WHAT I LEARNED

  • Keep your visuals as simple as the message needs — not more

  • Audio timing and motion pacing are everything in explainer videos

  • Tools are only powerful when guided by empathy and purpose