The intro video for a gamer’s YouTube channel sets the tone for the channel. It should draw the audience in immediately and excite them to stay and watch more. The goal of this project is to convey the channel’s brand with motion animation and music.
I had so much fun on this project! I got to be playful in my expression and have fun with colors and motion.
The client is a farming simulator gamer who started a YouTube channel to show his gameplay and commentary. He hopes to grow the channel to include other simulation games.
The client had a few requests:
- A logo
- Two songs: one country and one rock and roll
- Less than a minute
The client called the channel Wicky Farms, so going with a farm theme in the brand seemed obvious. However, since he wanted to expand beyond the farming simulator scene, I figured a more generic logo & video would be best. Still, using some minor aspects that bring a farm to mind was appropriate. I also wanted somehow to mesh the gaming idea with the farming scheme.
Meshing ideas in a logo
I started the project with designing the logo. What are some objects that bring a farm to mind? Tractors, barns, silos, cows, corn, carrots, pumpkins. What things pop into mind when thinking about gamers? Computers, controllers, headsets, play button.
As always with logos, I wanted to design a main logo and an icon logo, keeping in view the possibility that either one could be augmented or deconstructed for 3D or motion purposes. I decided a simple line-drawn style of icon logo would match the fun feel I was going for. Color could be added if needed and would be a fun way to design with it in future projects.
I came up with multiple designs that incorporated the two ideas, and my son even drew up a really cool design. I sent them off for the client to comment and choose. He selected one that I think is heavier on the farm theme but fits his channel well.
Meshing music styles in a video
Now with a logo designed, I began storyboarding a video story. Using two styles of music in the video added some interesting ideas to the story, and I decided to make the change a startling one where everything goes from black and white to color.
