The Importance of Design: Why Does It Matter ?

So, I gotta tell you, I'm completely in love with the opening of 'Catch Me If You Can', whipped up by the genius French pair, Oliver Kuntzel and Florence Deygas. This sequence, which tips its hat to Saul Bass, a real trailblazer in motion design, is your textbook example of design on the move done right.

What's so great about it? Why does it work so well? How does it chat to its audience? Let's take a peek at a single frame from this gem to figure this out. You don't even need to see the whole movie - this frame alone gives you a flavor of what the film's all about.

In this frame, Tom Hanks' character is the star of the show. His silhouette is basic, but little details like his glasses, hat, tie, and newspaper paint a picture of a straight-laced government guy. He's not looking at the newspaper, which gives off vibes that he's hunting for something that's hard to find.

Following his line of sight, we spot a smaller figure scooting towards the right side of the screen. A bunch of people dressed as flight attendants drop hints about the movie's storyline. It seems like the smaller figure might be a pilot, and we might be in an airport.

The direction of a bunch of arrow icons is another neat detail. The first arrow on the left is pointing at Tom Hanks, who's looking down at the smaller figures. These figures are following a stewardess, and a small yellow arrow is pointing up to the top right. Cool thing is, there's an airplane heading back towards Tom Hanks' character, flying just over his head. This creates a loop within the frame, hinting at a chase between the big and small figures. The smaller figure tries to blend in and get on the plane, which always seems to lead back to the big guy.

Plus, this frame pops up early in the sequence when the two characters aren't really linked yet. You can see this in their size difference. But watch the whole sequence, and you'll see the characters getting closer in size as their relationship heats up. I won't give away the ending, but I can tell you that the design works brilliantly with the motion to paint a picture. It's not just about stuff moving on screen, but about how the graphics connect to steer the story and fire up your imagination.

So, to wrap it up, design is a big deal when it comes to how we see an image. It doesn't need to be complicated or weird - the secret sauce is simplicity, clarity, and a story that can be told visually to grab the viewer's attention.