Atomic Motion: How I adapted Atomic Design in After Effects
Reading time
7 minutes
Tags
Case Study, Atomic Design, Motion Design
Overview
Technical Details
Introduction
This project represented a monumental challenge not only for the amount of work, but also for the collaborative dynamics between authors, editors, and motion designer (me). It was in this context that, unknowingly, I applied the principles of atomic design to the structure of After Effects projects, anticipating an approach that today dominates digital interface design.
Atomic Design: A Reminder
Before diving into the specific case, it's useful to remember that atomic design, formalized by Brad Frost, is a methodology that breaks down interfaces into five distinct levels:
Atoms: basic elements that cannot be further decomposed
Molecules: groups of atoms that work together
Organisms: groups of molecules that form more complex sections
Templates: page layouts composed of organisms
Pages: specific instances of templates with real content
This approach has revolutionized interface design on platforms like Figma, enabling the creation of coherent, scalable, and easily maintainable design systems.
The Challenges of the Television Project
The project (that you can watch here) presented three fundamental critical issues:
Collaboration between editing and authors: Only the authors knew which elements of the archive material should be highlighted, but it was the editors who had to assemble everything.
Need for maximum flexibility: The graphic content had to be highly modifiable, even in the final phase of the process.
Autonomy in editing: Editors had to be able to make adjustments without requiring continuous revisions from the motion designer.
The Atomic Solution in After Effects
The solution emerged naturally from necessity: structuring the After Effects project following a modular logic that closely resembles atomic design. Here's how we implemented it:
Atomic Level: The Base Components
Each deliverable was decomposed into distinct layers, each with a specific function:
Zoomed background photo: The most basic atomic element, on which the editor could choose the focus area.
Animated transparent patterns: A library of textures and basic animations that added depth and movement.
Full 3D photo with animation: The main element, slightly tilted to create depth.
Top gradient: An amalgamating element that visually homogenized all the underlying layers.
Molecular Structure: Compositions and Pre-compositions
The real innovation lay in the structure of the After Effects project, organized into compositions and pre-compositions that perfectly mimicked the logic of Figma components:
Pre-compositions functioned as "molecules," encapsulating groups of atomic elements working together.
Main compositions acted as "organisms," assembling these molecules into complete functional units.
Master projects represented "templates," containing shared settings and global styles.
The Atomic Workflow in Action
The resulting workflow was surprisingly efficient:
The motion designer created the library of atomic and molecular components.
For each new graphic element, appropriate components were assembled according to needs.
The different layers were rendered separately and delivered to editing.
Editors, in collaboration with authors, assembled the layers in Avid, being able to adjust the focus on relevant areas of the background images.
Advantages of the Atomic Approach
This system led to tangible benefits that exactly reflect the strengths of atomic design in digital contexts:
1. Unprecedented Scalability
The modular approach made it possible to handle a volume of work that would have been impossible with traditional methodologies. Once the library of base components was created, the production of new graphic elements became exponentially faster.
2. Extreme Flexibility
The separation into layers offered flexibility rarely seen in television workflows. Each element could be modified independently without compromising the integrity of the whole.
3. Editability Until the Last Moment
One of the most appreciated advantages was the ability to make changes directly in Avid, eliminating the need to repeatedly return to the motion designer for small adjustments.
4. Simplified Workflow
The chain of modifications was drastically shortened. Instead of following the traditional path (author → motion designer → editor → review → motion designer...), many decisions could be made directly during editing.
Advantages of the Atomic Approach
This system led to tangible benefits that exactly reflect the strengths of atomic design in digital contexts:
1. Unprecedented Scalability
The modular approach made it possible to handle a volume of work that would have been impossible with traditional methodologies. Once the library of base components was created, the production of new graphic elements became exponentially faster.
2. Extreme Flexibility
The separation into layers offered flexibility rarely seen in television workflows. Each element could be modified independently without compromising the integrity of the whole.
3. Editability Until the Last Moment
One of the most appreciated advantages was the ability to make changes directly in Avid, eliminating the need to repeatedly return to the motion designer for small adjustments.
4. Simplified Workflow
The chain of modifications was drastically shortened. Instead of following the traditional path (author → motion designer → editor → review → motion designer...), many decisions could be made directly during editing.
Conclusions: Towards an Atomic After Effects
The experience described demonstrates how the principles of atomic design, born in the context of web design, can be successfully applied also in motion design and television production. This approach not only optimizes workflows but also promotes smoother collaboration between the different roles involved in the creative process.
In an era where content production requires ever greater speed and flexibility, rethinking After Effects in atomic terms offers significant competitive advantages:
Time savings: Reuse of already defined components
Visual consistency: Standardized elements that maintain project identity
Improved collaboration: Clear interfaces between different departments
Maintainability: Ease in updating repeated elements across multiple compositions
The next time you face a highly complex After Effects project, try thinking in atomic terms: you might discover that the solution to your workflow problems was already in your hands, hidden in the modular logic that has revolutionized digital design.
