Kinetic Typography – Create a Visual Concept in Motion by Simon François

Learn to create coded motion typography with Illustrator and After Effects. This course is about making letters dance—literally. You’ll build a strong semantic concept and then animate it using code-like expressions, turning a simple word into a visual performance.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Build and structure individual letters in Illustrator for animation
• Generate variations of letterforms using coded expressions
• Orchestrate the timing and movement of multiple typographic elements
• Export and share your kinetic typography project

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Knowledge of animation and expressions is necessary. Beginner-level Illustrator and intermediate-level After Effects experience required.
• Tools: Computer with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe After Effects installed.

📝 Description

This isn’t your standard keyframe-by-keyframe animation course. Simon François approaches kinetic typography like a composer building an orchestra. You’ll start by formatting your text in Illustrator, then move into After Effects to build individual letters and generate variations using expressions. The real magic happens when you orchestrate the whole—timing each element to create a cohesive, rhythmic visual concept.

Simon’s background in graphic design for cultural and luxury clients (think Hermès and Ed Banger) means he brings a refined, conceptual edge to motion design. He focuses on building micro-narratives where animation breaks the austerity of abstract visuals. You’ll learn how to use coded motion to create variations that feel organic and intentional, not random. The course includes 18 downloadable resources to help you follow along, and the final project is a fully animated typographic piece you can add to your portfolio.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Motion designers looking to specialize in typographic animation
• Graphic designers wanting to add motion to their type-based work
• Anyone with intermediate After Effects skills who wants to explore expression-driven animation

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Simon François is a French graphic designer based in Paris, with a career that’s taken him through Amsterdam (Studio Thonik), Berlin, and Mexico. He works primarily in the cultural and luxury sectors, with clients like Hermès and Ed Banger Records. His work is heavily influenced by Dutch design culture, and he specializes in building conceptual micro-narratives where animation adds depth to abstract visuals. Simon is also passionate about language and poetry, which directly feeds into his approach to kinetic typography.

🏁 Final Result

• A fully animated kinetic typography piece created in Illustrator and After Effects, demonstrating your ability to build, vary, and orchestrate moving letterforms.