Motion Design Pre-production – Concept Development and Creating 2D Artwork by Haewon Shin

This course is all about the part of motion design that happens before you open After Effects. Haewon Shin, a freelance art director who’s worked with studios like Ordinary Folk and clients like Google and TED, breaks down her entire pre-production process. You’ll learn how to develop a solid concept, turn it into a storyboard, and create 2D artwork that actually looks good. No fluff, just the practical workflow she uses on real client projects.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Develop persuasive concepts for motion design projects
• Create professional storyboards from initial ideas
• Write clear video concept proposals for clients
• Build a strong foundation in 2D drawing and design basics
• Design both realistic and stylized artwork
• Produce polished style frames ready for animation

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic motion production experience; familiarity with design software
• Tools: Drawing tablet, design software (Photoshop or Illustrator)
• Hardware: Computer capable of running design software

📝 Description

Most motion design courses focus on tool skills and animation tricks. This one takes a different route. It focuses entirely on pre-production—the phase where you figure out what you’re actually making and why it matters. Haewon Shin argues that without a strong concept, even the slickest animation falls flat. She’s built this class to fix that gap.

The course is split into two big chunks. First, you’ll tackle concept development. That means learning how to derive a persuasive idea from a client brief, structure it into a narrative, and communicate it through a storyboard. You’ll also practice writing concept proposals—a skill that’s often overlooked but essential for freelance work.

The second half is all about 2D artwork. Haewon covers the fundamentals that many working designers skip: light, space, perspective, color, and layout. She shows how these basics apply directly to motion design style frames. You’ll work through six exercises that take you from rough sketches to finished artwork, both realistic and stylized.

Throughout the course, Haewon shares case studies from her work with top overseas studios like Ordinary Folk, Art&Graft, and Hornet. You get a look at how different artists approach the same problems and what makes their processes tick. It’s practical know-how from someone who’s been in the trenches, not theory from a textbook.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Motion designers who can produce basic animation but want to strengthen their concept and design skills
• New designers looking to move beyond simple motion work into more creative, high-value projects
• Current designers who want to learn from overseas work processes and build a stronger foundation

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Haewon Shin is a freelance motion designer and art director based in Korea. She’s worked with a roster of international clients including Google, SAP, TED, Webflow, and Nike, plus studios like Ordinary Folk, The Furrow, Art&Graft, and Hornet. Her career spans from 3D generalist at 2Grey to project manager at Grabit, giving her a well-rounded view of the production pipeline. She’s won an IF Design Gold Award for her work on Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang and has lectured on motion design workflows.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this course, you’ll have a complete pre-production package for a motion design project: a developed concept, a storyboard, a client-ready proposal, and a set of polished style frames. This portfolio-ready work demonstrates your ability to handle the creative side of motion design, not just the technical execution.