HUD/UI - FINAL ANIMATION

This 22-second animation imagines a sci-fi cockpit HUD for a mech or starfighter pilot.  Inspired by classic films, the design features layered motion, pulsing visuals, and clean geometry. The interface powers on, cycles through elements, and shuts down. capturing the cinematic texture of retro-futurist tech.

KEYFRAMES

This series of keyframes captures the HUD in motion, showcasing various camera angles and interface states as the screen powers on, activates its UI layers, and eventually powers down.  These stills highlight the visual rhythm and layered design of the animation, from radial pings to central data clusters, offering a closer look at how the motion brings these interface elements to life.

EARLY SKETCH - PHOTOSHOP

This screenshot shows the initial design ideation phase, where the interface was first sketched in Photoshop.  Here, I began roughing out layout zones, experimenting with composition, symmetry, and how the user’s eye might travel across a real sci-fi HUD.  These sketches served as the foundation for building more refined vector elements in Illustrator.

FINAL VECTOR DESIGN - ILLUSTRATOR

This screenshot captures the fully vectorized interface design in Adobe Illustrator.  Each element, from microdots and radial forms to complex grid overlays, was cleaned up and structured with precision, laying the groundwork for the final animation.  This clean, modular design ensured flexibility for movement and depth once imported into After Effects.

AFTER EFFECTS ANIMATION

This screenshot shows my After Effects workspace, where all the HUD elements designed in Illustrator were brought to life through animation.  Using layered compositions, parallax motion, flickers, and subtle timing cues, I animated each interface piece to simulate a functional sci-fi HUD powering on.  The goal was to create movement that felt technical yet cinematic, echoing the immersive, analog-digital style of classic sci-fi displays.

HUD ELEMENTS

The HUD was structured into four key element pages to organize the system modularly and methodically.  This breakdown allowed for visual clarity during animation and easier design iteration throughout the project.