After Midnight

Motion Design | Digital Illustration

Motion Design studio project focused on developing a fictional movie or television show opening title sequence that visually communicates aspects of the plot and themes while also effectively presenting information on the cast and crew’s roles.

Conceptualizing

Plot

After Midnight is a (fictional) romantic drama set in 1970s New York City, told largely from the perspective of Vera Jones, an aspiring DJ newly arrived from California and determined to be heard in the city’s underground disco scene. Her nights at Sapphire, a late-night club that serves as a quiet refuge. After dark, begin as an act of persistence, lingering after closing time, handing out her mixtape, and hoping to be noticed. When a chance exchange involving one of her tapes leads her into conversation with Cora Martin, a bartender at the club, Vera finds herself drawn into a connection she doesn’t yet have the language to understand. As their friendship deepens, Vera is forced to navigate ambition, intimacy, and a growing sense of disorientation, caught between the desire to be seen and the instinct to stay hidden.

The beginning stages of the project started with defining the themes, genre, and fictional audience, cast, and crew. Mapping out each of these aspects allowed for the hierarchy of importance of contributors to be prioritized.

Moodboarding

Visual Exploration

After establishing the main pillars of the plot and audience, the next steps included gathering imagery directly inspired by 70s disco-era color palettes, lighting, pattern, and typography.

Creative Strategy

The title sequence’s visual design utilizes minimalistic, simple shapes inspired by 70s discotheque nightclubs, with a hazy glow color correction to establish the mood and scene. Color schemes are intentionally opposite (warm vs. cool) to establish the opposite nature of the two main characters. This includes the merging of colors to visually represent connection and romantic tension. The sans-serif typography is inspired by retro type with a modern flair, integrated into the image.