AE Project
I selected the Waves sequence from Emergence by Max Cooper because it demonstrates a very effective use of generative motion through simple visual rules. Rather than relying on complex imagery, the work is built from minimal elements, such as particles and wave movements, which gradually develop into rich and complex visual forms. This makes it a strong example of how a simple system can be used to generate visual complexity.
To remake this work, I used Adobe After Effects and focused on copying the core visual structure and behaviour of the waves. I started with a very basic setup, using simple shapes and wave-based motion, and then adjusted parameters such as frequency, amplitude, opacity, and repetition. Through multiple iterations, I tried to match the rhythm, density, and movement of the original animation as closely as possible.
During this process, one unexpected result was how quickly simple wave movements could become visually complex. At the beginning, the animation appeared almost empty and minimal, but as layers and repetitions increased, the composition started to feel dynamic and spatial. This made me realise that complexity does not need to be designed directly, but can emerge naturally from repetition and accumulation.
Through remaking this animation, I now understand After Effects differently. Before this project, I mainly saw AE as a tool for creating visual effects and polished motion graphics. However, this process helped me see it more as a system-based tool, where rules and parameters play a more important role than individual visual decisions. The main technical challenge was controlling the balance between order and chaos, as small adjustments could easily make the animation either too flat or too uncontrollable.
I learned a lot through this project because this tool and method favour outputs that focus on process rather than fixed results.
Google AI Studio Project
In addition to remaking the Waves sequence, I also experimented with adapting three short video segments using Google AI Studio. Instead of focusing only on visual similarity, I further developed these adaptations into an interactive format, allowing the viewer to influence how the visuals behave.
This project explores simple living forms in an ancient marine environment. I chose three types of living systems to copy and adapt: simple cells, plant-like forms, and basic bacteria competing for resources. These forms are visually minimal, but they represent some of the most fundamental systems that led to the diversity of life we see today. Rather than designing complex organisms, I focused on simple behaviours such as growth, repetition, and competition.
While adapting these forms, I realised that interaction significantly changed how the work was perceived. Unlike a linear animation, the interactive version does not have a fixed outcome. Small inputs from the user can alter the movement, density, or balance of the system. This was unexpected, as it made the visuals feel more alive and less controlled, even though they were still based on simple rules.
Through this process, I gained a different understanding of the tool and medium. Instead of using AI only as an image or video generator, I began to see it as a system that responds to conditions and input.
I learned a lot through this practice because this tool and approach favour outputs that communicate systems and behaviours rather than fixed forms. The work does not present a final image, but a living process that continues to change. In relation to graphic and communication design, this suggests a shift from designing static visuals to designing interactive systems.
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