Paper Talks

Prompt:
Animation for Paper Exhibit at The Newark Museum of Art

Brief:
Working in a three-person team, we conceptualized, modeled, textured, and animated the piece within a one-month timeline. To align with the exhibit’s paper-based concept, we developed a paper cut-out animation that combined both 2D and 3D elements, ensuring visual theme across the space. I led task delegation and coordinated with other exhibit design teams to ensure the animation integrated into the physical space and projected clearly. The final piece was designed specifically for large-scale museum projection, balancing creative vision with technical constraints.

For character design, we focused on representing the diverse communities of Newark while keeping the characters intentionally ambiguous. We designed them to reflect a range of backgrounds without leaning into specific identifiers, particularly keeping the younger child’s gender open. Faces were simplified to allow viewers to see themselves in the characters without drawing attention away from the material itself, reinforcing paper as the true protagonist of the story. Alongside design direction, I guided the team by structuring our production schedule, clearly assigning responsibilities, and ensuring everyone understood their tasks and deadlines throughout the project.