SKILLS
storyboarding, illustration, video editing, motion graphics
ASK
a brief video introducing backstitch as a company
Situation
backstitch is an employee communications platform built for HR teams to reach employees and measure outcomes. When I joined the project, they had a defined brand and established connections, but needed an intro video to explain who they were to potential clients in an eye-catching way.
The catch: This was my first motion graphics project. I had to learn After Effects from scratch while delivering a professional product on a tight timeline (the majority of an 8-week internship — about 6 weeks start to finish).
Approach
Phase 1: Storyboarding & Setup
I compiled the copy and rough illustration ideas, then refined the storyboard with the team before any animation began.
Phase 2: Illustration style development
I experimented with different directions before settling on:
Simple flat color style with bold colors for legibility
Mixed outlines — some elements outlined, some not, balancing visual interest with production speed
Colors pulled from the backstitch brand palette, expanded with additional shades for flexibility and contrast
Inclusion focus: backstitch stands for diversity and inclusion, so even with a minimal style, I was conscious about varying skin tones, hair, and body types — making sure not everyone looked the same.
Phase 3: Production (Illustrator ↔ After Effects)
The final 2-minute video required over 40 illustrations. I worked in a tight loop:
Create images in Illustrator
Import to After Effects to animate
Realize I needed to change the base illustration → back to Illustrator
Repeat
Lessons learned: I developed naming conventions and folder structures so I could reliably import layered Illustrator files into After Effects without losing track of which layers were supposed to move.
Phase 4: Export hell
I ran into an issue where export settings were dulling my colors in the final MP4. Took some trial and error to figure out the right settings that preserved the bold brand palette.
Impact
Long-term homepage placement – The video lived at the top of backstitch's homepage for years (since updated, but some illustrations remain on the site at backstitch.io).
Reusable asset library – The 40+ illustrations weren't just for the video. They were repurposed on the website and other materials.
First project, professional result – Delivered a complex motion graphics project as a beginner, on time, within a 6-week window.
Visible legacy – Even after the video was replaced, branded illustrations from this project are still in use on the live site.