At PDB Animation Studio, we recently had the privilege of collaborating with DPG, one of the leading news and journalistic brands in Holland. Their mission was ambitious yet clear: to create a compelling visual identity for their new video series, "Achter de Voorpagina," hosted on their innovative Play platform. This series delves into major crime events and unsolved mysteries—a topic that demanded a bold, journalistic style to match the gravity of its stories.
Achter het verhaal
Creating the logo was our first step. Initially, I developed several concepts for the original series title, “Achter het Verhaal.”
Logo Studies
But, after a few days of work, the title was changed to "Achter de Voorpagina." This change, though unexpected, sparked new ideas. One concept, featuring censored elements like you’d find in police reports, clicked immediately.
One concept, featuring censored elements like you’d find in police reports, clicked immediately. The black-and-yellow color scheme, paired with a bold, journalistic font, captured the essence of the series perfectly.
With the storyboard approved, I transitioned to After Effects. The intro animation went through several iterations as I experimented with grungy effects, rhythm, and the dramatic logo reveal at the climax. My colleague, a skilled video editor, helped refine the sound design to synchronize perfectly with the visuals..
The final product was a comprehensive motion design template tailored for the series. It included the logo, animated intro, lower thirds, transitions, and font selections—all designed in Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator. The deliverables aligned perfectly with the client’s expectations, blending a bold, journalistic aesthetic with practical functionality.s.
The next step was creating the motion graphics templates (MOGRTs). For the lower thirds and transitions, I took inspiration from the logo itself, incorporating its lines and visual motifs. This ensured the entire design package felt cohesive. I followed tutorials to perfect the functionality, ensuring editors could easily adapt the templates by adjusting text, scale, and colors.
The series and platform were a resounding success. Millions of viewers engaged with the Play platform, drawn in by its unique content and strong visual identity. "Achter de Voorpagina" stood out for addressing timely and relevant topics, driving traffic to the site and boosting ad impressions. The success of this project also opened the door to more collaborations with DPG, solidifying a strong working relationship.
At PDB Animation Studio, we take pride in bringing our clients’ visions to life, no matter the twists and turns along the way. This project reminded us that with creativity, collaboration, and a willingness to adapt, we can deliver designs that not only meet expectations but also elevate the brands we work with.
