What is Kinetic Typography and When Should You Use It

What is Kinetic Typography and When Should You Use It
“When typography is on point, words become images.” - Shawn Lukas

In today’s attention-driven Internet world, static information has a tough time catching our interest. Our brains are always seeking that exhilarating dopamine rush, and let’s face it, plain text just can’t compete with the exciting content out there.

However, we still need text to convey information effectively. So, what’s the solution, you ask? Well, that’s where kinetic typography steps in.

Understanding Kinetic Typography

Ever seen one of those videos with flashing transitions and text bouncing around? That’s kinetic typography! Kinetic typography brings text to life through motion. Words and letters are animated to convey meaning, emotion, or context.

And you can use these elements like font, size, color, and placement, to create dynamic videos!

3D typography scene

Why Kinetic Typography?

The benefits of using kinetic typography go beyond just visual appeal. Let’s dive into how kinetic typography improves text.

Increased Viewer Engagement

One of the great things about kinetic typography is that it captivates and engages viewers. The dynamic motion and visually appealing animations grab attention and create a sense of curiosity, drawing the viewer in.

Typography scene from 3D animation

With this heightened engagement, you can keep them interested and invested in the content of your video. This means that your viewers are more likely to stay and absorb the message you’re trying to send out.

Enhanced Message Retention

With kinetic typography, you can combine multiple sensory elements such as visuals, audio, and movement into a powerful communication tool. A dynamic and interactive presentation tends to be more memorable and the motion of the text elements reinforces the content shown.

flat 2d typography work

You can use this to make it easier for viewers to understand and retain your message. By leveraging kinetic typography, you can effectively enhance the impact of your video.

What Kinetic Typography Is Best For

Explainer Videos

Explainer videos are used to simplify complex concepts or ideas and make them more accessible to viewers. Kinetic typography is great for this, as the dynamic movement of text can help break concepts down into digestible chunks.

By animating key points, emphasizing keywords, or using visual metaphors alongside the text, you can enhance understanding and engagement, making the content more memorable and enjoyable.

 

Presentations

Presentations are great but can sometimes become monotonous and boring. Kinetic typography can help with that, injecting visual interest and interactivity to grab and maintain the attention of your viewers.

Similar to explainer videos, you can take advantage of the strategic animation of kinetic typography to enhance the impact of your presentation and make it more exciting.

Beautiful typography kinetic sample

Advertisements

Everyone knows attention-grabbing visuals are an absolute must-have for advertising, and kinetic typography is a great way to ensure that your advertisement catches the eye!

The captivating motion, striking visuals and persuasive copy  create an engaging message that captures the viewer’s attention while sacrificing none of the clarity.

Social Media Content

Social media platforms are all about speed and visuals. You know how quickly you scroll through posts, right? Well, kinetic typography is like a secret weapon to grab your attention in just a few seconds and deliver short but impactful messages.

Whether it’s a cool promo video, a meaningful quote, or showing off a product, kinetic typography makes your content visually stunning and super shareable. It’s particularly perfect for short-form video content like Instagram Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts, because it can quickly get your message across in a way that’s easy to understand and remember.

How to Make Eye-catching Kinetic Typography

Now that we’ve covered when to use it, let’s talk about how to do it right. If you’re thinking of using kinetic typography, consider these elements.

Font Selection

When it comes to choosing fonts for your animated video, it’s important to think about the mood you want to convey. Fonts have their own personalities, so choose one that aligns with your brand! If you’re making a fun and playful video, go for whimsical or rounded fonts that match the lighthearted vibe.

But if you’re going for a polished and professional look, clean and modern fonts are the way to go. Remember, the font you choose sets the tone and visual appeal of your kinetic typography, so make sure it matches the overall feel you want to create.

Motion and Timing

The movement of your text should be synchronized with the audio or visual cues in your video. Align the motion of the typography elements with the rhythm, beats, or key moments in the accompanying audio or visuals.

3d dimensional typography work

This synchronization creates a sense of harmony and flow, enhancing the overall impact of the kinetic typography. Experiment with various motion techniques such as sliding, scaling, rotating, or fading to bring dynamism to your text.

Contrast and Hierarchy

When it comes to making your words pop in kinetic typography, contrast is an ace up every designer’s sleeve. You can use different colors, sizes, weights, or placements to make certain text elements stand out. It’s like shining a spotlight!

2D flat typography kinetic sample

By creating contrast, you draw the viewer’s focus to the important information, making sure they retain the right content.

Don’t be afraid to play around with different styles!. Get creative and try different motion techniques like sliding, scaling, rotating, or fading to bring that extra energy and dynamism to your text. It’s all about finding the right way to make your audience understand what your message is!

Some Examples

Now that we’ve talked about what makes animated typography good, come see more examples of it done excellently:

Emotions – A kinetic typography

A fun little project, the typography in this video playfully mimics the various stages of emotion it describes. From the gruesome stretching of ‘Pain’ to the slightly off-centre ‘Uncomfortable’, the graphics make you feel the emotions rather than just reading.

Google – A new era for AI and Google Workspace

The commercial for Google Workspace’s new feature adopts Google’s familiar user interface style, depicting current features like nametags on shared documents to do so. Then, it seamlessly demonstrates how to use the new feature using kinetic typography that mimics the actual user experience.

This not only visually engages you, but also teaches you how to utilize the AI feature effectively, all in one go!

The text in this ad moves quickly, adding to the fast pace of the music and visuals. It keeps the video exciting and grabs your attention. Tied in with the showcase of Apple’s achievements, it’s a thrilling experience.

These videos are proof that when you pay attention to details like choosing the right font, nailing the motion and timing, and using contrast and hierarchy effectively, your animated typography can truly captivate viewers.

It’s all about getting those elements just rights so you can communicate your messages effectively and grab people’s attention. So, take inspiration from these successful examples to create your own eye-catching kinetic typography that will make a lasting impression on your audience.

Wrapping Up

Kinetic typography is a killer way of turning static text into dynamic and exciting bites of information! You can use this to your advantage to make great ads or eye-catching social media content to build an audience or just put your message out there.

And if you’re looking for a skilled team to make that video for you, come check out Kasra Design’s portfolio. Contact us for a quote at https://www.kasradesign.com/get-a-quote and we will take care of the rest.

Jacklyn Chung

Marketing Executive at Explainer Videoly Pte. Ltd.
Being part of the Kasra Design family for many years, Jacklyn takes care of the marketing tasks, be it online or offline.