Hello, I'm Kawarazaki, a designer.
How are you all doing as the world continues to practice self-restraint due to the new coronavirus?
The photo above was taken by drone during a trip to Lakawan Island in the Philippines last summer, when there was not even a trace of the coronavirus. Every time I look at this photo, I vividly recall the clear waters and the perpetual summer scenery, and I sincerely hope to return once the current situation is over.
On this trip, in addition to the drone, I also took a single-lens camera and an action camera with me around the area, and edited the footage after returning home.
This time I would like to talk about the field of video, which is something I have been focusing on recently as a designer.
- Why did I, a web designer, start making videos?
- What is Vlog?
- Creating a virtuous cycle of skill development
- You can make a vlog at home
Why did I, a web designer, start making videos?
For the purposes of this article, we will use the term "video" to refer to anything that moves on a display, including live-action footage shot with a camera, motion graphics that animate text or illustrations, and editing that uses these.
There are a few reasons why I focus so much on video.
1. Demand for video is on the rise
The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has made it easy for anyone to watch videos.
Ten years ago, most people probably wouldn't have imagined that we would live in an age where we could watch movies while commuting or waiting.
In addition, with the advent of 5G, the weak point of line delays will be eliminated, and it is said that demand will continue to increase in the future.
According to a survey conducted by CyberAgent, the domestic video advertising market is expected to reach 259.2 billion yen in 2019, 328.9 billion yen in 2020, and 506.5 billion yen in 2023, meaning that the numbers suggest the video market is expected to grow rapidly.
2. Web design and video are becoming seamless
In recent years, it seems that the range of expressions that can be technically implemented on websites has expanded, and the number of ways in which videos and motion graphics are used to display content has increased dramatically.
For example, you can use video on the first page of the homepage, or animate elements on the loading screen, hover actions, and when scrolling. Adding movement breathes life into your site and makes it more lively.
For this reason, motion graphics and editing techniques using Premiere and AfterEffects are also useful for web designers, and I feel that the relationship between web design and video has become more seamless than before.
3. Development and improvement based on knowledge gained from drones
As I wrote in a previous article , I bought a drone about three years ago and have been taking it with me wherever I go to take videos.
When I first bought it, I just uploaded the footage I shot to social media, but I wanted to improve the quality, which is what prompted me to learn about video.
4. I like watching movies and music videos of musicians
When I was attending a night school, most of my classmates were older than me, so I learned about a variety of cultures.
Among them were music videos for foreign musicians, and I was shown DVDs of music videos by music video directors who were at the forefront of visual expression at the time, such as Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, and Chris Cunningham, and since then I have been attracted to a variety of music videos.
There are many wonderful creators in Japan, such as Kodama Yuichi and Hayashi Hiyotaro, and their work was one of the reasons that made me, who originally loved watching movies, even more interested in the visual field.
"Star Guitar" by The Chemical Brothers, directed by Michel Gondry. At first glance, it's just a view from inside a train, but there's a surprising twist to the rhythm and scenery. It's a classic music video that still stands out even after more than 17 years since its release.
As you can see, there are many reasons why I became interested in the video field, and in order to acquire those skills and knowledge, I decided to keep a video record in the form of a "Vlog."
What is Vlog?
It is an abbreviation for video blog, and is a "video version" of a blog where you express in writing the things you like and the things you want to express.
Vloggers (people who create and post vlogs on YouTube and other platforms) have existed overseas for some time, and recently they have been gaining attention in Japan as well, especially among the millennial generation.
Trends in YouTube searches for "Vlog" in Japan. It seems that the word has been gaining attention since the spring of 2019. (According to Google Trends)
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Traveling is one of my hobbies, and one of the reasons I started vlogging was that, in addition to enjoying the travelling itself, I wanted to leave some kind of record of the scenery I see.
A video summarizing my travel records from 2019. I like to make short videos of about 2 to 3 minutes, edited with music, in a genre called Cinematic Vlog.
You can take a drone or a camera like me and record your memories of your travels. You can also take pictures of your cooking, which is a hobby. You can also record your children's growth until they leave home. I think that the things and genres you take pictures of are fine as long as they are things you like.
The definition of a Vlog is broad, so the key to keeping it up may be to create something that interests you in your own style.
Creating a virtuous cycle of skill development
I have been uploading Vlog videos to YouTube regularly since last year. By posting them on my own channel, I can verify the reactions and feedback of an unspecified number of users through analytics, and as I understand how YouTube works, I can apply this to my productions through a rapid cycle of trial and error. Also, when I receive high ratings and comments, it motivates me and leads to my next production.
I believe that having fun and creating your own virtuous cycle like this will lead to improving a variety of skills, not just in video production.
You can make a vlog at home
Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it is difficult to go out these days, but you can still shoot a vlog at home. Instead of going on a trip recently, I made tapioca milk tea at home and filmed it.
I made a one-minute video on how to make tapioca milk tea. I bought dried tapioca and tried making it for the first time, but it was very easy and delicious, so I recommend it.
What do you think? I think the video field is becoming more familiar to not only web designers, but also people involved in production.
In the future, I would like to post various things related to videos in this column and apply them to my own web designs and video productions.
After the state of emergency was lifted, I took a walk around my neighborhood with my camera for the first time in a while, and found the warm weather and colorful flowers in various places. I want to go on a trip again once the situation calms down.
KAWARAZAKI Taira