Overview
Two brands, one motion
u-he is an independent plugin developer known for analogue-modelling synthesizers like Diva and Zebra. When several of their instruments got NKS certified (meaning direct hardware control through NI's Komplete Kontrol), the launch needed motion content for both brands' channels.
Challenge
Two distinct visual worlds
The motion piece had to feel at home in two distinct visual worlds: u-he's technically-minded, minimalist aesthetic and Native Instruments' polished, broader marketing presence. A single animation needed to work across product pages and social channels without looking out of place in either.
Approach
Ground it in the product
I designed and animated the piece in After Effects, keeping the instrument interfaces themselves at the centre of the visual language. Rather than reaching for abstract motion, I grounded the animation in what producers and sound designers actually recognise: the u-he UI, rendered in motion.
Result
Across both ecosystems
The motion design ran across u-he's and Native Instruments' websites and social channels for the NKS-ready launch.