Exploration
/
experiential
/
Identity
Severance: Study
/ About the project
This forensic technical study is a deep dive into the "mysterious and important" design language of the Apple TV+ series, Severance. Driven by the show's unique retro-futuristic aesthetic, I undertook the challenge of rebuilding the interface from the ground up as a functional, expression-driven design system in After Effects.
/ Credits
Client:
Self
Role:
Lead Motion Designer & Technical Artist
Tools
After Effects, Sketch, AEUX, Trapcode Form
/ Year
2022
01
The Aesthetic Logic
Matching "Lumon OS"
With no source assets, I performed frame-by-frame analysis of the series to reverse-engineer the specific easing curves and interaction timing that define the show's 1-bit CRT look.
Systemic Workflow: Designed initial UI layouts in Sketch and utilized AEUX for a non-destructive bridge into After Effects.
Production-Ready Rigging: To manage thousands of data layers, I wrote extensive Expressions and utilized AE Global Renamer 2 to maintain a professional-grade, scalable pre-composition structure.
Physical Integration: Finalized the study with high-fidelity tracking and compositing to seat the UI onto a physical terminal, achieving a realistic "in-camera" feel.
02
Procedural Data Systems
To achieve the "alive" look of the data without creating visual chaos, I moved away from manual keyframing and toward procedural animation.
The Displacement Rig:
Utilized Trapcode Form driven by fractal displacement fields. By restricting displacement to specific axes, I ensured particles drifted organically without clipping through one another.
Z-Space Navigation Architecture:
Emulating the software’s deep-zoom required a custom camera rig. By pushing a camera through Z-space, I maintained control over depth and parallax, allowing for grounded navigation through the data grid.
03
The Outcome
From Technical Study to Industry Validation
The result was a production-ready MDR terminal template that functioned with the same internal logic as the original series assets. The project served as a definitive case study in FUI reconstruction and sparked significant engagement within the professional design community.
Peer Recognition: The project’s accuracy was validated by industry peers, including those with direct connections to the show's production, who noted the precision of the technical recreation.
Creative Connection: Sharing the process behind the rig led to high-level discussions regarding the intersection of retro-aesthetics and modern motion engineering.
Design Rigor: Ultimately, the project proved that a meticulous, "forensic" approach to design can bridge the gap between fan exploration and professional-grade technical execution.
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