Tallships Media
Motion graphics and static social media content for the Durham Blues and Scarborough Blues basketball programs.
What I made
Motion graphics and static social media content for the Durham Blues and Scarborough Blues basketball programs, produced during a placement with Tallships Media.
The goal was to design engaging digital assets for tryout events and summer camp promotions: work that reflected each team’s identity and enhanced their presence across social platforms.
The problem
How can motion graphics and static social media content capture the energy of basketball while maintaining strong, consistent branding for multiple sports programs across digital platforms?
Inspiration & direction
The creative direction translated the speed and intensity of basketball into digital content.
The goal was visuals that felt energetic, dynamic, and consistent with each team’s branding while remaining engaging for a social media audience.
That direction grew from modern sports broadcast design and the social media content used by professional basketball teams and leagues. I studied the motion graphics styles used in NBA promotional content, focusing on pacing, typography, and high-energy transitions.
Research & process
The placement followed a structured production workflow, beginning with research and ending in final, published content across social media platforms.
Feedback & iteration
Drafts were shared with my employer and refined, from timing to layout and composition, based on feedback until approval.
Final delivery
Content was exported and delivered optimized for Instagram and other social platforms, with correct formatting and consistency.
Content breakdown
Motion content was developed for Instagram and promotional use: high-energy visuals for game announcements, highlights, and team branding. Each piece was built in After Effects using adapted Envato templates, customized to align with the team’s visual identity.
Static posts were created in Photoshop for game-day announcements and promotional updates. These maintained consistency with the motion content, ensuring a unified visual identity across non-animated social media formats.
Key production decisions
The work came down to a few recurring decisions: timing, consistency, adaptation and platform. Getting each one right is what kept two teams’ content recognisable as one studio’s output.
Motion timing
Fast-paced animation reflected the energy and intensity of basketball, while keeping key information readable for social media viewers.
Brand consistency
Every design aligned with the Durham Blues and Scarborough Blues branding: colour palettes, typography choices and logo placement.
Template adaptation
Envato After Effects templates acted as a base structure, heavily customized with team-specific footage, imagery, and branding elements.
Platform optimization
All content was designed for social platforms: correct formatting, pacing and visual hierarchy for mobile viewing.
What I contributed
I produced the content end-to-end, from research through final delivery.
That covered the brand research, template adaptation, motion and static production, iteration based on employer feedback, and the final optimized delivery for Instagram and other social platforms. After Effects handled the motion work; Photoshop handled the static design.