Whose Job is Animation?

Matt Coleman is a speaker at React Summit in Amsterdam, who is currently based in Sydney. He has a background in animation, having worked at iview and Blake, and now works at Atlassian.

The main topic of Matt Coleman's talk is "Whose job is animation?" in a team, discussing the roles of designers and engineers in creating animations.

Animation is important in web apps because it helps users understand interfaces, provides visual feedback, draws attention to important elements, and creates engaging experiences when done well.

Animations are typically more flashy and attention-grabbing, while micro-interactions are subtle, functional responses to user actions, such as button clicks.

Great animations can be created by starting from the basics, understanding concepts like easing, squash and stretch, shadows, and motion blur, and applying them to make animations more lifelike and familiar.

Apple, Canva, Netflix, Figma, and Airbnb are examples of companies using effective animations in their web and app interfaces.

Designers should upscale their animation knowledge, record UI for detailed examination, and think about physical space and timing in animations.

Developers should start with CSS animations, consider JavaScript libraries like Framer, Greensock, Gsep, or Lottie for complex animations, and ensure animations stay on brand and don't make users sick.

At Atlassian, animation is present throughout the UI, but sometimes goes unnoticed due to its subtlety. It is important for enhancing user experience, and teams should collaborate to integrate them effectively.

Animation is a shared responsibility between designers and developers, depending on the team structure. Both roles can contribute to creating animations.