Frutiger Aero Corporate Elevator
Motion design, 3D animation; digital subculture, nostalgia
FRUTIGER AERO CORPORATE ELEVATOR responds to an experimental brief exploring the space where sound becomes image or image becomes sound, requiring a looped motion sequence that visualises and responds to audio. This brief allowed exploration of 2000s digital subcultures, specifically the Frutiger Aero aesthetic through 3D collage and motion design.
The project's success stemmed from recognising elevators as liminal spaces that mirror the uncertain yet optimistic nature of the 2000s era. Using After Effects, floating WordArt-style messages like "you are not your calendar" and "remember why you loved computers" were crafted to address tech industry burnout.
Proposed design for elevator screens
Chrome vfx experiment
Process of making the bubbles
3D 2000s-inspired text experiment
Audiovisual outcome
Watch the stop-motion here https://youtu.be/NLUKAx71EPg, or see below
Three distinct contexts were explored: corporate elevator, gallery installation and hospital waiting room, before the corporate elevator emerged as the strongest direction. The challenge resided in translating nostalgic digital aesthetics into a contemporary audiovisual.
A survey of 15 participants born before 2012 revealed that bright colours, glossy surfaces and nature visuals were key to how people remembered 2000s tech, shaping the visual language.
The combination of nostalgic aesthetics and smooth animations resulted in what peers described as 'relaxing, calming and whimsical'. The piece functions as ambient design with genuine purpose by transforming awkward elevator tension into moments of inspiration and nostalgia, successfully bridging 2000s digital culture with contemporary workplace wellness.