Learn more about Antonino at https://antoninoiacona.it

Today I'm speaking with Antonino Iacona — motion designer & director. Antonino has worked at Apple, Google Creative Lab and is now running Studio Santo.

We spoke about:

How Apple shaped his craft through slow, iterative, detail-obsessed design
The experimental mindset he developed at Google Creative Lab — and why ideas, not tools, come first
What it means to design "motion with intent", and why expressive and functional motion must work in tandem
The way he and his co-founder Ben work — blending motion and design from the start
The value or product that Studio Santo actually delivers to its clients — not finished mp4s, but motion systems & identities — flexible, collaborative toolkits

Summary

In this conversation, Antonino Iacona, a motion designer and co-founder of Studio Santo, shares insights from his experiences at Apple and Google Creative Lab. He discusses the importance of crafting motion design with intent, the collaborative design process at Studio Santo, and the balance between expressive and functional motion. Antonino also reflects on the evolving role of AI in design and the future direction of his studio.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Title Clarification
04:58 Key Projects at Apple
14:53 Collaboration and Client Engagement
17:36 Expressive vs Functional Motion
21:12 Navigating Language and Comfort in Communication
23:44 Transitioning to Google Creative Lab
26:08 The Role of Prototyping in Innovation
26:32 Defining a Motion Designer's Role
30:08 Tools and Techniques in Motion Design
31:47 The Role of AI in Design
34:24 Future Directions for Studio Santo