Inside Cavalry: Building a Motion Design Tool from Scratch
This episode is a fascinating conversation with Ian Waters, the CTO of Cavalry, a new motion design tool that's making waves in the industry. We discuss the software's unique approach to design, its technical underpinnings, and how it empowers motion designers to create incredible work.
Conceptual Design: The Foundation of Cavalry
We started by talking about how conceptual design is at the heart of Cavalry's development process. It's all about defining clear, well-defined concepts for every feature and element in the app, and then ensuring everything is designed around those concepts. This approach results in a more consistent, easier-to-learn app with reduced redundancy.
The Render Engine: Built on Google's Skia
We then moved on to the technical side, specifically Cavalry's render engine, which is built on Google's Skia. The engine's modular architecture, with different layers, provides flexibility and extensibility, meaning features like 3D support could be added in the future without a complete rewrite.
2.5D vs 3D: Cavalry's Approach to Simulated Depth
Another area we discussed was the difference between 2.5D and 3D. Cavalry currently uses 2.5D, a clever way to simulate the look of 3D without the complexity and processing power required for a true 3D engine. It's like an advanced optical illusion that enables features like cameras and depth, but with limitations, such as difficulty with object intersections.
The Role of AI in Motion Design: Potential and Limitations
The conversation then shifted to AI and its potential role in a tool like Cavalry. While the team is experimenting with AI internally, Ian believes that generative AI isn't quite ready for open-ended creative tools like Cavalry. He feels it tends to produce average results, potentially stifling creative expression. However, he sees potential for AI in specific tasks, such as cleaning up animation or optimising scenes.
Data-Driven Animation: Power and Scalability
Next, we talked about the importance of data-driven animation, a concept that's central to both Cavalry and Glide. Cavalry enables users to connect their animation to data sources like spreadsheets, making it simple to create complex, dynamic animations that can be scaled to handle many variations and outputs. This opens up possibilities for automated workflows and personalised content.
The Importance of Play and Experimentation: Fostering Creativity
We spoke about how Cavalry is designed to encourage play and experimentation through its modular approach and real-time feedback. This allows users to easily try out different ideas and instantly see the results, making the learning process more enjoyable and intuitive.
Cavalry's User Interface Design: Balancing Power and Usability
Another important aspect we talked about was Cavalry's user interface (UI). Designed for professional users, it focuses on principles like context, content area, and interaction complexity over interface complexity. This means the UI is built for efficiency and power, even if it means having more buttons and elements visible. The aim is to balance intuitive design with providing access to advanced functionality.
Learning Curve and User Journey: Minimising Cognitive Load
We also touched upon the learning curve and user journey in Cavalry. The design aims to minimise cognitive load and make learning smoother. The concept of "conceptual design" plays a key role, ensuring consistency and helping users grasp the software's fundamental building blocks.