When Applied Assistant Professor of Digital Art Jason Yang isn’t teaching students the ins and outs of motion and graphic design, he can be found offering his creative expertise to clients both large and small. In 2014, Yang founded Invisible Element, a creative studio offering design, animation and illustration services. His interest in storytelling, pop culture and toy photography also led him to create Work More Or Less, a personal platform for creative exploration.
Through both of his professional practices, Yang has worked with companies like Google, Disney, Walmart and Hasbro. Most recently, he was commissioned by NBC Universal and “Jurassic World” to contribute to “Jurassic World: Beyond the Gates – Creator Edition,” a video series featured on the official “Jurassic World” YouTube channel. Highlighting Mattel’s Legacy Reimagined Velociraptor Trilogy Pack, Yang’s contribution reimagines toy photography as an animated motion comic.
To create the final piece, Yang worked through a three-phase process. In preproduction, he wrote a full narrative script that captured the tone and pacing of the “Jurassic World” universe and translated it into storyboards to guide the photography and animation. During production, he handcrafted detailed dioramas to support the story and create a believable miniature world. Each comic scene was carefully lighted and composed to present the toys with a cinematic aesthetic. In post-production, Yang brought everything together with 2D animation, editing, narration and sound design.
The final video recently premiered on the “Jurassic World” YouTube channel, which has nearly 3 million subscribers, and brought a unique creative voice to the series. Yang’s toy photography and artwork from the project were also showcased by Mattel at Comic-Con in San Diego.
“It’s been an incredible experience combining my love for storytelling, design and toy photography into something that feels both nostalgic and original,” Yang said.
Learn more about artistic program offerings in Kendall College of Arts & Sciences.