Voice
Episode structure
Each episode's timeline is a set of news stories within a stream-like graphic space. The graphics between and within video segments are like connective tissue with distinct functions:
Intros set the stage with just enough context before jumping into the real story.
Graphics within segments augment video and guide viewers.
Animated features are stand-alone segments, for abstract concepts, or for stories that may not have the right footage.
Examples:
Transition graphics tune the show's pace and mood, and unify the segments as one episode.
Graphic library
Most graphic sequences are combinations of templated parts. To keep up with the daily firehose of news, everyone collaborates through this language of modular templates (including producers, editors, writers, and technicians). This keeps a cohesive look, while saving designers time for more bespoke pieces.
Annotations
Maps
Icons
Big numbers
Headshots
Sidebars
Containers
Charts
Timelines
Design principles
Video news graphics have five main functions:
To help viewers navigate stories and episodes, with titles and labels.
To build ideas and help viewers retain info.
To show artifacts and reported material
To accent key ideas
To show complex processes and systems, with diagrams, dataviz, and a few puppets.
Website
VNT and ViceNews.com follow the same grid, typography, and motion rules. This makes it easy to swap content and layouts on the fly, while the two platforms co-evolve as one.
Interactive motion
ViceNews.com has reactive scroll animations baked into every page.
Cover builder
The design team produces internal tools to delegate visuals. This cover builder lets web editors customize their story's style within on-brand parameters.
