Motion Art • July 23, 2020
Tab Bar Motion UI
A small interaction can give an interface its character. In this personal exploration, I designed animated tab-bar states to explore how switching between app sections could feel clearer, more connected and playful.
Objective
Use motion to communicate a change in selection while keeping navigation familiar and easy to follow.
Challenges & Decisions
Playfulness with purpose
Tie the animation to the selected tab, giving movement a clear role in the interaction.
Clear changes of state
Coordinate entry, exit and selection feedback so attention moves naturally from the previous tab to the next.
Approach
Define the states
Design the tab bar’s inactive, selected and transitional states.
Connect the interaction
Explore how elements enter, leave and respond as the selection changes.
Refine the feedback
Adjust timing and easing to make each transition feel responsive and visually balanced.
Outcome & Reflection
The motion study explores how a familiar navigation component can become more expressive. It reinforced the value of small details: how an element responds can help explain what changed and where attention should go next.