Science has improved nearly every part of our lives. We believe strongly that science will continue to identify and solve the greatest problems our world faces today.
But no one can change the world on their own. The next steps for humanity will require collaboration, funding, favorable regulations, and adoption by the general public. Achieving those aims will require clear and persuasive communication of science to those who may not be able or willing to understand it otherwise.
Animation and design are uniquely capable of communicating complex concepts in clear and useful ways. Graphs are designs that illustrate data. Maps are designs that illustrate physical locations. What type of design would most effectively communicate your work? We are dedicated to helping you to discover those design solutions, and putting them into action.
Watch the video below to see some of our work
The fact that our work looks so great is not the point.
We want it to help you achieve your goals!
Great design and animation can help you:
Science often addresses subjects that are costly, challenging, or impossible to capture through traditional media like photographs and videos.
Animation can create cost effective, stunning, and accurate visualizations of things that are: (Hover to view)
Science often addresses subjects that are costly, challenging, or impossible to capture through traditional media like photographs and videos.
Animation can create cost effective, stunning, and accurate visualizations of things that are: (Touch to experience)
Nicolaus Copernicus is known for popularizing a Heliocentric model of the solar system that revolutionized scientific thought in his era.
This is despite the fact that the Greek Astronomer Aristarchus had developed a similar model 18 centuries earlier. So why did Copernicus’ model catch on when Aristarchus’ ideas hadn’t?
Copernicus’ ideas were published in the form of an influential book. The printing press had been recently invented which allowed his ideas to influence people like Galileo and Kepler. Fortunate timing indeed.
Today, in place of the printing press, we have technologies like videos and the internet that allow for an even faster spread of ideas.
We want to use our skills to help the next Aristarchus spread his brilliant ideas, so that we don’t have to wait almost 2 millennia for them to change the world. We don’t want your hard work to go unnoticed and be forgotten to time, or fail to make the impact it should.
Ever since I (Andy Mason, the founder of Shapeshifters) was a small child, I wanted to be a scientist. But my artistic talents outshined my scientific ones, so I built a career in design.
I was feeling unfulfilled after 14 years of working for commercial clients, doing Super Bowl halftime shows, TV Advertisements, and product launches.
Then I was hired by United Launch Alliance to help out with a launch I could actually get behind. I loved the process of learning from real life rocket scientists as I was collaborating with them, so much that I decided that from that point forward, I would devote my artistic talents to promoting science.
So I created Shapeshifters, a new design and animation studio that partners with scientists to find the best design solutions for their needs.
This is our favorite part of the process because we get to connect and speak with people like you, who are doing real science, and learn about it first hand. We have discussions about what your goals are and whether our skills are the right fit for your needs. If we feel we can help you, we write up a proposal with a clear scope of the project, a schedule, and a clear budget.
Upon acceptance of the proposal, a script is written for the project. Still images are created to determine what the look of the project will be, and to layout the movement and script of the piece.
By this point in the project we are on the same page about the direction of the project and most of the work takes place on our end. Animation is created, followed by any fine tuning that is needed to make sure that our work meets your needs.
We would love to hear from you! Whether it's to tell us about a cool research project you're working on, to ask us more about our work or just give us your thoughts on our website, Please reach out!
Use our calendar to schedule a video call or a phone call, or write to us on the form below.