Hello, I’m Regulus

I’ve been observing Base motion for some time now, and I thought I would share these principles as I use them.

I think that such an elegantly designed identity should be maintained, since what contributes to the uniqueness of a brand is design language and sticking to it.

When that language remains consistent, the brand’s culture and vision stay alive. In my opinion, Base motion is an important part of that. The goal of this article is to assist creatives and partners in understanding, embracing, and properly reflecting Base's design language in their own work.

Base’s movements love to slide from somewhere, and yes, I’m also a big fan of it, but only if it is done properly. That is why it is essential to understand where and when something should move, and I think Base has achieved it perfectly in motion designing.

Why? Because to me, this is not only a process, it is "Processes."

Yes, processes, because Base’s movements are more than just a transition.

Every motion leads to the next one, and there is definitely rhythm in transitioning from one motion to another. For myself, this process exemplifies what it is to be in sync with one’s community, where each member has to play its own level to help facilitate the next. And, boom, it all comes together in one moment.

For instance, in the Slide Motion, every detail leads to the next one and prepares the audience for what is coming next. Base Design Team chose to go with a modern, contemporary language, and it definitely shows.

Now let’s zoom in and check out the behind-the-scenes rhythm in the Graph Editor.

1. Momentum

   At this point the motion starts gaining momentum. In a subtle sense that almost borders on the pause that precedes movement,to breathe before acting. The spectator realizes that an act is impending, and thus concentration ensues.

2. Impact

   This is the heart of the animation here the energy appears. The motion comes alive and exudes confidence. The brand's character stands out. It’s fast but never chaotic; everything happens with control and purpose.

3. Ease

   Following the primary activity, the motion begins to slow and restore equilibrium. This moment of pause provides the movement with an opportunity to catch its breath. It's calm but very much tied to the energy that preceded it.

4. Settle

   The movement comes to a natural stop not an end with a jarring stoppage but an elegant culmination. Base’s movements don’t rush to finish; they allow time to settle. This gentle pause provides the full animation with a sense of purpose and satisfaction.

Another one of Base’s key motions is scale, and it stands apart from the rest. Because although at first glance it may seem like a simple shrink, where that motion begins completely changes how it feels to the viewer.

Objects typically scale from their center, which makes them feel as if they’re floating in space. That’s not inherently wrong, but if the goal is to convey a sense of grounding in the scene, it’s not quite the effect you’re looking for.

That’s exactly where the Anchor Point comes in.

When shifted from the center to the bottom, the object begins to scale from the base, and that gives the motion a grounded, steady presence.

Once the scaling is complete and the square shifts slightly to the left or right, the impact becomes even stronger. It’s no longer just a shape getting smaller, it begins to feel like something that belongs to the surface.

To me, that small detail brings discipline into the motion.

One of the things I find most striking in Base’s motion language is the compositional relationship between the square and the content inside it.

Nothing moves on its own; every element feels like it’s part of a system.

The media is positioned inside the square with clear intent, which means the motion never feels disconnected. Even when the form shrinks, it retains its integrity.

To me, this makes it a meaningful way for partners to present their work in harmony with Base. The content doesn’t stand alone; it feels like part of something bigger. I think this also shows how much Base and its partners are connected.

The content feels like it truly belongs.

In this configuration, the layer Media File is both parented to and track matted by the Base square. This provides a clean tracking relationship wherein the content housed in the square (media) strictly follows the motion of the Base square.

• The Parent & Link feature provides the assurance that when the square moves, scales, or animates, the media follows.

• The Track Matte layer (Alpha) indicates that the visible area of the media has been limited to the area of the square. This keeps the composition clean and self-contained. This is what creates the unified effect: the content and the square do not move separately. They function as one.

Among Base’s motion elements, I think the blip effect is one of the shortest, but also one of the most iconic. There’s something clever about how such a simple action turns into something so distinctive.

Visually, it feels like a signal interruption: fast, sharp, and deliberate. And I think that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

The entire motion is built using just opacity changes (well, that’s how I did it :) The layer switches instantly between 100% (fully visible) and 0% (fully transparent), with no easing in between.

In my case, each blip lasted just a moment, around 6 to 10 frames. Just enough to register visually, but short enough to flicker away before you can fully process it.

When you open the Graph Editor, there are no curves, just straight, vertical lines.

That lack of easing gives the effect a mechanical, glitch-like feel, and I loved that part. Honestly, building those tiny flickers was one of the most fun sections to work on.

That’s my take on Base motion. Or at least the parts I’ve spent time with.

The design provides a modern and contemporary look that I think truly represents the integrity of the brand. These movements may be small, but they carry a lot of meaning. To me, they’re not just visual polish. I also think the Base Design Team has done a great job in capturing that meaning through motions.

If you’re a builder or designer, I hope this helped you see Base motions through my eyes. Even just a little.

Thank you for taking the time to read 💙