versus screen package | watertown shamrocks
Creating a comprehensive motion system for utility, reusability, and iteration within a broadcast package.
This project was created for the Watertown Shamrocks, a NAHL hockey team located in Watertown, South Dakota. The Shamrocks wanted a versus screen created quickly and efficiently, one for broadcast, and one for their ice arena’s jumbotron.
They asked for the versus screen to display a specific team, but I opted instead to add every team from their central division in the NAHL, both as a courtesy and a way to challenge myself.
Overall, I’m really happy with how this project turned out. My rigging efforts worked flawlessly, and I really like the motion design that I came up with. Turns out that I really enjoy making motion systems!
Timeline: 3 days (June 2026)
(breakdown pictured below)
Tools
After Effects
Photoshop
01 - pre-production
Role
Motion Design
Graphic Design
Rigging
motion boards
These are the motion boards I came up with for this project. I decided on two versus screens, both horizontal and vertical, as well as two interstitials that could serve as transitions for the broadcast.
These were designed in Photoshop, then brought into After Effects as references. Ultimately, they would be designed in After Effects as vector assets.
02 - motion
When creating the motion boards, I already had in mind what I wanted the actual motion to look like. When working, I made sure I worked in a way where rigging would be possible and easy to set up.
I delivered versions of all resolutions: 896×512 (jumobtron) 1792×1024 (2x jumbotron), and 1920×1080 (16:9 HD)
03 - templating & rigging
Using expressions and expression controls, I was able to hook up each element to a drop-down menu.
Each listing on the drop-down menu was a team name, and upon clicking the team, every element would automatically update.
This is the dropdown menu that controls the “Horizontal Versus” graphics. When routed correctly, it’s very easy to use and accessible.
For the Shamrocks, it’s a one-click process to render a versus motion graphic for any single match they could play in their division, for broadcast, social, and the in-arena jumbotron.