Motion Graphics · Case Study

Iran (Heritage in Three Dimensions)

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Introduction

Iran is a motion piece where three symbols turn in 3D space: the name ایران in Persian script, the map of the country, and the Lion and Sun. I made it as a dedication to Iranian heritage. I made this for a home I haven't seen in many years, this is a heritage much older than any government, and for me, it still belongs to the people.

• Project type: Course project, Motion Graphics 2 (DSN1669), Algonquin College, Winter 2026
• Role: Solo designer and animator
• Category: Motion graphics / 3D typography
• Programs: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator

The Challenge

The brief: take simple text or a shape, extrude it with After Effects' 3D tools, and animate a smooth rotation for at least 10 seconds. The grade was split between creativity (30%), technical execution (40%), and how well the camera and lighting show the 3D (30%). We had one week.

Iran is where I come from. I wanted a technical exercise to carry something I actually care about. My goal was simple: an Iranian who watches this should feel recognized in a few seconds, without one word of explanation.

Constraints: one week, a minimum of 10 seconds, and source images that had to survive being turned into clean 3D shapes.

The Process

Research. I picked three symbols that Iranians know immediately. The first is the name of the country in Persian. The second is its map. The third is the Lion and Sun, which appears in Iranian art for centuries and was the country's national emblem until 1979. For the background I used the green, white, and red of the flag, without any later additions.

Execution. I prepared the map and the emblem as vector files in Illustrator and brought them into After Effects. Then I extruded them together with the text, so all three became real 3D objects. Each one rotates and moves across the flag. The red side of the extruded letters shows the depth, and the gold edges of the map and emblem catch the light as they turn.

The Solution

The piece doesn't tell you what to think. It just puts the name, the land, and the old emblem back together in one frame, the way many Iranians carry them in memory. Anyone can see the 3D. An Iranian will see a little more than that.

The Outcome

The piece meets the brief's main requirements: real 3D extrusion, a continuous rotation, and a length well over 10 seconds.

Reflection & Learning

Skills I strengthened: the 3D extrude tool, preparing vector files for 3D, and animating several 3D objects at once.

What I'd do differently: I'd use a 3D camera and lighting to give the scene real depth. Right now, the flag is flat, and it pulls the objects flat with it. I'd also rebuild the Lion and Sun with its full shape instead of only the outline, so it holds up as a 3D object.

What I learned about myself: I make my best work when it means something to me. A rotating logo is an exercise. A rotating ایران is a feeling.