There's one particular question that I get asked most often about UI animation. After nearly every talk or workshop I do, someone asks a variation of this question:

"How do I convince my teammates (or boss, or client) that we should be using animation in our work?”

That's a tough challenge. It can be lonely as the only member of team animation in your office. 

The way to bring them around is to slowly but surely bring animation into your design discussions. Be an undercover animation hero! 

Here’s how: 

Show and tell

Share the articles or examples you find that highlight animation being used effectively. When you come across examples purposeful animation in your favorite apps or sites, share that with your teammates as well. 

Appeal to their competitive side

Keep an eye on your competition and see where (or if) they use animation. Make a case for how you could use animation more effectively than they are in your company’s work to stand out. It’s totally cliché, but appealing to your team’s sense of competition is a highly effective motivator! 

Don’t wait for permission 

Don’t wait for anyone to ask for storyboards or animated prototypes, just make them! Include storyboards with your design explorations. Prepare an animated prototype and present it with your usual static deliverables. Back these up with an explanation of how those animations improve the user experience. The first rule of UI animation is to have purpose. Show them that, and you’ve made a rock-solid case. Go, you!

- Val