(Phonotrope Animation Technique Workshop — Texas Tech University Museum, Lubbock, TX)
Role:
Workshop Instructor / 2D Animation & Motion Design / 3D Structure Design / Video Editing / Branding
In May 2024, I led a two-session phonotrope animation workshop at the Texas Tech University Museum in Lubbock, TX. Participants — from kids to senior adults — created their own short animations using the phonotrope technique: frame-by-frame animation that comes to life on a rotating surface under a synchronized strobe light or camera shutter.
The workshop explored the intersection between analog and digital motion, blending Tex-Mex visual identity, handmade animation, and the hypnotic rhythm of spinning loops.
Overview
2D Animation: created 12 original phonotrope loops in Rough Animator for iPad, which participants could customize, color, or remix.
3D Design: built a custom phonotrope structure in Cinema 4D, which I plan to patent. The model ensured stability and perfect alignment for the discs during rotation.
Video Editing: produced a recap video that captured the creative process and the spinning animations in motion.
Visual Identity: designed a special edition sticker featuring Taika, my Border Collie dressed as a cowboy — the mascot of the “Tex-Mex Animation Ramble.”
Workshop Concept
The name Tex-Mex Animation Ramble reflects the playful mix of cultures and techniques — a ramble through color, rhythm, and motion. The project merges Western aesthetics with experimental animation and analog curiosity, embodying the spirit of hands-on creativity and community storytelling.
Exhibition Context
The workshop was part of the exhibition “Phonotrope Animation Technique”, a collaborative showcase dedicated to the rediscovery of motion through circular timelines. The event turned the museum’s space into a playground of light, sound, and spinning images.
Collaborators & Credits
Special thanks to the Texas Tech University Museum for hosting the sessions, and to all participants who brought their creativity and curiosity to the turntables.