Displate
Displate introduced the 3D Magnet, a new product that changed how its printed steel plates could be mounted. I was responsible for the art direction and full CGI execution, from the visual concept and 3D animation to lighting, rendering, and compositing. The task was to explain a component that disappears completely once the plate is installed, while presenting the system with the precision and finish expected from a premium product.
The 3D Magnet is an essential part of the mounting system, yet it becomes completely hidden behind the steel plate after installation. The visualization needed to reveal its function and communicate magnetic attraction without making a simple mounting process feel overly technical.
I represented the steel plate as a transparent glass surface moving toward the magnet. This kept every layer visible throughout the animation, while a custom magnetic field simulation gave an otherwise invisible force a clear and physical presence.
The transparent plate revealed the relationship between the protective leaf, 3D Magnet and finished Displate at the moment of installation.
Animated arrows and flowing field lines guided attention toward the mounting point, turning the product’s hidden mechanism into a simple visual story.
The process moved from separating the product layers and defining the installation sequence to simulating the magnetic field, animating the transparent plate and completing the final render.
The final renders were developed in two distinct environments, each with its own lighting setup.
The dark treatment used narrow highlights and controlled reflections to create depth, while the light treatment relied on soft shadows and subtle tonal contrast. Both were designed to make the materials feel precise, tactile and premium.
