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How Much the US-Weapons Cost

Javelin Tank Buster

Designer: Ron Coddington
Concept: During the early stages of the war in Afghanistan, the designer was assigned to create an animation about the GBU-28 "bunker buster" bomb. During the research stage, working with Bob Sherman of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), he learned how specially shaped charges were used to focus or scatter explosives when detonated. Intrigued by the role of shaped charges, and with the beginning of the war in Iraq, he learned about the Javelin missile, a new weapon in the U.S. arsenal that utilizes a shaped charge.

Method: The designer developed a seven-panel storyboard that explained both how the Javelin works, and how shaped charges are used. Once the storyboard was fact-checked, sent the text to be edited and made a list of the visual elements required. I spent parts of the next two days drawing the images. Basic shapes were drawn in Macromedia Freehand. These shapes were imported into Flash, where they were shaded and converted into movie clips. Once the images were completed, one day was required to animate and add sound. The finished animation was edited overnight, and published the following day.

Combined Arms: How We Fight

Designer: Jerry Mosemak
Concept: When the graphic was assigned coalition forces in Iraq were heading to Baghdad. Supply lines were growing long and much attention was drawn to the guerilla like attacks on U.S. support elements. We wanted to explain how a force such as the 3rd Infantry Division might advance through hostile territory.

Method: Two designers tag teamed this graphic for deadline purposes. One worked primarily on the drawing and the other on the flash scripting and animation. The background and vehicles were drawn in Freehand then the vector images were brought into flash and completed. The vector approach keeps the file size low making the download time for users much quicker.

Map: A Satellite Look of Baghdad

Designer: Kevin Kepple
Concept: The concept was to make the best use of the satellite imagery in a way that didn't just drop the user in the middle of a city they've never been to before. By having the navigation map on the left be directly proportional to the files called in on the right we gave the user a sense of orientation so they could choose the areas they want to explore without ever feeling lost.

Method: The piece was put together using flash scripting that called hundreds of individual buttons, that called up hundreds of separate .swf files.

Evacuating the Wounded

Designer: David Evans
Concept: The process of evacuating a wounded soldier from the field was a linear one. Starting in one place and ending in another. So it made sense to place the steps on an arrow that went in one direction. So we start "zoomed" into each step to examine it closer and end the graphic "zoomed" out to see the whole process.

Method: The graphics were created in Illustrator and Flash. 3-D models were used for reference. The artist created a simple side view of the vehicles and extruded them. Then added detail for more of an "icon" look rather than a detailed 3-D feel. I thought the icons visually simplified the steps.

--Submitted by Jessica A. Caffrey
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