Kevin Shen - We Design Video Studios πŸŽ₯✨ Profile picture
Feb 9, 2023 β€’ 25 tweets β€’ 11 min read β€’ Read on X
Want to look better on Video + Zoom calls?

Here's 8️⃣ Principles of Interior Design ✨ to elevate your camera background

πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡
1️⃣ Balance

We humans find beauty & order in balance

Our goal as designers is to distribute visual weight evenly.

Balance the visual intensity so the shot doesn't feel "lopsided" or "too heavy" on one side.

@phlearn
One literal way to create balance is with symmetry.

In the example below, the left and right half of the background is a near mirror image.

This makes the shot feel very stable and grounded.
You can also create balance without such literal symmetry.

This is an example of asymmetrical balance in my own studio, and feels more organic & less rigid.

@theKevinShen
Here, I've created a sense of equilibrium with equal amounts of visual intensity on both sides.

- On the left, small decorative lights and a large bamboo tree
- On the right, high contrast wall art and other decor
Another example of how to achieve balance is "The Rule of Sixths" here: πŸ‘‡
2️⃣ Proportion

You want your decor to fit the size of your camera frame.

Many people have a sparse background which feels desolate & cold.
Instead, find ways to fill up your *whole* background.

You are the painter & the frame is your canvas.
Paint the whole thing!

@AnnaAkana
You can get quite creative with how you fill up your shot.

Here Anna uses:
- a large chair at the center
- a display shelf to occupy the right side
- and a coffee table + frame to fill the left side

And besides furniture, you can also fill space with wallpaper or lighting
3️⃣ Harmony

Design your background so all elements "go together" & "make sense" in the same space.

This keeps your audience from being confused & can establish context for your content.

When done right, this creates a cohesive theme + consistent aesthetic.

@stalman
Tyler has created a world for us to experience with him πŸŽ„.

You can already feel the fireplace πŸ”₯, hear the snowstorm outside β˜ƒοΈ, and smell the hot cocoa β˜•οΈ.

This is the power of context.
4️⃣ Movement

This refers to a sense of flow + direction within your space.

Lines, shapes, and colors are like tour guides for the eyes πŸ‘€.

The goal is to guide your audience's eyes smoothly around the frame as if they're reading a book.

@MakeItDairyFree
In Andrew's case, he creates movement with color (wood 🌳) & shapes (plant leaves 🌿), which are woven throughout the frame.
5️⃣ Emphasis

Interior designers center a room design around a focal point.

This may be a piece of art or colorful furniture.

But for your video background, *YOU* should be that focal point.

Done properly, your studio is a powerful tool to command attention.

@petermckinnon
πŸ“Œ Pro Tip

Your background should be designed *around* you–not compete with you. It should draw the viewer's eye πŸ‘€ from outside the frame toward you in the center.

In this example, Peter uses leading lines to position himself as the focus of your attention.
6️⃣ Contrast

Our eyes naturally gravitate toward contrast.

Use contrasting elements to create visual interest and captivate your audience.

Examples:
- dark areas vs light areas
- smooth textures vs rough textures
- large shapes vs small shapes
Here, Zahira shows how powerful contrast can be when done right.

Most notably, she contrasts her bright white clothing against a dark black wall.

This plus her bright light, paintings, and candle make for a striking eye-grabbing camera-presence.
7️⃣ Personality

Showcase who YOU are.

Remember, we humans want to connect with other humans!

It's the quirky little details that others are drawn to + make us relatable.

@SimoneGiertz is one of my heroes πŸ€“
Personal touches include hobbies, sports, music, movies, etc.
Think: tools, toys, posters, instruments!
8️⃣ Repetition

Having repeating elements such as colors, shapes, or textures draws your eye around the image.

@hellomayuko
In this case, Mayuko repeats a lot of shapes and makes the whole setup feel very cohesive.
πŸ“Œ To go deeper into this topic, here's another 🧡 on background design
A studio done right... is a powerful tool πŸ’ͺ

If you spend lots of time on camera (for videos or Zoom calls), how you craft your video presence makes a huge difference.

That includes your background, camera, lighting design, audio–all designed around you.
We've helped 400+ people design & build their studios via our course + consulting services, saving them tons of time & headache.

If you want us to design your studio for you ✨, here's how we can help you with 1:1 consulting.

πŸ‘‰ dreamstudiocourse.com/p/consulting
We also have a self-serve digital course & host a live cohort every so often.

Click for details πŸ‘‡
dreamstudiocourse.com
That's a wrap!

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More from @theKevinShen

Jan 11, 2023
πŸ”Ÿ Principles To Look Better On Camera

We’ve helped 400+ people design & build their home video studios (both for Zoom calls & recording content)

Here's some of my best tips.
All examples in this thread are clients we’ve designed studios for, or students in our course!

Read on to see how you can do it too πŸ‘‡
1️⃣  The Rule of Sixths.

Most backgrounds look lopsided.
Don’t just fill the bottom half of the shot and forget the top.

@thomas_cantrell
Read 31 tweets
Sep 2, 2022
8 Things Your Video Setup Says About You

... and how to fix them

In 100 milliseconds, people decide if they like & trust you.
How you look on camera says everything. ImageImageImageImage
1️⃣ Camera Angle

When your camera looks down at you, it destroys your credibility.

You put your audience in the role of your superior peering over your cubicle. ImageImage
To establish more authority, lower your camera to chin height.

πŸ‘‰ *Design* how your viewer sees you. It matters a LOT. ImageImage
Read 39 tweets
Aug 9, 2022
6 Tips to look amazing on camera πŸ˜‰

How To Design a Youtube or Zoom Background You're *Actually* Proud Of ImageImageImageImage
1. Spread Out Your Background Items

A common mistake: clumping furniture behind your head. Makes it claustrophobic.

Instead, extend some furniture off-camera.

This creates the sense of a larger world beyond the screen.

You’re a world-builder πŸ§™πŸΌβ€β™‚οΈ

@AnnaAkana is great at this. Image
2. Fill Up Empty Space

Avoid the blank white wall.

We humans speak the language of signaling. Just as important as the words we say.

Signal intentionality. Make your space a *home* for your audience.

People will feel drawn to you.

@AliAbdaal thanks for doing this so well Image
Read 12 tweets
Aug 7, 2022
The biggest threat to entrepreneurs is wasting time on the wrong questions

Here’s what I mean:
If you knew all the right decisions to make (in your exact context), success would come to you basically guaranteed
So the most important thing is to figure out the right decisions…

Not spending time & energy building anything til you have that.
Read 9 tweets
May 18, 2022
My team & I have helped over πŸ’― people design + build their video setup.

Here’s 7️⃣ things most people get wrong on camera

#HomeStudio #YoutubeSetup #ZoomBackground
✨ When you know the PRINCIPLES, you too can look great on video
❌ Empty Walls

Nothing says "eww" like a blank beige wall πŸ˜¬πŸ˜„

Your background design can hurt you OR be your greatest asset online when done right ✨
Read 17 tweets
Feb 3, 2022
How to Look Better on Video + Zoom calls ✨

9 powerful tips from @MasterClass to build expert authority on camera

~ A Video Thread πŸ§΅πŸ‘‡
1️⃣ Master Your Lighting

This is the #1 biggest difference between looking your best, and looking your worst.
2️⃣ Master Your Rim Light

Separate yourself from the background.

Don’t make your viewer πŸ” for you on screen. It’s tiring enough to follow a video or be on zoom.

Giving your viewer extra cognitive load will subconsciously push them towards leaving.
Read 11 tweets

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