The Loc Studios Expands into 3D and on-set VFX
November 3, 2026
Motion designer João Vaz Oliveira first worked with David Carson on the designer’s 2022 reel, and just recently re-teamed with him for a Swatch collaboration on a signature (and instantly collectable) pop-art time piece.
João Vaz Oliveira: The project brings Carson’s distinctive graphic language into motion, exploring the typography, textures, and unconventional compositions that define his work, while capturing the vibrant energy of NYC.
One of the biggest challenges of was bringing almost 100 different watch designs and sketches together into one film. So it wasn’t just about animating them, but finding a way to connect everything while keeping his unique visual style.
“It was a mix of randomness and intuition. And I think that’s something I’ve learned from David: even in chaos, there’s always a sense of balance.”
David shared all the creative process work he had done before reaching the final watch design, and the best part was he gave me complete freedom. For someone like me who loves experimenting, that’s the perfect starting point.
To bring everything together, I built a Cloner system in Cinema 4D that allowed me to randomly mix the different watch designs. From there, it was a lot of trial and error, finding interesting compositions, and choosing what worked best visually.
It was a mix of randomness and intuition. And I think that’s something I’ve learned from David: even in chaos, there’s always a sense of balance. Another thing I’ve learned from David is trust the process, enjoy the unexpected, and don’t be afraid to break the rules.
Client: Swatch
Watch Design: David Carson
Director/Animator: João Vaz Oliveira
