REIMAGINE
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D was as powerful as it was complex.
Maxon’s 4D motion graphics software had steadily grown in capabilities, but this expansion made the software increasingly difficult to learn and master.
The UI dominated the screen, leaving little room for actual work, producing information overload and decision paralysis. This complexity also hindered the packaging, distribution, and reuse of animated assets. Maxon needed to step back, readdress its core UX principles, and explore opportunities to simplify the experience and make it easier to use.
solution results
Simplify to Amplify
Returning to its roots, Cinema 4D embraced the power of "less is more."
Our UX project with Maxon began with research into new UX paradigms and UI management, exploring concepts for system-wide UI reorganization, hierarchy, and interaction. We reimagined its core brand values: Fun (4D animation), Flexibility (3D modeling), and Focus (2D rendering).
We then focused on reclaiming workspace—more room for the work meant less UI distraction and greater productivity. The UI was redesigned to be contextually focused, limiting visibility to only what was necessary for the task at hand. One innovative concept, Nano-Nav, allowed the mouse to remotely select tools and actions, bringing the UI to the mouse rather than the other way around. We also proposed a new community content and asset management store, and introduced a Sketch Nodes concept to improve the UX for Node Modeling.