What Should You Send a Rive Animator Before Starting a Project?

When reaching out to a Rive animator for a project, it helps to prepare a few key pieces of information to streamline the process and obtain a more accurate quote. Start with your Figma file or a direct link to the product where the animation will be used. This allows the animator to visualize the UI, layout, and interactions relevant to the animation.

Next, provide the original mascot, character, or vector assets in a format like SVG or Figma that can be easily edited. While a PNG can serve as a visual reference, layers in vector assets are crucial for separating different parts of the character that need independent movement.

Next, list the specific animation states required for the project. Rather than just stating "I want a mascot animated," specify what the mascot needs to do, such as "Idle, Wave, Happy, Success, Error" for a mascot or "Idle, Welcome, Point, Celebrate, Complete" for an onboarding character. This helps the animator understand the range of actions needed.

Additionally, inform the animator of the target platform where the animation will be implemented, whether it's web, Flutter, React Native, iOS, Android, or a SaaS web application. This ensures the animator prepares the Rive file with the appropriate integration in mind.

Finally, describe how the animation should react to user interactions or application states. Provide a clear explanation of the product logic in simple terms, such as what happens when the screen opens, a user taps a microphone, AI starts processing, or an error occurs. This level of detail enables the animator to design appropriate transitions and behaviors within the animation states. By providing these elements upfront, you can save time, reduce back-and-forth communication, and receive a more precise project estimate.