A Transition Should Still Make Sense When It Doesn’t Move

Imagine a delivery tracker changing from “On the way” to “Arriving soon.” A moving marker could make that change feel continuous—but what if the motion isn’t available, or someone prefers less of it?

I’d make sure the meaning survives in the still frame too: show the current step clearly, with the next action or expectation spelled out. Motion can add a little choreography; it shouldn’t be carrying the only copy of the message.

That changes how I’d prototype the transition: compare the animated moment with its static version and ask whether both communicate the same state. The motion is an expressive layer, not a tiny gatekeeper to understanding.