No doubt today you’ve seen news of OK Go’s impressively optical illusion-filled music video for their new single, “The Writing’s On The Wall.” And just like after every other meticulously planned, single-shot video from the band who may well have started the viral music video trend, you probably were left wondering, “How did they possibly do that?”

The answer: pre-visualization. Watch above as art director Paul Stallings breaks down the methods and mechanics of planning the visually cunning illusions that made OK Go’s new music video so mind-vexing. What was your favorite optical trick? Anyone else curious how long it would take to make a 3D self portrait out of random detritus? Ah, the magic of smart people.