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Clients can come from many different places. In this line of work, we motion designers can take advantage of numerous resources for this. Today’s guest explains how he does it using Behance and how you can too. About Felipe Vargas Felipe Vargas is a freelance illustrator and motion designer from Chile. His specializations include designing, directing, and animating a wide range of motion projects. He also enjoys editorial illustration work. He finds many of his opportunities from his Behance page. This has led to opportunities to work with many great brands, such as Adobe, Yahoo!, The World Bank, The WHO, Facebook, Citi, JP Morgan, and many others. Breaking New Ground in Chile Felipe entered the world of motion design when it was relatively unheard of in his country. He credits his early success to a combination of having a top-notch portfolio reel, his tenacity, and luck. Today, motion design is growing in popularity in Chile. By being there from the start, Felipe finds himself well-positioned to take advantage of this new trend. Using Behance to Find Work with Many Different Clients Felipe credits a lot of his success as a freelancer to Behance. This platform creates opportunities to network that few other platforms provide. Since many clients are just as interested in your process as they are with your final product, Felipe finds that Behance is a great tool for showing how he creates his work. He credits consistency and attention to detail when using it to create a successful portfolio. Although Felipe creates a lot of work for advertisers, he also sees the value of working for a variety of client types. If you can be the first motion designer that someone works with, you can guide them through the possibilities of your creations. This gives you more freedom and opens up possibilities that may not exist elsewhere. Read the full show notes Links & Resources Download the free portfolio checklist! Find Felipe Vargas on Behance | Vimeo | Instagram Additional Resources Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

All of us have something unique to offer, something that sets us apart. Yet, many motion designers ignore that and become generalists instead. Today’s guest finds that it’s her unique niche that lands her more work while allowing her to develop a style all her own. About Jess Herrera Jess Herrera, aka Herrerasaurus, is a freelance 3D character artist based in Australia. Whether it’s design, modeling, animation, lighting, or rigging, Jess has been there. Having worked for studios in the past, Jess understands and appreciates what it means to go freelance. Becoming a Master of Your Niche and Style Take a quick glance at Jess’ work and you can see that she makes her style all her own. Rather than being a jack of all trades, Jess is hyper-focused on her own form of 3D character design. To her own surprise, Jess found that her specialization attracts more clients than she would find as a generalist. By honing her own style, Jess sets herself apart for prospective clients. That doesn’t mean that you need to work entirely on your own. Jess frequently collaborates with others to come up with fresh new ideas and projects. Taking the Leap into Going Freelance Jess discusses her initial hesitations about going freelance. At first, she was hesitant because freelancing involves a lot of work beyond motion design. However, she found that for her the freedom that working for yourself provides far outweighs the other work. Most of all, the freedom of freelancing allows Jess to control her own schedule and location. As a freelancer, she has travelled the world and found some amazing work opportunities along the way. Read The Full Show Notes Links & Resources Find Jess Herrera online Follow Jess on Instagram | Vimeo | Twitter | Linkedin The Freelance Manifesto Additional Resources Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Do you ever feel that you have too much client work to focus on personal projects? It can be tough making the time for something that doesn’t bring you any direct income. However, these personal projects are an important part of your craft. They’ll help you sharpen your skills while imparting a sense of satisfaction that other work doesn’t. About Qais Sarhan Qais Sarhan is a 2D motion designer based in Reading. He creates simple, succinct animations in order to promote and explain complex marketing messages. When not creating for studios and agencies, Qais creates silly gifs about cats and food. The Rewards and Challenges of Remote Work As someone who works on all aspects of a project, Qais is able to work remotely. In this capacity, he seldom needs to come in-house and has the freedom to live outside of the major hubs. Even though you might not be physically in the room with clients, Qais urges you to stay in frequent communication.  Regular emails, calls, and messages will put them at ease and let them know that their project is in good hands. Leveling Up with Personal Projects When not working for clients, Qais is constantly refining his own skills. Personal projects are a great avenue for this. By investing in yourself, not only will your craft improve, but you will also gain a sense of satisfaction that only comes creating for your own development. It will also help you avoid being too harsh on yourself so you can focus on the joy in what you do. Full Show Notes Links & Resources Join Client Quest Find Qais Sarhan online Follow Qais on Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Vimeo | Behance | Dribble Wipster Feck Perfuction Additional Resources Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative  Show Notes

There’s certainly a lot of unknowns in the world these days. This is true for the motion design industry as much as anything else. Long-term survival is likely going to involve both adaptability and keeping focused on your priorities. About Ryan Summers As 2D creative director at School of Motion, Ryan is busy making courses to help other motion designers move forward in their career. This allows him to keep a close eye on trends in the motion design world and get ready for what the future brings to this industry. The New Landscape of Motion Design The world is changing fast. While many of these changes bring new challenges, they also involve new opportunities for motion designers. Ryan shares his observations and predictions for what this means for us. For one thing, remote work is more accepted and widespread than ever. It also presents more opportunities for individuals and small studios which can operate without the massive overhead required by the big studios.   Specialization as a Key Elements of Success In the crowded field of motion design, it’s crucial to set yourself apart. With all the generalists put there, Ryan sees the importance of specializing in something that shares your unique voice. It may weed out some potential clients, but it will make sure that you work with the right ones in the end.   “There’s great opportunity when the world changes as fast and as all-encompassing as it has.” [5:14] “That’s the part of every artist’s challenge and every studio’s challenge; You have to redefine yourself while the world changes around or you’ll get lost.” [7:43] “You have different processes on the creative side based on your needs at the moment. Why shouldn’t you have the same thing business-wise?” [28:49]   How new trends are affecting the world of remote work [4:30] The importance of agility during unpredictable times [10:03] Why specializing will not only set you apart but also keep you focused on your passion [18:55] What it takes to set your portfolio apart from the competition [24:55] Creating long term connections by passing work off to others and having partners [28:36] Maintaining your own passions and taking care of yourself as a necessary part of staying in business [35:43]   The business and creative world is quickly changing. Being adaptable and agile in order to avoid pitfalls and take advantage of new opportunities is a must. This means being creative about how you operate your business. Even though how you run your business may need to change, maintaining your creative passions as priorities will give you the drive to keep going. Just as you cultivate your artistic skills, you need to tend to your own wellbeing. Your work can be a great way to feed your own creative self. However, getting caught up in just the money-making aspect is not sustainable in the long run.   The Motion Designer Client Challenge   Follow Ryan on Twitter   School of Motion Episode 22: Art School vs Online Courses: The Pros & Cons Episode 64: How to price your work as a motion designer   Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative  Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net

Karl Doran explains what he’s learned by going from freelance motion design to owning his own studio. He describes his process for landing clients without the use of traditional advertising. He also talks about setting clear expectations with clients so that everyone is happy with the results of his work. Both freelancing and running your own agency have their advantages. There’s a sense of freedom to both, but they come with different responsibilities. My guest on this episode started his own successful agency after years of freelancing. Today, he’s sharing some lessons he learned from this switch. About Karl Doran Karl Doran is a creative director and founder of Flow Creative, an animation studio and branding agency in Manchester. His team of eight illustrators, designers, and project managers has created animated explainer films, brand films, and social content for numerous companies and arts and culture organizations. How can you leverage your network to land the next big job? We would love to hear from you. We are @motionhatch on Twitter and Instagram. Have you transitioned from freelance to studio work? What’s one lesson you learned from the switch? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram. Find full show notes here. Join the Motion Design Client Challenge Join the waitlist for our brand new course Client Quest. Find Karl Doran online Follow Karl on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin Motion North Meetup Harvest Xero Thanks for Listening! Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative  

Freelance life can go from feast to famine in an instant. As a Motion Designer, it can be easy to get discouraged when your business is down. Plus, even when you have a project, there’s no guarantee that you’ll have work waiting when it’s done. That’s why I love consistent clients. In this solo episode, I want to talk to you about what it takes to land clients that keep coming back to you. To be successful in Motion Design you should regularly be engaging in client outreach. It may not be your favorite part of the job, but it’s critical to your long-term success and sanity.    Maker Time vs Manager Time In the episode, I talk about two distinct ways to structure your work time, “maker” time and “manager” time. Maker Time - Large blocks of time (~4 Hours) used to focus on creative work.  Manager Time - Smaller blocks of time (

How to build your freelance business to just the right size. As freelancers, most of us would like to see our business grow. While you may work a lot on your own, meaningful and sustainable growth is a group effort. There are also reasons to limit how big you grow your business. Today’s guest successfully grew her practice to just the right size with the help of strategic collaboration and teamwork.  Erica Gorochow is a Brooklyn-based director and designer at PepRally. She fluctuates between building teams as a studio, independent directing, and doing her own freelance work. Erica focuses on making high-quality work for brands, networks, agencies, and startups. In addition to client work, she produces projects internally to continue exploring new technologies, techniques, and ideas.   Should you have a studio or be a freelance motion designer There’s a lot to consider as you expand your work as a freelancer. Even what to call your practice is something Erica dealt with. She really recommends establishing yourself with studio work before scaling up as a freelancer. That way you’ve already built up a name and reputation for your work.    Collaboration with others can add more value to your motion design work Although she does a lot of solo work, Erica loves collaborating with others. Mostly, it’s just more fun to succeed as part of a collaborative effort. Working with others adds more value to the work and fosters personal growth as a creator.   In this episode Considerations for naming your studio or practice Deliberate steps to take when scaling up your freelance work Advantages that come when working in a coworking space Collaboration as a way to foster personal and professional growth Tips for creating a budget with prospective clients Why you shouldn’t scale up simply for the sake of scaling up Getting big clients without creating a studio   Quotes “If I’m not going to toot my own horn, how can I expect others to do it for me?” [13:14] “I don’t know that I always have the absolute best idea. I think you’re much more likely to get to the best idea vis-à-vis collaboration.” [15:09] “Growth is whatever you define it to be. It can be personal. It can be scaling. It can be anything in between. Try to be honest with yourself about what kind of growth will lead to happiness knowing you’re allowed to change your answer.” [47:07]   Links Find Erica Gorochow online Follow Erica on Instagram | Twitter | Vimeo Company of One by Paul Jarvis Join the Client Quest waitlist

Coming up with a budget for clients and knowing what to charge for your motion design work is a common point of confusion. To shed some light on this, I’ve brought on a special co-host to answer some tough questions on charging for your projects and building industry relationships. Kyle Hamrick is a motion designer and educator based in Kansas City. He hosts a weekly live show on YouTube with Evan Abrams, Motion Design Hotline. As a freelancer, Kyle creates everything from animated explainer videos to live event visuals; from IMAX documentaries to full graphics packages for professional sports franchises. How to charge for motion design Today, we get into how to determine what you charge prospective clients and how to understand their wants and needs. There’s no single answer here. Rather, there are many factors that all need to be considered. Determine how long a motion design project will take A particular challenge of freelancers is time management. Kyle and I recommend tracking your time. This will help you determine your actual productivity. It will also increase your efficiency and help you determine what your time is actually worth. Recognize the value you provide as a motion designer Most of all, it comes down to recognizing the value you provide. What you do helps others save time and make money. Understanding this leads to a mindset in which you can be of real service for your clients while earning the right compensation for what you do.   In this episode Factors to consider when determining clients’ budgets Managing the challenges of time management as a freelancer The importance of advocating for yourself when factors are outside of your control How to know when to say no to a client Building connections within your industry as a way to get referrals  Quotes “If you want to be making $300,000 a year, then figure out what you need to be charging to do that. If you want to make $20,000 a year and spend most of your time surfing in Asia, figure out what you need to do that. That’s the thing about freelancing. You get to decide what these things mean for you.” [8:07] “You’re going to make mistakes and that’s okay. You’re going to underbid a project and regret it and be mad at yourself.” [11:08] “Don’t forget to advocate for yourself. Just because someone works at an agency does not necessarily mean they know what they’re doing. And just because someone works at a cool production company, they very well might know what they’re doing, but they’re too busy to pay attention to your project.” [25:23] “If you say yes to that crumby project today and then a really good project falls into your lap tomorrow, which one are you going to have to do? The one you already agreed to, right?” [36:47]   Links Find Kyle Hamrick online Follow Kyle on Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram   Motion Design Hotline Episode 47 with Evan Abrams Episode 64 with Blair Enns Wipster Loom   Join the Client Quest Waitlist   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Commercial work pays the bills. But as motion designers and creatives we have tons of our own ideas. Today’s guest has a huge portfolio of her own personal work and animated gifs. Not only is this a creative outlet for her, but it has also led to many great paying jobs. Annie Wong, aka Headexplodie, is the creator of some really awesome work. She creates short-form videos, GIFs, stop motion, and other fun content for the digital world. Her creations have landed her work with some pretty big brands, such as Vans, Facebook, and the Washington Post. She even has over 2 billion views on Giphy. She tells us how making animated gifs has lead her to lots of opportunities and funny stories but has also helped her to get client work. Make Money with Animated Gifs Annie has mastered the process of letting her creations become her resume. With a platform like Giphy, Annie makes sure that she includes her contact information so potential clients can find her. By creating short little projects that are easy to share, you’re putting your talent further out in the world. For Annie, this is a fun and easy way to advertise her craft.   Self Care as a Freelance Motion Designer is Important Creating the space you need for yourself and your personal work is a real challenge for freelancers. Annie knows the importance of setting this time aside for self-care. This isn’t always easy. Obviously, the more you work, the more you earn. But if you don’t take the time, you will pass up the opportunity to do what is actually truly important for yourself. In the end, self-care will allow you to create better work and serve yourself and your clients in a more present way. In this episode Using platforms like Giphy to find client work. How sharing your personal work can help you get noticed all over the world. The kinds of projects that are both personal and easily shared. Blending your client’s vision with your own personal style to create something that satisfies you both. The difficulty of setting time aside to make your own creations. Creating opportunities for self-care in a busy schedule. Using Patreon to diversify your income and create a deeper connection with your supporters. How to make money with animated gifs.   Quotes “If it’s an art form that you enjoy doing, just creating short loopable animations, it’s just a really convenient and easy way for people to find your work.” [3:31] “It’s kind of a weird paradox to create something that is personal but shareable. I tend to lean towards emotions or experiences that I think just kind of relate to being human.” [8:42] “I can’t necessarily satisfy my personal creativity through client work. A lot of times, they will blend because clients will come to me wanting my style.” [15:17] “When you’re hustling for work, it’s easy to forget what value you bring to the world. People need artists. People need your fun and colorful and weird ideas.” [36:35]   Links Find Annie Wong online Follow Annie on Instagram | Linkedin | Vimeo | Twitter Giphy The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer Perfect Day Exercise Patreon   Related Episodes How to turn your Motion Design skills into smart income with YouTube with Premiere Gal How to use social media to get more clients with Golden Wolf How to use YouTube to grow your motion design business with Ben Marriott   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

We motion designers all feel like weirdos at times. Don’t fight it! It’s time to embrace what makes you unique and sets you apart. In fact, your surreal side can create its own opportunities. Today’s guest is in high demand precisely because of his weirdness. We chat about how personal work can get you big motion design clients. Nick DenBoer, AKA Smearballs, does a bit of everything. He’s a director, animator, editor, music producer, and remix artist. He’s worked on Conan and created unique music videos for deadmau5. Nick has worked on some very memorable projects for big brands including KFC and Old Spice. Personal work can get you big motion design clients We chat about what inspires Nick to create his unique personal work. Aside from fulfilling his artistic need to create, Nick credits his personal work with landing him commercial jobs. He doesn’t necessarily do personal work with this in mind. In fact, he thinks it may scare away as many opportunities as it creates. However, it also has landed him the type of clients who really appreciate what he has to offer. Setting client expectations in motion design As someone who works with a wide range of clients, Nick honed his process of explaining what he does. Describing your creative process and timeline is important for setting client expectations. So is maintaining regular communication throughout the project so they know what you’ve been up to. The value of creating a team of freelance motions designers When it comes to large or complex projects, Nick finds that it’s helpful to bring in specialists. However, being too specialized can slow down the project if something unexpected comes up. With that in mind, we talk about the value of having a team with a wide range of knowledge as well as experts on something very specific.    In this episode Using your personal work to highlight what makes your work unique Making the important distinction between personal work and client work How personal work can get you big motion design clients Creating passion projects to stay in control of your career Effectively explaining what you can do for eager clients How to expand your team when working on complex projects The value of both generalists and specialists Concerns about not infringing on brand copyrights   Quotes “I see my personal work as a business card…. People actually hire me because of that off-putting, weird, crazy stuff.” [6:32] “If you literally are in a financial position where you have to take every job, you lose control over your own career.” [13:42] “You need people who can put a whole project together and do everything from scratch and you also need specialists. So I think there’s shoes to fill in both realms. It’s not like one is better than the other.” [32:10]   Links Find Nick DenBoer online Follow Nick on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Vimeo | YouTube

Social media is a powerful tool for getting your animations out there and finding more work as a freelancer. However, actually connecting with the right people is not a straightforward task. To clear up any confusion, We’ve brought on a freelance motion designer who has 25k followers on Instagram to share how to use Instagram as a motion graphic designer. How to make the jump into being a freelance motion designer Sam Burton is an expert in using Instagram to create opportunities for his freelance business. For the last 10 years, he has worked on a large variety of projects including animated commercials, broadcast design, and music videos. Sam and I chat about how he transitioned to freelance work. Sam didn’t make this change in a day. It was a gradual process where he did personal work on the side and built up contacts before resigning from his studio job. Using Instagram to get motion design opportunities While Sam started his Instagram channel as a way to share his work, it became much more. Now he uses it as a tool to find all sorts of work and collaborate with other motion designers. This led to vast opportunities Sam wouldn’t have found otherwise. Most important of all, Sam suggests just putting out work that you are passionate to create. This means ignoring the number of likes and followers you get. Focus on creating good work and you will get noticed. Know your motion graphics hashtags Sam also recommends knowing your hashtags. They are a great way to get your work in front of different eyes. Incorporating sound into your posts is also a way to stand out and connect with more people. Simply put, there are strategies you can use to set your animations apart and make it your own. This will naturally lead to more engagement and more work. In this episode Factors to consider before making the jump into freelance work Using Instagram as a networking tool Why the numbers don’t matter as much as you might think on social media Why it’s important to use the right hashtags to get your posts shared Incorporating sound in your posts to create strategic partnerships Using outside inspiration to set your animations apart and make them relevant Balancing personal work with client work as a freelancer The potential of other social media platforms to promote motion design work Quotes  “You never quite know who’s going to see the work you’re putting on Instagram. It might lead to a job. It might not. But it might lead to a connection with someone you admire. It might lead to meeting up with some people at your next event. Everyone’s on it.” [8:18] “The work you put out there should be work that you enjoy making and that you’re inspired to do -- that brings you pleasure and joy.” [10:36] “Each hashtag puts your image into a whole other pool of work that can be seen by a whole different audience.” [16:01] “For potential clients and other studios, if they see you in a teacher role giving tips and advice, that shows you as more of an expert of your craft.” [34:38] Related links Find Sam Burton online Follow Sam on Instagram | Dribbble | Vimeo | Twitter Follow Motion Hatch on Instagram | Tiktok School of Motion Article on Instagram Motion Design Communities on Instagram  The Design Tip Motion Lovers Motion Designers GFX.Mob Motion Mob Motion Graphics Inspiration Motion Graphics Place Graphics Daily P L S U R  Motion Mood Motion Mate Buck Later Buffer Linktree   Related episodes How to use LinkedIn to get direct clients with Mair Perkins How to use social media to get more clients with Golden Wolf   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Most of us got into motion design because we like to create. But to stay in business, we need to know how to sell what we do and how to price your work as a motion designer. Selling can feel like a dirty word, but I’ve brought in a guest who explains how its actually a creative tool for offering great value to your clients. Many people have heard of Blair Enns from his book The Win Without Pitching Manifesto. He runs a sales-training organization for creative professionals. From public and private workshops to remote training, Blair strives to remove the stigma from sales.   Selling your services as a motion designer. In this episode, Blair and I sat down to talk a lot about how to price your work as a motion designer. Blair explains why we need to stop shunning the whole notions of sales and start embracing it. This takes a shift in mindset where you recognize what unique skills you have to offer others.   Niching down in your motion design business. To help with this, Blair feels that niching down is key. It allows you to narrow down what you have to offer. You’ll be able to help your customers in a way that sets you apart from the competition. However, Blair cautions that this is not the best plan for someone just starting their career.   How to price your work as a motion designer using value-based pricing.  We discuss the ins and outs of value-based pricing and how that applies to motion design. Blair describes how this will allow you to charge more when working directly with clients. When all is said and done, this is a great way to earn more than charging a project or day rate while still keeping clients happy. Is there something holding you back from charging your clients more? Let’s chat about it in the comments on the episode page! In this episode How to change your mindset about sales What happens when you niche down to become an expert What it means to have value-based pricing as a motion designer The four steps to the value-based conversation Evaluating the risk in different pricing systems Knowing when to say no to a potential client   Quotes “We all know what it’s like to be on the buying side of a bad selling experience. I think most of us are scarred by that experience.” [3:26] “Do not look at selling as the act of talking people into things. I don’t think it’s your job to convince anybody of anything ever.” [4:44] “The benefit to the client is your incentives are now aligned. You’ve uncovered somebody who is willing to pay you not based on time or the deliverable, but on the outcome. You are effectively business partners.” [22:23] “The biggest mistake of pricing is thinking that there’s one right way to price.” [35:07]   Links Find Blair Enns online Follow Blair on Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin The Win Without Pitching Manifesto Pricing Creativity   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com Dankoch.net   Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

With the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, life is full of uncertainty. This causes a lot of anxiety which is a real mental health burden. Being a freelancer right now adds another layer of unpredictability. To assist in navigating these unprecedented times, I’ve brought on a special guest to help us make sense of our concerns. Today, I’m talking with Dr. Anna Symonds, a clinical psychologist with Elysian Psychology in Nottinghamshire, UK. She is registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Chartered with the British Psychological Society. Dr. Symonds works with adults and children who have a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and OCD.  Dr. Symonds shares some tips for dealing with uncertainty. Flexibility and adaptability are important parts of this. As freelancers, many of us have already honed these traits. Dr. Symonds explains how we can tap into these inner resources to cope with the ups and downs going on. There is so much anxiety-provoking uncertainty now. Dr. Symonds recommends focusing on the things we still have control over. This may be a good time to ground yourself by starting a project you’ve been putting off. Also, don’t forget that you can still control your thoughts. Dr. Symonds describes some mindset techniques to help with this.   In this episode Tips for handling stress around job uncertainty Focusing on what we can control and sitting with our feelings Why it’s more important than ever to avoid making social comparisons How to stop catastrophizing and put things back into perspective Dealing with the concerns we have for our loved ones Resources to seek out if you’re concerned about your mental wellbeing Using this time for much-needed self-reflection   Quotes “We have to get ourselves to a position of acceptance that, from one day to the next, we’re not going to know how we feel. Maybe from one hour to the next. But being okay with that and not fighting it is hugely important.” [3:40] “It’s almost like a grief process really. You have to sit with the emotions that come up. There’s no running away from them.” [7:15] “Our thoughts can be very powerful. But be careful not to believe your thoughts. We have about 80,000 thoughts a day. I’d say that 90 percent of mine are a load of rubbish.” [16:00] “This is a big trigger for lots of things. Things that maybe we pushed down or not thought about for the last few years. Suddenly everything is coming up to the surface partly because we have time, but also because we’re all so triggered.”  [25:37]   Links Find Dr. Anna Symonds online Follow Dr. Symonds on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Elysian Psychology   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Today I want to talk to you about the number one thing that changed my motion design career. It’s masterminds! In case you don’t know what a mastermind is or you aren’t clear how they work, I’m here to tell you all about it. A mastermind is a peer support group where you can learn and grow together. I tell the story of how mastermind groups led me to where I am today. It really has made all the difference and I owe the existence of this podcast to it.  So that you can get the most out of a support group, I share my top seven tips for masterminds. This ranges from having a consistent time for your meetings, using a professional facilitator, being honest and open, and asking specific questions. Masterminds also provide many opportunities for networking. How do you think a mastermind can help move your career forward? Let’s talk in the comments! If you want to join our Mograph Mastermind you can apply here.    In this episode How joining a mastermind changed my whole career for the better The importance of consistency and commitment How a host or facilitator can keep your mastermind on track Why openness and vulnerability is a necessary part of any group The role of masterminds to create networking connections   Quotes “If it wasn’t for mastermind groups, I wouldn’t be speaking to you on this podcast.” [1:06] “When you’re building a new business or are in a big transition, having a support network is really vital to your success.” [3:59] “Everybody has imposter syndrome. It’s about being vulnerable in your work and our business and getting feedback from other people and opening up.” [7:17]   Links Join the next Mograph mastermind! Location Indie Episode 38 with Donna McAvoy Episode 51 with Allison Butler Episode 53 with Chris Field Episode 46 with Jess & Christopher   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.  

Tech companies are creating more and more opportunities for motion designers to work in UX design. Instead of the traditional studio work, this means working with one company on a specific product. But what does it mean to do this work and how is it different from other types of motion design? Sharon Harris is a senior motion designer at Google. As part of the Google design team, Sharon works with the editorial design platform, conducts interviews and podcasts, and arranges the annual design conference, SPAN. Today, Sharon and I speak about how to get into UX motion design and what it’s like working in the tech industry as a motion designer. As tech industries are utilizing motion design as part of the branding, the opportunities for motion designers are growing. As a result, it has become possible to work entirely within the tech industry creating UX/UI products.  Sharon has found that working in tech is incredibly exciting. She is able to come up with many of the ideas for products and be more involved throughout the whole creative process. If this is something that you’d like to be a part of, Sharon provides some actionable tips on how to get involved. In this episode Why Sharon moved from a career in advertising to tech How motion designers can take advantage of the growing use of animations as branding elements What it’s like working with one specific brand or product Tips for finding work creating UX designs  Predictions for the future of UX/UI How UX/UI design differs from advertising   Quotes “Everything is interconnected. We don’t just think about what a button looks like, but how it moves, what is the spatial and hierarchical relationship, how it transforms. It’s about understanding the logic behind why we make those decisions.” [8:46] “There’s just so many things you can do. It’s a very exciting field. There’s never a dull moment” [11:14] “Stories move people. That’s what I see motion growing into more within tech.” [23:13] “It’s work that is touching millions of people. You don’t focus on something that is seen for a few seconds and then disappears in a month or two. This is stuff that is implemented and people use it every day.” [31:47]  Links Follow Sharon Harris on Dribbble | Instagram Design.Google SPAN Episode 57: VR in Motion Design   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will. Accessibility - Material Design Join the Motion Hatch Community The Freelance Contract Bundle

As motion designers, our primary goal is often centered on delivering our animations to clients. However, that’s not always enough to stay in business. Increasingly, there are more opportunities to work with clients beyond motion design and get involved in the design side of brand strategy. We also talk about how to use partnerships and content to get more clients. Philip VanDusen is the founder of Varhaal Brand Design, a brand strategy, design, and marketing agency in New Jersey. He also has a great YouTube channel where he shares his expertise on marketing design and entrepreneurship. Philip describes how we have the ability to play a huge role in marketing and brand strategy with motion design. This is an amazing, as well as lucrative, sphere to get involved in. Philip suggests that a way to stand out is to broaden your skill set into intellectual and strategic client partnerships. Simply put, motion designers need to be active business partners. If this sounds daunting, Philip has some good news. You don’t actually have to change much in your business to scale up. Philip explains how strategically collaborating with other creatives can increase what you have to offer without significantly changing the amount of work you need to do.   Getting your name out there and making those connections can be intimidating. Philip talks about how he has met the people he works with. Masterminds and conferences are great ways to do this. So is content marketing. Philip explains how anyone can use this strategy to get their name out and start getting more work as a result.   In this episode Ways to stand out from the crowd as motion designers Recognizing the need to adjust to changing times and situations to stay competitive First steps to take to learn about communication and business strategy The power of strategic collaboration to scale your business Tips for making connections outside of your industry The power of content marketing to build an authentic personal brand and connect with clients How to use partnerships, strategy and content to get more clients How creating free content can lead to important connections down the road   Quotes “Design, and any kind of creative product or service, is getting increasingly commoditized. Part of that is due to the fact that we have a global economy and you can get creative services from anywhere and from any culture.” [2:28] “In order to survive in today’s creative economy, you really have to do more. You have to be more than just a motion designer. You have to try to nurture and develop a language of business.” [3:08] “It’s never a problem working the work. The problem is finding the work. If you can find the work, you can find people to work the work.” [10:37] “If you just share what you know, who you are, where you are, and what you’re learning, there are people who will benefit from that.” [26:05] “There’s a subliminal bank that you’re putting money into every time you put content out into the world. Where people find it valuable, they will start to put you -- your name, your personal brand, your presence -- on a shelf that is above everybody else.” [38:46]   Links Find Philip VanDusen online Follow Philip on YouTube | Linkedin | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Creative Strategy and the Business of Design

Creating tutorials is a great way to get your name out there and promote your work. Social media channels like YouTube are wonderful platforms for making this happen, but figuring out where to start can be a challenge. Today’s guest started his tutorial channel just under a year ago and he’s already amassed an incredible following. Ben Marriott is a freelance motion designer and YouTuber from Australia. Specializing in 2D design, Ben illustrates and animates short humorous videos and gifs to create tiny stories. He recently started his own YouTube channel where he posts tutorials and behind-the-scenes videos to share his how he does his work. Today, Ben and I chat about how you can use YouTube as a teaching platform to help grow your motion design business. If this is something you’d be interested in doing too, Ben explains why it’s easier to break into than many think. As Ben says, your unique voice and perspective can benefit others, even the topic has already been covered. We also discuss how to manage your use of social media in a stress-free way. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when promoting yourself online. To help you avoid this, Ben explains how you can use Instagram and other platforms successfully without posting every day.    In this episode: The benefits of creating tutorials to share your skills with others What many motion designers want to learn about from others in the field Using Bilibi to gain access to a Chinese audience  Posting to social media without letting it take over all your time Why posting with consistency is essential to successfully using social media Ben’s process for researching, making, and promoting his tutorials How you can monetize your videos through sponsorships Ben’s equipment recommendations for recording stellar tutorial videos   Quotes “Anything I do to help myself grow an audience is going to make what I want to do in five years a lot easier.” [4:15] “It will fill up your whole day trying to post work that you’ve done. You’ll have no time to actually make any work.” [11:56] “Obviously the content has to be good, but if there’s no appealing thumbnail or title, no one will click on it.” [26:14] “Don’t think that everything is covered. Your opinion on something and your method of doing it, the way you communicate, might get through to different people.” [28:13]   Links Find Ben Marriott online Follow Ben on Instagram | YouTube   Episode 43 with Kelsey Brannan Matt Wilson Spark AR Social Blade Social Bluebook Getting Things Done by David Allen OBS   Podcasting and Youtube Gear Canon M50 Rhode Podcaster Mic Rhode Procaster Mic Blue Yeti Mic Scarlet 2i2 focusrite audio interface   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

It seems that every year or so something major changes in the world of motion design and freelancing in general. Keeping up with the changes means staying flexible as well as resolute in the way you work and find clients. Today’s guest has not only weathered these changes but continues to thrive. Brian Gossett has been a motion designer and illustrator for fifteen years and works remotely as a freelancer out of Austin, Texas. His many projects have ranged from music videos to animated and live-action commercials, to editorial and advertisement illustrations. Brian has been successfully making motion design pieces and illustrations for many great studios and companies and we chat about what it takes to build a sustainable career in this industry over the long run. Sometimes this involves using the services of an illustration agent and other times relying on your contacts within the industry. As someone who has been working for as long as he has, Brian’s professional and personal priorities have changed over the course of his career. We discuss how shifting what is important to you as your career evolves is an important part of maintaining longevity in this field. Brian also shares what he has done to find clients that are happy to let him make creations that highlight his own unique artistic style.   In this episode The differences in finding work as a motion designer versus as an illustrator The benefits that come with using an illustration agency Why it’s a good thing to have shifting priorities as your career evolves over time Ways to get client work that utilizes your own artistic style Deciding if it’s worth it to use your personality to help establish yourself and sell your work What happens when people throughout the industry are more transparent with each other Why you should increase your rates every year   Quotes “The more markets you’re tapped into, the more work and potential income that will come in.” [8:19] “It’s not just talent. It’s also being ambitious and going out of the way to find the people who are going to champion for you.” [29:28] “If we can come out and share our rates, we are going to lift everyone else up.” [46:38] “Instead of trying to be the new hotness, think of what’s the best approach to this industry where you can build a sustainable career.” [57:19]   Links Find Brian Gossett online Follow Brian on Instagram | Twitter   Debut Art Mendola Artists Motionographer     Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Virtual reality is one of the newest and most promising fields in motion design. There’s huge potential for growth as well as exciting opportunities to create unique art. But, if you’re like me, you may have more questions than answers about just what’s involved in being an animator in this exciting new field. Today’s episode is going to answer those questions for you and hopefully point you in the right direction to discover how to use VR in motion design.  On today’s show, I chat with two great artists, Collin Leix from Gunner Animation and Illustration Studio and Rosie Summers, a VR painter at XR Games. They’re here to share what their role in virtual reality designs is and how we can use it as motion designers. Collin and Rosie explain how creating in VR is both similar and different from creating other types of motion design pieces. While it may share many of the basic aspects, they are very excited by how much more interactive and performative it can be in practice. There are many programs to use when making VR art and they describe some of these and how they use them as well. If you’re interested in getting started with VR in motion design, Collin and Rosie chat about avenues that you can take advantage of right away. Both Rosie and Collin recommend that you begin by creating storyboards and moving on to animate them in VR. They also share how they use these creations when pitching potential clients.  If you’ve been making 3D art, then you’re ready to move on to creating in the virtual reality space. Collin and Rosie explain how they use their knowledge of 3D when making VR animations and share what you can do to try your hand in it too.   In this episode The performative nature of VR art Useful tools for creating VR animations Tips for using a headset to explore the VR world of your creation How working in 3D is the natural place to start before creating in VR Simple ways to make VR animations right away What the job landscape is in VR right now Hopes and predictions for the future of virtual reality How we can use VR in motion design   Quotes “One of the things I realized really fast about making VR art is how your body makes the artwork. Instantly I saw a performative aspect to this.” [2:30] “People who are making things in 3D are in the first most natural step towards trying to make something in VR because you’re truly working in 3D space.” [15:42] “I really hope that reality isn’t ditched for the virtual. I hope it compliments it. I hope we use these virtual tools to enhance our experience in the real world rather than replace it.” [28:39] “Trust yourself and your creative instincts. It’s early enough in VR that people who jump in still have time to shape it. What you bring to it might be different from anybody else.” [43:18]   Links Find Rosie Summers online Follow Rosie on Twitter | YouTube | Instagram Rosie doing her performative VR painting   Find Collin Leix online Follow Collin on Instagram   Blend Fest Quill Danny Bittman Gora Fujita Nick Ladd Dear Angelica Oculus Story Studio   Join the Motion Hatch community   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Many of us creatives have diverse interests and passions. Yet, often enough, we find ourselves spending our time and energy doing client work and leaving our passion projects on the backburner. But what if it's actually that client work that can make your personal projects a reality? Today’s guest has mastered doing just that. In his episode, I’m chatting with Zac Dixon, the creative director and founder of IV Studio and previously the host of the Animalators Podcast. As prolific as ever, Zac has been doing a ton of awesome things including making a new board game called Moonrakers.  With so many different projects in the works at one time, Zac tells how it can only happen through the power of teamwork. Having surrounded himself with other passionate and dedicated people, Zac and his team have been able to produce some really impressive passion projects. Zac shares how he decides which projects are worth pursuing and which are going to be the most rewarding. Creating your own work is going to require some level of marketing if you want it to make a profit. Zac has learned a lot about marketing simply by being a motion designer. This has helped him make these projects a success, but it has also helped him gain a better understanding when working with clients as well. As someone who has been on both sides of the table, Zac shares some great thoughts on getting noticed and hired by studios and clients in a crowded field. From the best types of reels to have in your portfolio, to what type of references are most valuable, this is great advice for any freelancer looking for more work.   In this episode Leveraging teamwork to make passion projects a reality Determining which creative ideas are worth pursuing How being a motion designer can prepare you to do your own marketing How to best utilize your portfolio to get the attention of clients and studios Fitting in your side projects when working on other gigs The payoffs that come with branching out into new skillsets Building your company up to be bigger than just yourself Quotes “I really want to take as many shots as we can at making things that we love and that we’re proud of. I think that feeds into everything else that we’re doing.” [6:11] “Anything you can do to just make sure at the very least that [potential clients] are watching what you want them to watch and reading what you want them to read is huge. They need to latch on quick.” [25:29] “Figure out what you want to do and just chip away at it. Put a little bit into it each day and eventually you’ll get there.” [37:46] “Having a range of experiences will only make you a better creator. It will also give you a better pool of diverse experiences to pull into any work that you do.” [39:43] Links Find Zac Dixon online Follow Zac on Twitter | Instagram Animalators Podcast Moonrakers Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein Giant Ant   Get the Freelance Contract Bundle   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.