
Motion Hatch: Helping Motion Designers Do Better Business
Motion Hatch is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by veteran motion designer Hayley Akins, discussing the business side of animation and motion design that so many creatives struggle with.
Offering quality practical advice and insight for freelance, full-time or aspiring animators, illustrators and motion designers, hear from a wide range of voices within the industry, including how leading animators started out, tips on managing your business and career advice.
For more info on how to take control of your motion graphics career and to join our community of amazing, talented designers, head over to http://motionhatch.com.
Latest episodes

May 26, 2020 • 44min
067: Make money with animated gifs w/ Annie Wong AKA Headexplodie
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.

May 12, 2020 • 53min
066: How to get motion design clients using your personal work w/ Nick DenBoer AKA Smearballs
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

Apr 28, 2020 • 49min
065: How to use Instagram as a motion designer w/ Sam Burton
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 ...

Apr 14, 2020 • 47min
064: How to price your work as a motion designer w/ Blair Enns
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.

Mar 31, 2020 • 36min
063: How to deal with anxiety during uncertain times w/ Dr Anna Symonds
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.

Mar 17, 2020 • 13min
062: The number one thing that changed my motion design career w/ Hayley Akins
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.

Mar 3, 2020 • 30min
061: How to get into the tech industry as a motion designer w/ Sharon Harris
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

Feb 18, 2020 • 52min
060: How to use partnerships, strategy and content to get more clients w/ Philip Van Dusen
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

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Feb 3, 2020 • 48min
059: How to use YouTube to grow your motion design business w/ Ben Marriott
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.

Jan 21, 2020 • 1h 1min
058: How to build a sustainable career in Motion Design w/ Brian Gossett
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.
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