Listen in as we explore the creative world of Kelli Anderson. Kelli takes us on a journey through her artistic path, revealing how her interests in art and science led her to an unconventional approach to motion design. Our conversation explores this unique intersection, the importance of communication skills in the art and design industry, and the magic of trusting our own feelings in the creative process. The episode is a tribute to the power of art to transcend our physical...

Join us as we delve deep into a captivating conversation with the multi-talented designer and director, Peter Clark. From his humble beginnings of learning the ropes in high school Photoshop competitions, all the way to selling his first piece of art and taking the plunge into his dream career, Peter's journey is nothing short of inspirational. Discover how Peter transitioned from school to the professional realm, the significance of personal projects, and the courage it takes to chase your...

What if we told you that animation is no longer a male-dominated field? That's right! On today's podcast, we're joined by Bee Grandinetti and Dorca Musseb, the brains behind Panimation, a thriving community for women, trans, and non-binary individuals involved in animation and motion graphics. The pair share heartening anecdotes from their career journeys, their roles as educators, and shed light on the significant changes they're witnessing in the industry. They also reflect on Panimation's...

We are thrilled to welcome the multifaceted Sofie Lee, a designer, illustrator, art director, and storyboard artist with an inspiring journey to share. We delve into her transition from South Korea to Vancouver, LA, to SCAD, and ultimately establishing herself in the world of freelancing. We'll discover how a visit to the digital media building at SCAD led her to switch her major to motion media design and how this transition opened up a new world of self-expression for her.  We also discuss...

Imagine being a teenager who has to escape your homeland, learn a new language, and then you proceed to become a leader in the motion design industry. In another installment of our interview series, we welcome such a person - Hung Le - and his co-founder at BIEN Motion Design Studio, Ricardo Roberts. Both have unique, inspiring journeys that embody the spirit of determination and innovation. Hung recounts his incredible escape from Vietnam at 16 and his path to becoming a household name in...

In another fascinating episode of our interview series, we speak with Danny Yount, an American graphic designer and commercial director who has a diverse visual style and a unique range of depth and craftsmanship in motion arts and film. He has been recognized internationally for his work in feature film and television main titles and show opens.  We delve into Danny’s creative journey, exploring stories from his early career at Digital Kitchen to his transition into the dynamic world of...

In another episode of our interview series, you’ll hear from industry expert Carlo Vega, a motion design veteran with over two decades of experience. Carlo shares memories of his early career, his first professional job, and his journey to New York. The discussion covers Carlo's use of technology to create art and the topics he explores through his passion projects. The episode concludes with the importance of understanding the process and the value of failure when working on...

Welcome to the first episode of our interview series featuring Ariel Costa, an Emmy-winning Creative / Animation (mixed-media) Director based in Los Angeles, CA. As the world constantly evolves, so does the motion design industry. Ariel gives his take on the emergence of new talent, the rise of AI and NFTs, and the impact of the pandemic on the industry. The conversation also covers the implications of AI on the industry, copyright infringement concerns, and the potential loss of the...

In this episode, Erin and Austin review and critique three more listener reel submissions for part two of their “Reel Time, Real Talk” mini-series.   You’ll hear tips and tricks for improving the reel content, feedback on which parts are strong and not so impressive, advice on changing perspective, simplifying, modifying the typography or camera pov, and other constructive feedback. Today’s reels are from Miles Fabishak, Seth Thomas, and Evan West.   Discussion Points: [00:17] Discussion and...

In this episode, Erin and Austin review and critique three listener reel submissions for part one of their “Reel Time, Real Talk” mini-series.  You’ll hear tips and tricks for improving the reel content, feedback on which parts are strong and not so impressive, advice on changing perspective, simplifying, modifying the typography or camera pov, and other constructive feedback. Today’s reels are from Issy Muir, Etienne Buteau, and Thomas Collier. Discussion Points: [02:14] Discussion and...

In this episode, Erin and Austin welcome Justin Cone, Director of Communications Strategy at BUCK, a global creative company that brings brands, stories, and experiences to life through art, design, and technology. With offices around the world, BUCK’s 600 makers, doers, and dreamers create work that is experienced by literally billions of people every day. Justin’s experience with many different roles within the industry makes him a great listen for any motion design student or experienced...

Your raw talent can get you in the door, but that door is going to be hitting you on the ass very quickly if you don’t have the necessary soft skills to work well in collaborative groups with clients, colleagues, team members, and leaders in our field. The definition of a ‘skill’ is something that is learned. In this episode, Erin and Austin discuss ‘soft skills’ like reliability, time management, communication, attitude, and more.  Most of these should be common sense, but to become a...

If the hold system did not exist or was not respected by motion design studios and freelancers, there would probably be complete chaos.  Even with this system, finding and reserving talent can be a “challenge.” The hold system is a constantly moving puzzle that must be delicately managed by both studios and talent. Today Austin and Erin are delving into the basic tenets of the hold system and giving you the inside scoop on how you as a freelancer are able and encouraged to work within this...

  Welcome to Part II of all the things motion designers create. In this episode, we’ll discuss brand videos & documentaries, explainer videos, apps, future tech, video games, experiential design, live performances, and NFTs.   Some highlights include brand work that has been done for Apple, Marni, and Good Books, Apps like Google Home, video games including the breathtaking scenery in Red Dead Redemption II, live performance opportunities such as half-time shows or visuals for your...

We tried to squeeze everything a motion designer creates into one episode, but we touch so many things that we’re splitting it into two.   In Part I, we’ll discuss movie titles, TV titles, title cards, commercials, Network branding and promos, music videos, episodics, in-app branding, and award show packages (like MTV Video Music Awards and the Oscars), and logo animations. What comes to mind when you think of each of these areas of Motion Design? Austin and Erin will highlight some of their...

Welcome to the first episode in our “Professional Practices” series. Today we’ll cover some of the topline areas that you need to consider when you begin your job search. We’ve been around the block, and we’re here to share our hard-won knowledge about the Motion Design industry, how to find the perfect position for your skills and preferences and the many critical elements to being successful. From defining what you want to do, to where you might be interested in doing it, to the many moving...

Back when we were job hunting early in our careers, no one mentioned company culture, and we didn’t look at company culture as a ‘thing.’ We looked for open jobs and took them when hired!  These days, a company’s culture ranks high on the wish list of many motion design job seekers.   Join us as we discuss what makes company culture toxic, or sustainable, and how to recognize aspects of each type.  Every company or classroom has a culture, it may be great in a giant corporation, and it could...

This episode is the second half of our Interrogation series with Michelle McDonald, a senior at Western Washington University and one of Austin’s students. Michelle has been grilling us on what she wants to know about the industry, lessons we learned through our experiences, and what she should anticipate after she graduates. Today we’re answering questions about overcoming obstacles, what activities lead us to our flow states, and what questions you should be asking your potential studios....

Today we’re doing something a little different. We asked one of Austin’s students, Michelle McDonald, a senior at Western Washington University, to grill us on what she would like to know about the state of the industry, our career experiences, and what to expect as she transitions into the creative workforce.  We answer questions around what drives us, what we’re proud of, and how we maintain our passion and work ethic. Discussion Points: What makes us proud and excited to be in the motion...

In this first episode of season two, Austin and Erin reflect on season one of Between the Keyframes and the state of the Motion Design industry. They explore what makes their content different, how and why they are addressing unique topics that you often don't hear much about, and the surprising and unexpected profiles of the audience members. They also discuss the adaptation requirements both of the industry itself and in regard to their personal experiences learning about vidcasting,...

In this episode, we talk about a sensitive topic for most designers… feedback. Whether it’s client feedback or internal feedback, often designers get offended and even feel hurt by feedback on their work.  Hopefully, today’s episode empowers you to keep doing great work, stay gracious in taking on feedback, and always keep an open mind. The biggest reality check we recommend is to remember that no matter how much of your blood, sweat, and tears went into a particular project, the client is...

In today’s episode, we start off by chatting about the importance of making a great demo reel. Whether it’s a montage or in some other format - it is the first impression people will get of you and your skillset and interests. We chat about what we look for when reviewing reels for job applications and what you should spend extra time on to make sure you don’t blow it in the first few seconds of your demo reel.  We also dive into a demo reel submitted to us by one of our listeners and make...

In today’s episode, we share the second part of our conversation with famed motion designer Sekani Solomon. We jump straight into some quickfire questions, getting Sekani’s thoughts on a few interesting topics. He shares some background into two of his most recent passion projects - the short films “Hidden” and “Star Wars.” Sekani is a deep thinker and extremely insightful when it comes to the way he works. We loved getting to know the artist behind the incredible motion design work and we...

Sekani Solomon is an award-winning Motion Design lead at Cash App. His diverse skill set in design, animation, and compositing allows him to work at any stage of the production pipeline with a high level of proficiency. He has worked at a wide variety of companies, both as an employee and as a freelancer. He is now the Motion Lead and manager at Cash App. In part 1 of this chat, we get the opportunity to pick Sekani’s brain about his career choices and what led him to start working for a tech...