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 limitations.

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 dreams.

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 journey, from a humble Facebook group to a robust platform with a directory, Instagram handle, and an exclusive channel. Staying true to their ethos, Bee and Dorca don't shy away from addressing the less glamorous aspects of the industry. Together, we dive headfirst into pressing topics like microaggressions, mentorship, the value of seasoned peers, and the need for ensuring fair treatment for all. They paint a vivid picture of the complexities of the animation world while emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space for discussions about worth and value. We also discuss the unique challenges that crop up when working with different studios, touching upon sensitive issues like health insurance and student debt.

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 the profound impact of parenthood on career and worldview. Through her own experiences, she underscores the importance of creating spaces for those who break from the mold, and the evolution of her communication techniques. We wrap our chat by reflecting on the creative industry's specialist and generalist roles, the unique opportunities they present, and the inherent challenges.

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 motion design. Ricardo, on the other hand, was born in Ecuador and relates how a chance elective in grad school transformed his life, leading him from studio art to motion design.

Ricardo and Hung discuss their ‘Double the Line’ initiative, a mentorship program that aims to break down monoculture in design. Join us as we traverse this inspiring journey that encompasses not just the world of motion design, but also the larger issues of diversity, inclusion, and representation.

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 projects.

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 industry's 'soul.' Ariel lets us in on his creative process, the allure of 'blinking our brains,' and how the marriage of analog and digital elements creates harmony in design. Join us for this insightful and enthralling conversation about the challenges, triumphs, and evolution of our industry.

For part three of the “Reel Time, Real Talk” mini-series, Erin and Austin take things a step further by reviewing and critiquing one listener reel submission in depth, including actual real-time edits and adding suggestions in their “choppy chop” process, as Erin likes to call it.

Today’s reel is from Tyler Benjamin. You’ll hear and see advice on scaling typography, adjusting speed and music cues, adding drift (with a camera or scaling), and notes on the artist’s personal branding intro/outro.

Reel Time Real Talk - Part 2

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 designer. You’ll hear about the state of the motion design industry both in the early days and now, trends in employment and education, and new ideas and concepts on the horizon.

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 consummate professional, it pays to learn and practice soft skills and develop your emotional intelligence. You’ll become a sought-after pro with a sterling reputation if you really work on observing, learning, and developing these skills.

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 tenuous network. You are in control of your time and your fees, so be proactive, fair, and flexible. Your reputation will thank you.

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 favorite bands in concert, and we’ll even cover programming drones to create visuals in the sky and NFT’s digital assets being sold in the crypto world. 

Let us know if we missed something and send us your favorite examples in any area we discussed!  

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 favorites – from Motion Design studios to individual designers, going back decades. From Ozark to the Brady Bunch, MTV’s moon and flag treatment, to Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Netflix, Microsoft, and Google – join us for a sometimes nostalgic and always inspiring look at all the work motion designers create.  

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 parts of Motion Design teams and companies, we’ll help you navigate through some of the toughest stages of your career.

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 be horrible in a small, seemingly cool, boutique organization.  Don’t assume.

Do you have some great culture-related work stories?  Send them to us, we would love to hear about them.

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. Michelle also gives us feedback from her point of view and age group. We also talk about the importance of a mentorship program: why students don’t ask about mentorships more and why they are beneficial.

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.

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, editing and content, and dealing with positive and negative audience feedback. Finally, hear about some of their most popular episodes from season one, and what to look forward to in season two.