We slice through the noise and focus on the real factors that will drive motion design success this year. And heads-up: It's more than just the latest tools and trends. :)
We encourage you to listen to the full episode above, but here's some key takeaways:
📊 Economy-Proof Your Skills
The economy's like a rollercoaster, and we're all along for the ride. With the S&P 500's ups and downs and tech layoffs on the rise, it's crucial to become a versatile 'full stack designer.' But it's not just about mastering After Effects or UX design. It's understanding the core - animation principles, portfolio development, and that irreplaceable human touch. In a world leaning heavily on AI, your ability to connect, communicate, and collaborate effectively is what will truly set you apart.
🚀 Max Out Your Output (Without Burning Out)
It's all about doing more without wearing yourself out. Don't just clock in more hours; be smarter about it. Enhance your efficiency with tools and strategies that boost your motion design output. Strive to create more, better work without overextending yourself. And remember, while creating from scratch is rewarding, smartly using pre-made assets can be a game-changer. It's about striking the right balance between originality for your passion projects and efficiency for client work.
Don't shy away from AI; embrace its potential. Tools like ChatGPT can revolutionize your productivity, automating the mundane to free up more space for creativity.
🇨🇭 Be the Swiss Army Knife of Design
Being a specialist is great, but in today's market, versatility is key. Embrace a dual approach: be a generalist in certain areas while honing specific skills in others. Blend your motion design expertise with skills in copywriting, social media strategy, or YouTube SEO to boost your marketability and self-promotion abilities.
Many motion designers are finding their groove in product and web design. Tools like Rive and Spline are unlocking new realms of opportunity. Get comfortable with these platforms to tap into exciting new avenues.
💬 Network Like a Pro
Networking remains a timeless essential. Forge connections with fellow motion designers, both online and offline. Attend industry events, participate in groups, and be active on social platforms. Remember, networking is more than gathering contacts; it's about cultivating meaningful relationships. Commit to a strong presence on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to elevate your profile and showcase your work.
So, here's to your best year yet — animate, innovate, and DOMINATE!
Dive into real-time 3D with our Unreal Engine beginner's course by Jonathan Winbush. Master importing assets, world-building, animation, and cinematic sequences to create stunning 3D renders in no time! Perfect for motion designers ready to level up.
Explore this Course ➔Unlock the secrets of character design in this dynamic course! Explore shape language, anatomy rules, and motifs to craft animation-ready characters. Gain drawing tips, hacks, and Procreate mastery (or any drawing app). Ideal for artists seeking to elevate their craft.
Explore this Course ➔Elevate your freelance motion design career with our guide to client success. Master a repeatable method for finding, contacting, and landing clients. Learn to identify prospects, nurture leads, and develop a thriving freelance philosophy amidst chaos.
Explore this Course ➔Rev up your editing skills with After Effects! Learn to use it for everyday needs and craft dynamic templates (Mogrts) for smarter teamwork. You'll master creating animated graphics, removing unwanted elements, tracking graphics, and making customizable templates.
Explore this Course ➔Stand out with Demo Reel Dash! Learn to spotlight your best work and market your unique brand of magic. By the end, you'll have a brand new demo reel and a custom campaign to showcase yourself to an audience aligned with your career goals.
Explore this Course ➔Illuminate your 3D skills with Lights, Camera, Render! Dive deep into advanced Cinema 4D techniques with David Ariew. Master core cinematography skills, gain valuable assets, and learn tools and best practices to create stunning work that wows clients.
Explore this Course ➔Master After Effects at your own pace with Jake Bartlett's beginner course. Perfect for video editors, you'll learn to create stylish animated graphics, remove unwanted elements, and track graphics into shots. By the end, you'll be equipped for everyday AE needs and more.
Explore this Course ➔Revolutionize your Premiere workflow with customizable AE templates! Master creating dynamic Motion Graphics Templates (Mogrts) in After Effects to speed up your team's work. By the end, you'll craft easily-customizable templates for seamless use in Premiere Pro.
Explore this Course ➔Not sure where to start?
If you’re a beginner, here are some great courses to help you get started:
After Effects Kickstart
Dive into the fundamentals of motion design with our most popular (and recently updated) After Effects course.
Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed
Master the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator and gain invaluable insights in this introductory level course.
Design Kickstart
An introduction to the design principles behind all great work.
More Advanced?
If you’re a more advanced student looking to up your game, here are some great options:
Animation Bootcamp
Learn the art and principles of creating beautiful movements in Adobe After Effects.
Design Bootcamp
Learn to design for motion in this intermediate-level, project-based course.
Cinema 4D Basecamp
Learn Cinema 4D from the ground up in this exciting introductory C4D course.
Now is the time to learn the skills you need to advance in your motion design career: