Motion Design Love -

So, tell us a little about yourself, who you are, where you work now and how long you’ve been in the industry?

I got my degree at the Royal Academy of Art in 1993, The Hague, Netherlands. This study mainly focuses on design, film and video. Before those years I already worked at a local TV station and did some experimental animation stopmotion projects. After my degree I started as a camera assistant and lighting technician and worked my way up to gaffer and then director of photography (both film and video) After some years I started directing as well. At the end of the nineties I stopped as a DP and switched to directing. I worked mainly as a freelance director. It was around 2000 that animation came on my path (although I was always interested in it and experimenting with it) it was then that I started to learn After Effects. I started my own company Beeldlab (meaning Image Lab and which is just me and sometimes a network of other freelancers) Following years I did many productions involving both animation and live action (I especially love the 2 combined).

What made you go into motion graphics/ how did working in Motion graphics come about?

I have always been interested in the design of an image, whether it’s live action, animation or a still image. About ten years ago I had to create a ident that involved some animation and we decided (I worked closely together with an another director) to use photoshop stills to create an entire animation, when it became more complex I tried working with freelancers but soon decided to try it out myself and thats how I first started to learn animating with After Effects. I loved to play with it especially being able to create things from scratch and being able to communicate with visuals in a different way.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

The great thing about motion graphics is that you can bring your imagination to life. It such a great way to tell a story or bring an emotion, being able to think of a concept and then come up with a design that makes the concept even stronger. Creating a new world and being able to design it and to communicate with it. Guess it’s something every director, animators or architect has.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

Rendering. Although it gives me time to check twitter or watch a tutorial.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics ?

I try to make every last piece the best work. This time it’s not a motion design piece, but a mini-docu-clip I directed which did involve some FX and CC in After Effects ( http://www.beeldlab.nl/waylon-epk/ ). Working on a heavier 3D animation now which I am not allowed to show yet…

What skill do you think a a Motionographer needs?

A good motion designer needs to know how to tell a story or bring across a feeling. Motion design is not that different from live-action. It’s about timing, rhythm and emotion. Besides that he or she has to stay close to his or her feelings. It’s always better to be unique then to recreate something that had been done many times before. When a style is hot, the best motion designers come up with something new and do not recreate the hot style. The best ones try to expand limits or take a risk. It’s obvious that you need know how to use tools to do this. Work yourself through tutorials, or try new things to get better. You need to know how to design too, the use of colors, shapes, fonts are incredibly important, it’s one of the basic skills you need to have.

Is there any advice you’d give to an aspiring Motion graphics artist?

My advice would be just do it. Create. Try to be better. Look round the web to participate with challenges, watch a ton of tutorials. Get inspired by watching great work on vimeo. Always keep in mind that a sexy look needs a clever concept and vise-versa.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

I’m fairly new to Cinema 4D, so I really hope to expand my skills on that. Next, I hope to get many exciting projects involving the combination of live action and animation.

So, After Effects and Cinema4D is your main software of choice, what do you like about it?

I work mainly with After Effects and Cinema4D. besides that the complete Adobe design bundle and Final Cut. Right now I love Cinema 4D, so many things I can do now I always wanted inside of After Effects.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would reccommend to someone else?

http://vimeo.com/1789127 This is one of my likes on vimeo. Do not understand a word of the swedish, but certainly a clever concept and brilliant design.

Interested in finding out more about Hugo? Then see his info below.

Reel (on home page website):

http://www.beeldlab.nl/

Website:

Work:

My info:

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