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’m Fawad Mehrzad (@fawadm), and I currently reside and work out of Toronto, Canada. I graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Design degree from York University/Sheridan Institute — YSDN and currently work as a motion designer for Discovery Channel Canada. I’ve been in the industry since 2005, actively working and freelancing. For the past two years I’ve been focusing on motion design and had the pleasure of working on exciting projects. Feel free to look at my portfolio.

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

I decided to take up motion design in my third year of studies and instantly fell in love. It was the best decision I made and majority of the credit goes out to my brother Frydun (also a motion designer), for pushing me in that direction.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

I love the creative process. Everything from start: brainstorming, sketching, experimenting, storyboarding/styleframing, and story telling. The latter part: animation, compositing and finessing is equally exciting because it brings your imagination to life.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

Ridiculous client changes, and rendering times.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics.

Working on the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

What skill do you think a Motionographer needs?

Imagination is on top of my list. With imagination comes great story telling, and that’s very important. Pushing your limit from project to project is key to taking yourself to the next step. Attention to detail is keen. Staying on top with the technical aspect is also important because it will help you execute seamlessly. Lastly, patience.

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

I can discuss this topic for hours. Very briefly: Strong design sense and open mind. Get your work online. Never work for cheap. Build relationships and network. Create your own library: resources, textures, tutorials, etc. Share great things with your peers. Collaborate and experiment. Stay fresh. Work hard and be nice to people.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

Something I’ve been eager to do: experiment with live action.

So, After Effects and Cinema 4D are your main software choices, what do you like about them?

Both apps are great. It ultimately comes down to project requirements and deadlines. In most cases I will use both apps. Sometimes it’s great to take a break from 3D intense work and just focus on creating something cool in After Effects.

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

This is a tough one. There are far too many great pieces out there. Coke Quest by Edouard Salier caught my attention recently. What a great story and sense of imagination. Execution is superb, especially the camera moves and transitions.

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