In a world where Adobe products are easier to steal than grandma's Visa, it is easy to become an acclaimed a self-proclaimed motionographer. With about six minutes of research (and minimal effort), technology has allowed even the driest of candidates to compose halfway decent motion graphics. The key here is to produce quality original content, and here are five simple things you should never do that will help you in your quest to visual greatness.
1. Use Anything From Videocopilot -
This is truly the number one thing you should never do as a motion graphics designer. Andrew Kramer has birthed about thirty million offspring by creating helpful After Effects tutorials full of humor that is dryer than a well-made martini. The offspring wingmen he created (which will be referred to as "the assemblers") plague the interwebs with generic foliage flourishes and mind-numbingly boring title plates, demonstrating their keen ability to copy and paste while fooling their friends into believing they posses creative ability and talent. If you are blushing right now, it is because I just called you out (and if I see you use the earth zoom one more time, I swear I am going to light the internet on fire [which I am sure I can find a Kramer tutorial on]). I digress. CASE STUDY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XnsbDJLauE Lucas, Andrew designed this. Not you.2. Take Creative Advice From the Client -
I am expecting a multitude of emails for this one, but hear me out. Your client will never (repeat: ever) be as creative as you. If they are, you are in the wrong line of work. When creating a piece for some cash, it is helpful to start off with three simple examples of the direction you could take the project. If you leave the ball in the client's court, they are ALWAYS going to want something similar to this. Lay down the law early and show them their options after you discuss the objective of the project. Cater to their needs, but never let them hold the reins. Capiche?3. Put Your Demo reel on YouTube -
Speaking from experience, people will blatantly take your original ideas and throw them into their reel. This isn't necessarily a huge deal until everyone in Chicago is using the title screen that you created (and fighting for the same jobs). Protip: use a service like Dropbox that will allow you to easily send a link to your reel to potential clients. This way you can keep your bag of tricks hidden from the snakes out there in web world. CASE STUDY: I was intrigued to learn more about my competition one rainy afternoon and decided to spend the $25 on a "Job Wanted" Craigslist post in the tv/film/video category. "I am looking to hire a motion graphics designer with some original ideas," the post stated, and soon my inbox was bursting at its digital seams with thousands of emails containing desperate pleas for work (with YouTube URLs attached containing poorly assembled rehashes of the most recent Videocopilot tutorial). Kramerrrr!!!!!4. Buy Into Trends -
The easiest way to sell yourself short as a creative is to buy into the latest trend. Taking notes from helpful resources like Motionspire is always a beneficial practice, but the point of websites such as the aforementioned is to inspire creatives to innovate, not follow. Your work should be an extension and representation of your personality. Let your experiences come through your work and the originality will shine.5. Avoid the Sound Designer (or, if you aren't good with sound, don't try to do it anyway) -
When quoting for a job, always leave a little play room for hiring a talented sound designer. They aren't as creepy as you might think, and they will occasionally return the favor and send work in your direction (if you are really lucky, you might even get a Hoegaarden or two out of the deal). Networking is everything! Remember: 50% of your experience is how it sounds. Visual artists all-too-often ignore this fact and end up with a product that could have been heaps better with a little help from the aural experts.Voila! With these 5 simple steps and a little effort, you will be on a path to creating higher quality content in no time. Keep it original and continue to progress with that originality. To quote Andy Warhol, "They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."
Titanic Sinclair (titanicsinclair@gmail.com) is a multimedia artist and entrepreneur currently living in Chicago. He is one half of Grocerybag.tv and 50% of the musical duo Mars Argo (marsargo.muxtape.com).
06/30/09
I agree with you completely. But like most advice, it seems directed towards retards, and being retarded, they won’t get it. I’ve seen millions of Krameresque effects, and what bothers me the most is that no attempt is made to at least change a few settings, hues, tint, whatever. They do it exactly as they see in the tutorial and try to upload it as quickly as possible.
This kind of thing is going to become more common place as the software becomes more powerful and more widely proliferated (see bootlegging) The good news is that talented (and/or dedicated) motion graphics designers will always be able to separate themselves from the pack with fresh ideas. Stealing ideas from reels, I feel is completely irrelevant. The better a designer you are the more people that would be seeing your work in public places anyway. And I’m starting to become redundant, good bye.
07/01/09
You know what, I have been guilty of two of these things and I presume I am a bit retarded but this has got me on the straight and narrow. I promise…
07/01/09
I agree with the majority. Sounds to me like you got burnt by someone ripping off your work. It happens. Take advice from the client – bit of a grey area and really depends on the client. As far as Videocopilot is concerned I think Kramer does a great job teaching people the techniques needed to learn a craft. It is up to the user whether they r+d or whether they use in their own way for their own creative. 5c worth.
07/03/09
Kramer does provide a reasonable point of departure in his tutorials. It’s not his fault that his offspring lack the urge to modify his designs to create more dynamic projects of their own. That aside, Video Co-Pilot isn’t the only game in town; there are countless sites that offer similar tutorials.
07/04/09
That’s true.
07/05/09
I think people with hobbies and people with professions will always clash when it comes to describing themselves and others.
I will disagree with numero 4. I think sticking with trends is important. Some people are just stuck in the past. I don’t think anyone should have to reinvent the wheel, but creating a unique spin or taking techniques to a whole other level are key to creating higher quality content.
keep in mind not everyone is a mozart or picaso.
i’m glad for decent tuts that offer pretty much immediate gratification. it is sad that people will go from nothing to “a self-proclaimed professional”. especially when it that puts bread on the table for you.
positive note from wasting peoples time on craigslist- its really smart to scope out the competition. nice :)
07/07/09
Ok, you don’t like Kramer, Video Copilot or Adobe products, from the sound of it.
Present an alternative. You can, right?
07/07/09
Don’t listen to clients. I don’t know what world your working in, but it’s not advertising. That is sooo unrealistic, it is absurd. If you are a trust fund kid, doing your own thing, trying to land a Guggenheim Fellowship, this is good advice, if you actually need to make a living, this is terrible advice.
When I started in motion graphics, as a grad student, coming from a fine arts background, I approached the medium with a great deal of originality. Through schooling and now working in the industry for 5 years, I have come to find that there is little need or want for original thinking. Clients want and will pay for Andrew Kramer style design so give it to them and call it a day.
Save the originality for personal projects.
07/08/09
JJ hits it on the head. As the client is the one paying for the work, their shot counts first and last. You’re only an artist in theory in this respect; in actual terms, you are a graphics facilitator giving the client what s/he wants.
The artistry comes from personal accomplishment outside the realm of corporate interests.
07/13/09
Toooooo right about Kramer’s work. When I started with After-Effects (and Im still learning) I use his website to learn the knowledge I need. Sure, I made the videos but I always stated it was a tutorial from videocopilot.net not claiming it was my own design.
So far, I used one of his idea’s but shaped it to a totaly different looking video for a school project. Instead of copy’ing 1:1 like most people do :P
To many a times I see a clan/gaming video or even a webdesigner using Kramer’s videos as a 1:1 copy. Really annoys me. But the same goes for webdesigners. They just use templates without doing ANY work on them and sell them for big money. The clients dont know they got ripped. So what are you going to do?
I agree with JJ a little as well. Clients see what the other businesses have as video representations and want the same. They give there money the the one who comes up with that. Only if you come up with a very original piece will they think: hmmm, maybe that will work as well. But that chance is very slim. No matter how good you are. Now with the crisis, its even harder.
07/13/09
Sorry have to say these comments must come from someone who is either still in school or never worked in the real world of agency or studio experience.
Any artist uses what he or she has at hand.
I will agree people will copy presets no matter who makes them Andrew Kramer ,Aharon Rabinowitz,Harry Frank or John Dickinson all of who do alot of for the community.
Clients in the real world call the shots its why they are called clients you delivering their vision with your interpretation.
Sometimes you get a lucky open ended brief from a agency or client who lets you be in on the earliest stages most of the time is just boards or shots being dumped in your lap and saying oh we like this style do it like them.
Why single out Videocopilot?? did you forget Andrew does more then just that ? is it jealousy ? Kramer just did the titles for Fringe and Star Trek with JJ Abrams (who happens to be a big fan of Videocopilot check the JJ Wired issue where he thanks Andre and Videocopilot) point is people copy cool shit and Kramer does just that he puts out tutorials and collections people want to use . No I dont condone just loading up one of his AE comps changing a color and putting your logo on it but some people just lack originality.
The whole point of your Reel wether its on Youtube or Facebook it doesnt matter point is get your name and YOUR work out there .
Gotta give this post and this author THUMBS DOWN Bummer post .
HATERS-1
LOVERS-0
07/13/09
I give a THUMBS DOWN to this post as well. Not to say you are wrong as everyone is entitled to their opinion but all your points seem very subjective (aside from a couple). Regardless, if I want some motion design advice, I’d much rather listen to Andrew Kramer than you. Sorry. :P
07/14/09
Also giving this list a thumbs down. I’d rather be a well-paid hack that a miserable hipster like you. Nice glasses dude. I’ll also keep taking my advice from Kramer.
07/14/09
I think some of you are misinterpreting the author’s thoughts on Kramer. He never dissed Kramer. He’s dissing all the people that follow his tutorials word for word, step by step, and then try to pass it off as their own. Everyone in the industry knows Kramer and if you expect to get hired by passing his work off as your own you’ll be disappointed.
07/15/09
Actually, Jason, he’s pretty clear on one point: avoid Video CoPilot.
Kramer’s tutorials are clear and concise. They deliver results. They inspire further creativity. They DO NOT require degrees in advanced programming and/or mathematics. If I can emulate his (insert name here) tutorial and get pleasin results, I will return because the product delivered on the promise.
07/16/09
Step 6.
Seek any advice or inspiration from Grocerybag.tv unless you want to remain a starving artist.
07/19/09
I’m glad someone had the balls to point out the Videocopilot disease. Andrew is a great teacher; his tutorials are clear and creative. What bites is the horde of lazy bastards who copy it pixel for pixel and say hey, why shouldn’t I use it and make bank?
The point is this: take your inspiration where ever you get it from and make it your own. It’s not the now that counts… its tomorrow. Remember, if you can copy Andy’s work, there’s a cheaper HS kid who can do the same thing.
07/23/09
I wish every motion graphics expert that complained about videocopilot would make just one tutorial. It would be a beautiful world.
08/05/09
Okay,
a lot of the above comments is based on misunderstanding (at least the VC parts).
What the author is condemning is not Andrew Kramer’s tutorials (although, I did read that sly comment about his ‘dry humor’), but rather the fact that it’s being copied and overdone. I somewhat agree with this, HOWEVER, I believe he also is referring to VC’s products, which is the source at which Kramer hopes his viewers will buy and delve into their own creations and originality. Though, that’s only a hope.
Apparently, it’s not a reality.
08/16/09
“I wish every motion graphics expert that complained about videocopilot would make just one tutorial. It would be a beautiful world.”
I’m sorry but the point is to not make a ton of tutorials for everyone to see period. We are artists that have particular abilities.
Things are not learned the way they’re used to anymore. Before people bought books and read them, and studied, experimented and that is how they honed their craft in the design world. These tricks and tips and all the advanced knowledge used to be learned on the job, through an internship, and in reading.
These children are stealing our industry right from under us. and those of you that disagree with this article are the idiot children that are on Video Copilot and All bets are Off and all those ridiculous other tutorial sites not being creative and producing your own work.
And everyone wonders these days why the bar is set so high and why its hard to break into the design world…..
09/29/09
Don’t listen to clients and see how long you make money off of motion graphics.
09/30/09
Must agree with other posts about this advice being immature. You have not worked in the real world. Coming from architecture, the first lesson I learned from experienced bosses was give the client what they ask for FIRST, after that you can suggest your ideas. Designing for clients is all about bringing THEIR ideas to life, not YOURS.
10/12/09
Im going with jj as the “client” I like looking at other sites like these just to get idea in what direction I THE CLIENT should go right now MY CLIENT (i.e the public that knows nothing about motion graphics and just want’s AK’s type of work) is my main concern. I make show that the motion artist I hire delivers that. No offence bro but you’re heading down the wrong road. Don’t hate AK because his site is bigger than yours
10/15/09
If the budgets is there sure you are going to come up with a cool original designs. If its a 100buck 10 sec bumper for your mates band performance… templates and recycling VC is the go. VC is huge but only for geeks, who cares what geeks think, they aren’t even invited to the show… they are too busy on 80 hours of rotoscoping… mean-while the target market says “wow that looks cool” to another Andrew Kramer reproduction.
Agree with the sound design though, dramatically boosts a graphic.
11/03/09
What’s the link on #2? The youtube user has removed it.
11/19/09
i completely agree with number one, even worse we see alot of direct copy. i have learned from VC, and still learning but to copy without including your own creativity into it is totally wrong. my advice is learn a much, practice as much , then come up with your own idea, and create.
01/08/10
Quote from a moron in this thread:
“Designing for clients is all about bringing THEIR ideas to life, not YOURS”.
Living is about doing whatever the fuck you want and knowing your own rules aren’t inferior to anyone else’s, especially when you’re more creative and more intelligent.
Some people are better and some worse, and worse people can’t make the difference, it’s only the intelligent who knows the stupid is stupid – does that mean they’re not stupid? No, it means they definitely are stupid. I pity the stupid, what am I to do, kill them? I’d go to jail. I don’t wanna go to jail.
And for fuck’s sake I’m intelligent and I’d give my life not to be and not to deal with the fact that stupid people don’t understand they’re stupid. They BORE me.
On an intellectually extreme side-note (therefore not for everyone), true Art – and anything in any discipline that is sublime can be true art – can’t be connected to money (definitely not in most cases, not in 2010). Because money nowadays, because of a rack of hystorical/social questions I’m not going to explore here, goes to *shit*, not to Art. Art is superior to shit, spiritually and sexually. Artists, money or no money, fuck better than you do. Artists have more women during their entire lifespans than shitters. Artists are also generally superior human beings to who is not. Alright? People think artists are equal or inferior. That is insanity. You are *insane*. Artists are superior, period. And I underline, sexually superior. Morons should care about that and hopefully change, for what they are is losers – losers who get laid less.
By the way, good post, Titanic, I simply agree. Is that really your name?
Won’t read replies, I don’t give a fuck (except Titanic’s).
02/03/10
The only clear fact here is that Joylolpz is a douchebag.
02/17/10
hI.
? is this? u gys are fightin? i want to fight with all of u… can u fight ? even if u can.. lets say even if u kiilled me.. are u genius/creative? i belive there are 1000s of not-to-dos and 1000000s of to-dos. in motion gfx.. but who can say only 1 to-do and not-to-do that is ‘the’ most imp of all .?? which will au/tomatically end the searh for ?todo n ?not2do??????
people r copy do u think thy dont know it’s not right ? pple have to lstn to clint do they love their clint more than thier fmly ??? utube is criminal???? wanted doa. 10billion reward !!!! rediciouls.. … r u gfx creative frm ur mom’s belly ?? how dose creativity starts and improves ?? how can uday dream wth ideas n vision depicts awsome creativness. why oly to those who believes thy r creative.. y not to them who r dying to be creative… how can u multi-think like a crew brainstroming ??
rules u create.. cause u r successfull .. y follow ur rules.. let me create my own rules and be also successfull…. in my own way… ..
u guys arecrazy.. im not crazy.. oneday my name will be ontop of everybody..
and the name is “URNAME”
stop fighting.. help ohers if u love this art..
02/26/10
dude, I agree with everything you say entirely. But as for #2, that is what we do man, we are a creative “service”. When you start really working in the world you will see this. I know you are still in school or just fresh out because that was my opinion as well at that time.
If they are the client they will always hold the reins because they are paying you for that service, the only thing you can give them is options, but you can tell them what they want if they don’t want it.
The way I got over this is; you are two people, an artist, and a designer. The artist is what you feel, what gets inspired, what creates beautiful movement. The designer, is who is getting paid to create something someone wants. If you can find common ground between these two halves, youre fuckin made.
Don’t get me wrong though, there are people who make dope things and have a certain original look, where an agency will call and say “hey can you just make that over again and put a Lexus after it?”
Think about it…
03/14/10
I agree with with your conclusion. I am going to do some research and post it here for clarity. Stay tuned and I’ll be back with the info. I made sure to bookmark the site so I’ll be able to find my way back. LOL Also, if any of you women need <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/bestabexercisesforwomen" ab exercises for women at home don’t hesitate to begin immediately.
05/14/10
wow… I found those “tips” just standard fare really… not much to argue about… I amazed at the venom of the responses…
“methinks they doth protest too much” ;)
05/21/10
No suelo comentar en blogs, pero su post Trabajo me obligó a, el trabajo impresionante .. hermoso …
05/22/10
I have been to your port before. The more I visit, the more I keep coming back! :-)
10/10/10
You’re definetly right. Finally someone says the truth about Videocopilot. All the stuff from this site (especially the crappy sound fx) looks and sounds all the same.
10/11/10
Fundamentally, whenever you cut calories, you get sluggish, you move your body less, you don’t really feel like working out and if you do exercise, you’re doing so with with a lot less “gusto.”
11/30/10
Everyone please ignore #2. That’s possibliey the worst advice you could give to a motion designer who wants a career in the field. Ignore that and pay attention to what MATT MOJICA’s comment. Why wouldn’t you listen to your client’s input? The one person who has the final say in whether or not your work is satisfactory to their needs. Horrible advice.
01/06/11
As for Brewery Gulch Inn, its a nice place, to be sure, but I have misgivings about how they built it. From what I understand, they hauled salvaged wood from a stream bed, effectively screwing up a salmon-spawning ground. And its in the woods, not by the sea. But they have good beds and high-quality linens. Still, its not my favorite.
01/09/11
Hi. Do you really hate Andrew Krammar?
01/11/11
Booooom!
Greyscale Gorilla is fast becoming the Kramer of 3D. Great input, great tutorials but man if i see any more renders of nice shiny balls with mograph physics.
Ahhh well nature of the beast.
Number 6: Do what you are told
Number 7: Do what you think is best
Number 8: Ignore the last 2 comments
01/27/11
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04/23/11
Your article has made me think about an argument from another angle. This is quite rare when I change my idea about such arguments but it looks that you’ve done it. The day has begin with something new! Thank you!
04/26/11
I’m very impressed with the articles on the site. I get numerous ideas to help us.
09/10/11
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09/14/11
It’s actually a nice and valuable part of info. I am happy that you shared this useful details along with us. You need to keep informed in this way. Appreciate your sharing.
10/11/11
think your a bit of a tit really, kramers tutorials help people to understand after effects. and he teaches it well
12/12/11
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