Our Senior After Effects Animator, Sam, sits down with us for 5 minutes to chat claymation, inspiration, and Nestlé photoshoots.

Could you talk through a day in your job at That Lot HQ?

As a motion designer and editor, my job is to collaborate closely with our uber talented creative and design team, taking projects right through from that initial idea scribbled on a whiteboard, right through to the final video export or final_final_FINAL_v17_export.mov

 

What first got you interested in Motion Design and Animation?

Nick Park, Plastercine and a Sony Camcorder is the short answer. I remember making claymation films that my classmates would watch in high school. While others were forming bands / trying to buy booze,l I was fiddling around with clay and writing scripts and drawing storyboards.

I have a core memory of watching The Wrong Trousers when I was 5 and just being fascinated with how it was made. I’d never seen anything like it.

 

Who are some of your favourite animators/artists/motion designers?

Not only has Social Media given me a career but it continues to fuel my passion for animation. I love creators such as Slim Jim Studios for his playful character animations, Matt Voyce’s kinetic typography  never misses and studios like Buff Motion in Brighton continue to set the bar.

 

What projects/social campaigns have you been most proud of in your career and why?

Most recently I created a suite of assets to launch a cereal bar for Nestle. I liked the process of working alongside a DOP with a Macro Lens and figuring out how we would shoot the various ingredients. The problem solving was the fun bit, it felt like I was back at University.

 

What do you keep in mind when starting something from scratch? How do you turn a blank project to an animated masterpiece?

I guess the short answer is ‘Get Inspired’. You need to chat with creatives, with other videographers about the best approach for a brief. Nothing happens just staring at a blank artboard. I also have a Gmail folder titled inspo – which I delve in when I’m in need of some creative fuel.

Animation Festivals like Annecy are just mind blowing too. If you can get to one of those then you will be on a full tank of Creative Energy. Primed and charged to make some sh!t hot work.

 

How do you stay up to date with current motion graphics trends, and where do you draw inspiration from?

Mainly by the odd scroll on Instagram. We’re so lucky to live in an age where creatives are sharing their work across all social platforms. There was never much of it on Facebook growing up (it was more hazy photos of drunken nights out), but when Instagram came along suddenly a whole generation of amazing visual artists were showcasing their skills.

 

What have been the biggest lessons you’ve learnt from your job, that you wish you knew when you started your career?

Ask more questions. I’m so lucky to work with such a talented team here at That Lot, the best of the best. I am constantly probing them for answers, and I’m not too shy to say ‘How the f*ck do you do that’ while leaning over their desk. So ask for answers and skill up with your colleagues help.