We were lucky to catch up with Vince N. Too recently and have shared our conversation below.
Vince N., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
When introducing myself and what I do, it is not always clear when I just say ‘Mograph.’ To be fair, about five years ago, I did not know ‘Motion Graphics’ were a thing either. At first, I thought it was ‘making the cool Graphic Design even cooler by making it move in style’. A more helpful definition I came to learn is “Moving imagery that integrates design and various animation techniques (stop motion, hand-drawn, 2D and 3D computer animation, film and video) with audio, used to communicate a desired message or to evoke emotions”.
Motion Design is a diverse and exciting skillset with endless applications in the marketplace. My learning path includes two different art colleges and art classes in high school. This provided valuable networking opportunities with phenomenal creatives from the diverse fields in art, design, and business. However, knowing that a 4-year college program is not always accessible to everyone, there are thankfully other viable alternatives.
A substantial number of motion designers and other art heroes I admire did not attend a 4-year college program! What they all had in common, however, was boundless curiosity and tremendous passion. To illustrate this using traditional art; what diverse ways can you hold the paint brush? What effects do the different strokes and angles produce? Aside from oil paint, how does a self-portrait look like in Graphite? Charcoal? Pastel? Chalk? Watercolors? For a motion designer, it could be exploring the endless buttons, menus, commands, workflows, and effects in the various creative software.
Other essential skills to learning include showing your work to others, asking questions, implementing helpful feedback, and playfully exploring the endless possibilities otherwise called multiple right answers. Learning these lessons earlier in life would have sped up my learning process.
As far as obstacles to learning more go, the FEAR OF FAILURE is a major one. Like other artists, I wrongfully attached my self-value and worth to the work I produced. This led to unintentionally personalizing tough critiques, which tanked my self-esteem drastically. Over time though, my confidence improved as I transitioned from seeking external approval to pursuing personal improvement. I learnt to trust in both my instructors’ ability to train me well, and my own ability to improve with learning.
Vince N., before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Vince N. Too, and though I presently hold the title of motion designer, I am simply a curious soul who deeply appreciates the beauty in nature and people. On most days, I have a pencil or pen and paper with me, doodling funny faces or animals I find intriguing. I would attribute my exploration of ‘Intelligent Design’ as a huge inspiration leading up to my creative career. It is the idea that all the order and beauty we see in the universe is a result of the brilliant mind of ‘The Creator’ (commonly referred to as God). For example, take noses, why are they so uniquely and strangely shaped? Try researching and drawing the diverse types of animal and human noses, it is such a strange but insightful exercise.
Getting to where I am today started in my childhood with support and encouragement from my mother to experiment with art. Later, I enrolled in art classes during high school and college where I learnt the fundamental principles of art and design. Everything from perspective and human figure drawing, color theory, typography, keyframe animation, digital compositing, etc. It is this foundation that I employ to create engaging motion graphics that connect with the target audience.
The thing I am most proud of about my work is that I always have the best interest of my audience. Even though commercial art centers on fulfilling the needs/interests of the paying client, I am equally concerned about the consumers. Beautifully designed and packaged poison is still poison at the end of the day. Therefore, I abhor it when corporations take advantage of innocent consumers for profit. My operating principle is to accomplish the end goal in the most ethical way possible.
If I could paint my ideal future, it would include at least three significant details. The first is building a reimagined global Arts and Design Learning Center that openly embraces and draws inspiration from the greatest artist/designer of all time —The Creator. Second would be a weekly routine of both teaching and learning from other endlessly curious and passionate souls. Third, but not least, would be waking up daily to a close-knit, loving community that I deeply cherish and vice versa. Meanwhile, I am grateful to be currently working as a motion designer with the wonderful Creative Media team at Life.Church.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience is the ability to stand in the face of adversity, encouraging yourself forward, and even when you fall, bouncing back up and pushing on. In the pursuit of any meaningful goal or career, hurdles are bound to show up along the way. For many, a negative mindset and/or attitude sets us up to miss the great opportunities that lie on the other side of the setbacks. Refuse to give up too quickly!
During my junior year of undergraduate studies in Nairobi, Kenya, my family was blessed with the wonderful opportunity to relocate to the US for a fresh start. For me, the decision involved pausing my bachelor’s degree pursuit, without a guarantee that I would be able to resume and complete it.
After settling in the land where dreams come true, I realized that I may have to give up one of mine (somewhat). My previous college credits failed to transfer over to the new curriculum in the US. The decisions before me were, start over afresh at a local college or attempt to finish my previous bachelor’s program. Over the next three years, I spent much time working odd jobs to save funds for tuition. Then I would fly back to Kenya every other enrollment season to study one semester after the other, till I reached my final semester in senior year. With only one class credit between me and graduation, an unexpected plot twist surfaced. Rendered unable to finish the program, I returned to the US unsure what my next steps in life were going to be.
After wrestling with the setback life had dealt me for a couple of months, I finally came to a monumental decision. Education was important to my family, my culture, and the aspirations I had for myself in life. Though it meant starting over in the American college curriculum, I would do what it takes. So, in Fall 2019, I enrolled as a first-year motion design student at Ringling college of Art and Design. https://www.ringling.edu/ Despite all the difficult hurdles I faced as a non-traditional student, I gained some of my best memories and most treasured connections during this period.
“Learn from your mistakes, push forward, and remember to celebrate all your wins.” A motto that has helped me to never give up. My other favorite quote from Judeo-Christian ideology states “God gives the toughest battles to His strongest soldiers”. Whether you are a person of faith or not, I believe that the struggles we face in life, if we allow them, can be the very same things that refine us. Helping us forge an inner fortitude strong enough to power through life’s greatest hurdles.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Curious about Mograph? Here are a handful of resources I wish I had discovered sooner. This list does not cover the full breadth of rich talent available, but rather some of the top influences in my journey.
School Of Motion has a comprehensive program suited for a solid foundation, taking you from zero to motion design hero. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/ The founder Joey Korenman has also written a useful manifesto guide that you can pick up at your favorite online seller. https://www.amazon.com/Freelance-Manifesto-Modern-Motion-Designer-ebook/dp/B071JRYMSG)
Motion Design School is another highly recommended resource as far as online courses go. https://motiondesign.school/ Ben Marriott is one of my favorite instructors in the roster with additional content readily available on his personal website https://www.benmarriott.com/ and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aduA_nz8b8
I recommend looking up trailblazers in the industry, and studying creatives whose work you most connect with. Jorge R. Canedo E. is a wonderful reference, heading a world class studio called ‘Ordinary Folk’ based in Vancouver Canada https://www.ordinaryfolk.co/
Chris Do from ‘The Futur’ has insightful content focused on helping people create and sustain a thriving creative business. https://thefutur.com/ Check out his YouTube channel as well. https://www.youtube.com/@thefutur
Lastly, if you appreciate both humor and complex simplicity, then check out Deekay Kwon’s fun creations https://deekaykwon.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vincen2.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincen2_anim8/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vincen2
- Other: BeHance https://www.behance.net/vincentoo
Image Credits
Vince N. Too