We recently connected with Caitlin Crooker and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

As a creative, the path I have chosen in life has always been seen as a risk. Not only by others but by myself as well. One of the biggest risks I have ever taken was changing my major to Motion Media Design at SCAD. I had no exposure to After Effects animation or much experience in that realm. I came in with little design knowledge and a portfolio stuffed with illustration work.

One day during a portfolio review in high school, an art school scout looked at my drawings and noted their movement. She recommended to me that I look into the world of Motion Graphics. At first, I brushed it off and thought nothing of it until I enrolled at SCAD. This idea weighed heavy on me, should I stick with the familiar or step out of my comfort zone and dive head-first into a world I had no information about?

I took the leap, and by the end of my freshman year, and haven’t looked back since. I have received a plethora of opportunities from becoming a Motion Designer & Director. I have met with agency representatives at our student-led CoMotion event and they’ve turned into lifelong mentorships. I have gotten internship offers for having a well-rounded skill set. I have received awards both from small and larger competitions like NIRSA and the IDAs. By choosing this path I have learned that design is more than posters and billboards. It’s a short film, it’s animation, it’s experimental, it’s illustrative. Now, as a graduating senior, I am about to step into the real world, working on projects ranging from commercial work to feature film title sequences. I owe my success to making this jump.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Caitlin Crooker and I have many titles. I have been called an Artist, Designer, Motion Designer, Director, Daughter, Sister, & Friend. I create anything from expressive collage-like illustrations to cinematography-based title designs. I am most proud of my “unicorn-like” experience in this field. I can draw, I can design, I can animate, and I can film. I am proud of this because it allows me to address and solve problems from several angles. I want readers to know that I thoroughly enjoy conceptual work and working on teams. Although I have many skills, there will always be designers with specialized talents, and I firmly believe that those talents should be given a place to shine. I want to be the type of director who allows her team to thrive and produce the best work they can for the project under its parameters.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn something I feel not many people talk about often enough. It is great to have advanced technical abilities, however, it takes a long time to get there. Especially as an entry-level motion designer, having perfect, polished, animation skills is not always feasible. I had to unlearn that technical ability is not the most important part of being creative.

The most important ability to have is to be able to bring concepts and ideas to life through a team / your work. To have passion for the work is of utmost importance. If you are not passionate and not willing to learn or bring out the best from your team then no technical skill in the world can save you. Being a creative is about having determination and grit.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/ creative is the process. I love concept building and working with others to see what they think as well. I feel that this part of making work opens my eyes to new perspectives and solutions I may have never thought of. This is the fun part about being a creative, getting your hands dirty, and immersing yourself in the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://caitlincrookerdesign.myportfolio.com/design
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlincrooker/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-crooker-37105a1bb/
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/caitlincrooker

Image Credits
B&W Headshot Photographer — Abigail Wornock Two Illustrations — Caitlin Crooker 3 purple / pink / orange styleframes — Caitlin Crooker & Lauren Neu (CoMotion 2024 Pitch) 3 blue style frames (to the song daughter by pearl jam) — Caitlin Crooker