We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gauthier Bossuyt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gauthier, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

My process from idea to execution often varies, as each project is unique. I do have a workflow to follow, but often, I stray away from it, which I think is also a crucial part of my process. For one of my classes, I created an intonation piece for “I am a Party” by Fred Again…, in which I wanted to showcase the mask we sometimes feel like we have to put up to conform with societal norms and how sometimes that mask can crack. To achieve this, I wanted to try and use tactile techniques, which is something I hadn’t really experimented with before.

I began by following my usual process of doing research, developing a concept, and creating a mood board and storyboard. However, once it came to the execution, I froze. I didn’t know how to start and was afraid to fail. I procrastinated until the pressure of time forced me to start. Once I began, I enjoyed experimenting and playing around with the different techniques. In retrospect, I regret not starting sooner because as I started putting everything together, I discovered what worked and what didn’t. If I had started earlier, I could have had more time to experiment and explore the parts that ended up surprising me and working well. Nonetheless, I am still very satisfied with the final outcome.

I think it is important to trust in your taste and process as a designer, and not be afraid of failure. I learned a lot from failing, and next time the process will be smoother… hopefully.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Belgian motion designer who recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Motion Media Design program. My interest in motion design originated when I was little, watching movies with my dad, especially the James Bond movies we watched every Friday night. Since then, I always gravitated towards the visual arts. Although I did not have experience as a creative, I still took a chance and went to the Erasmus University of Applied Sciences in Brussels. There, I experimented with motion design but focused on web design and development. While studying at Erasmus University, I was increasingly exposed to the motion design world, which motivated me to delve deeper into this creative field. Before starting at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I doubted my ability to pursue a career in motion design, but over the last couple of years, I have focused on strengthening my abilities as a designer so I can finally start my career as a motion designer.

My goal is to elevate the story or message by deconstructing it to its core and making all my design decisions directly related to it. Especially when I craft my concept statement, my main focus is on effectively conveying the message while staying true to the essence of the story. I further elevate this by ensuring that all elements within my design serve a shared purpose: to elevate the story through its essence. I continuously experiment with new technology and different software to gain fresh perspectives and insights, allowing me to approach each project uniquely.

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

It’s hard to pick the most rewarding aspect, but I do really enjoy seeing my ideas come to life, especially when collaborating with other people. I really like to bounce ideas back and forth with people and discover all the possible paths a project can take. I think there is something special about a group of creatives coming together and knowing that the final result can only have come from that unique combination of people at that moment in time.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think something that is hard to understand for non-creatives is how the process is not linear at all. Sometimes, things do go really smoothly, but often, things have a lot of ups and downs. Personally, I find this not only within the process but also just by being a creative. Finding your place in the creative world can be hard, especially while being surrounded by so many amazing, talented people. What helps is trying to remind myself of my own personal journey and look at my process over the years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gauthierbossuyt.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gauthierbossuyt/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauthierbossuyt/

Image Credits

Headshot Photography: Ivan Kuo