We recently connected with James Heredia and have shared our conversation below.
James, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I graduated from Ringling College in 2014, during an exciting time when motion design was just starting to define itself. This was precisely what drew me to the major—that, and the chance to merge all my interests into a single career path.
Early on, my focus was primarily on immersing myself in as much inspiration and reference material as possible. I knew that developing an eye for quality would provide me with a solid understanding of the field and industry. More importantly, however, I wanted to discover what I liked and what I didn’t.
A design professor of mine emphasized the importance of developing a personal style, especially because the celebrated work we studied often leaned heavily into specific industry trends. Yet, I have always found it more enjoyable and liberating to diversify and work across various styles and disciplines. I guess you could say that being able to adapt has become my own distinctive style.
Creating master copies was a key part of my learning process, significantly enhancing my technical skills and familiarity with different software. I spent numerous hours reverse-engineering motion pieces, striving to replicate the originals as closely as possible. These explorations, educational and properly credited, were kept separate from my main portfolio. This right here, was integral to my skill-building journey.
I was also actively seeking insight and guidance from the masters and the larger motion design community. Their advice was helpful in refining my skills. In retrospect, these early outreaches laid the groundwork for my professional network post-graduation. Paired with a diverse portfolio, this foundation was crucial in advancing my career, opening doors to meaningful opportunities and securing my first internship after graduation.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m James Heredia, and for the past decade, I’ve been a motion designer and photographer based in Portland, OR. My work focuses on bringing brands to life through animation, with a special emphasis on storytelling, video strategy, and interactive digital content. It was during my time at Ringling College that I stumbled upon motion design. It struck me as the ideal major, offering a way to weave together all my interests—photography, design, and filmmaking—into one career path.
I’m currently freelancing, and so far it has been a great fit for me; it lets me tackle all sorts of projects where motion plays a key role. My work spans ads, movies, tech, and, more recently, retail spaces.
When I’m not working, you might catch me skateboarding, adventuring around, or chasing my dog on the Oregon coast.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Pivoting has pretty much been the theme of my career. It’s been about turning challenges into steps forward. Take when I first started out: I moved across the country for a job, only to lose it soon after. Back then, I saw it as a huge blow, something I thought my younger self had messed up. But looking back, I see it wasn’t a setback at all. It was more like a detour that was meant to happen.
In the world I work in, people don’t usually talk about their mess-ups. Everyone’s busy showing off their wins, which is cool and all, but it’s easy to forget we’re all figuring things out as we go. Making mistakes is part of the deal, especially nowadays. It’s how we learn and grow, both in our jobs and as people.
You might think changing direction because of a hiccup is a bad thing, but for me, it’s been the opposite. It’s opened up all these new paths I never thought about before. I’ve learned to roll with the punches, knowing that even the best-laid plans can fall apart. What’s really in our hands is how we react and redirect towards where we want to be.
That tough time when I lost my job was actually a wake-up call. It knocked me down a peg, sure, but it also kicked me into the next phase of my career with a whole new outlook. It was a lesson in being tough and flexible, qualities that have helped me navigate through more ups and downs since then.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being an artist or creative means you get to reinvent yourself all the time. That’s the part I love the most. A good friend of mine, deeply engaged in the creative scene, never stops talking about this. He’s always experimenting with new things and drawing inspiration from everywhere, which keeps his work exciting and fresh. While I admire his commitment to art, what really makes me reflect is how this concept of change and growth extends beyond the projects we create. It’s about us, evolving and transforming as individuals.
In an artist’s life, we’re constantly on the lookout for new ideas and draw inspiration from everything around us. Being fully immersed in this creative field, sometimes it’s hard to disconnect and remember there’s way more to life than that pending project. Sure, my day job revolves around pulling ideas from thin air—sometimes even the most absurd ones—but living in this creative bubble non-stop isn’t the goal. I’m learning to take a beat, enjoy the little moments, and remember that being playful is totally fine.
Lately, I’ve been exploring hobbies that seem miles away from my day-to-day work—like DIY projects, sailing, commercial fishing, or teaching. These new adventures have been incredibly inspiring. They may not seem related to my usual endeavors, but they’re contributing to my growth in new and exciting ways. They encourage me to think outside the box with my creations, making me more than just a designer, artist, or animator. This journey of exploration is transforming me into a more well-rounded individual and helping me forge new connections, finding commonality in the most unexpected places.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heredia.work/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james.heredia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesheredia/
Image Credits
CR_Heredia_001 – Invisible Institutes – Freethink media • CR_Heredia_002 – Skate Windows – Personal Project • CR_Heredia_003 – Sheldon Exit – Sheldon Chalet • CR_Heredia_004 – 45° Hunter T – SailFuture Expedition • CR_Heredia_005 – Chasing Tio – Personal Photo • CR_Heredia_006 – Iceland Card Stack Study – Personal Project • CR_Heredia_007 – Ramen Profitable – Freethink media • CR_Heredia_008 – Profinder – Linkedin