073 : How to Leverage Personal Projects to Improve Your Motion Design Career w/ Qais Sarhan
10/06/20 • 34 min
Do you ever feel that you have too much client work to focus on personal projects? It can be tough making the time for something that doesn’t bring you any direct income. However, these personal projects are an important part of your craft. They’ll help you sharpen your skills while imparting a sense of satisfaction that other work doesn’t.
About Qais Sarhan
Qais Sarhan is a 2D motion designer based in Reading. He creates simple, succinct animations in order to promote and explain complex marketing messages. When not creating for studios and agencies, Qais creates silly gifs about cats and food.
The Rewards and Challenges of Remote Work
As someone who works on all aspects of a project, Qais is able to work remotely. In this capacity, he seldom needs to come in-house and has the freedom to live outside of the major hubs. Even though you might not be physically in the room with clients, Qais urges you to stay in frequent communication. Regular emails, calls, and messages will put them at ease and let them know that their project is in good hands.
Leveling Up with Personal Projects
When not working for clients, Qais is constantly refining his own skills. Personal projects are a great avenue for this. By investing in yourself, not only will your craft improve, but you will also gain a sense of satisfaction that only comes creating for your own development. It will also help you avoid being too harsh on yourself so you can focus on the joy in what you do.
Links & Resources
Follow Qais on Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Vimeo | Behance | Dribble
Additional Resources
Podcast music licensed by Big Waves
Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative
Do you ever feel that you have too much client work to focus on personal projects? It can be tough making the time for something that doesn’t bring you any direct income. However, these personal projects are an important part of your craft. They’ll help you sharpen your skills while imparting a sense of satisfaction that other work doesn’t.
About Qais Sarhan
Qais Sarhan is a 2D motion designer based in Reading. He creates simple, succinct animations in order to promote and explain complex marketing messages. When not creating for studios and agencies, Qais creates silly gifs about cats and food.
The Rewards and Challenges of Remote Work
As someone who works on all aspects of a project, Qais is able to work remotely. In this capacity, he seldom needs to come in-house and has the freedom to live outside of the major hubs. Even though you might not be physically in the room with clients, Qais urges you to stay in frequent communication. Regular emails, calls, and messages will put them at ease and let them know that their project is in good hands.
Leveling Up with Personal Projects
When not working for clients, Qais is constantly refining his own skills. Personal projects are a great avenue for this. By investing in yourself, not only will your craft improve, but you will also gain a sense of satisfaction that only comes creating for your own development. It will also help you avoid being too harsh on yourself so you can focus on the joy in what you do.
Links & Resources
Follow Qais on Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Vimeo | Behance | Dribble
Additional Resources
Podcast music licensed by Big Waves
Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative
Previous Episode
072: The Future of the Motion Design Industry w/ Ryan Summers
There’s certainly a lot of unknowns in the world these days. This is true for the motion design industry as much as anything else. Long-term survival is likely going to involve both adaptability and keeping focused on your priorities.
About Ryan Summers
As 2D creative director at School of Motion, Ryan is busy making courses to help other motion designers move forward in their career. This allows him to keep a close eye on trends in the motion design world and get ready for what the future brings to this industry.
The New Landscape of Motion Design
The world is changing fast. While many of these changes bring new challenges, they also involve new opportunities for motion designers. Ryan shares his observations and predictions for what this means for us. For one thing, remote work is more accepted and widespread than ever. It also presents more opportunities for individuals and small studios which can operate without the massive overhead required by the big studios.
Specialization as a Key Elements of Success
In the crowded field of motion design, it’s crucial to set yourself apart. With all the generalists put there, Ryan sees the importance of specializing in something that shares your unique voice. It may weed out some potential clients, but it will make sure that you work with the right ones in the end.
“There’s great opportunity when the world changes as fast and as all-encompassing as it has.” [5:14]
“That’s the part of every artist’s challenge and every studio’s challenge; You have to redefine yourself while the world changes around or you’ll get lost.” [7:43]
“You have different processes on the creative side based on your needs at the moment. Why shouldn’t you have the same thing business-wise?” [28:49]
- How new trends are affecting the world of remote work [4:30]
- The importance of agility during unpredictable times [10:03]
- Why specializing will not only set you apart but also keep you focused on your passion [18:55]
- What it takes to set your portfolio apart from the competition [24:55]
- Creating long term connections by passing work off to others and having partners [28:36]
- Maintaining your own passions and taking care of yourself as a necessary part of staying in business [35:43]
The business and creative world is quickly changing. Being adaptable and agile in order to avoid pitfalls and take advantage of new opportunities is a must. This means being creative about how you operate your business. Even though how you run your business may need to change, maintaining your creative passions as priorities will give you the drive to keep going.
Just as you cultivate your artistic skills, you need to tend to your own wellbeing. Your work can be a great way to feed your own creative self. However, getting caught up in just the money-making aspect is not sustainable in the long run.
The Motion Designer Client Challenge
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Episode 22: Art School vs Online Courses: The Pros & Cons
Episode 64: How to price your work as a motion designer
Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative
Podcast music licensed by Big Waves
Next Episode
074 :How to Start Your Own Motion Design Studio w/ Joel Pilger
For those of us who start a studio, we think it will lead to a new level of freedom. Before too long, we realize that it’s a business and that creativity is just one part of it. Today’s guest helps creative business owners improve the business side of what they do so that they can focus on the parts that they love.
About Joel Pilger
Joel Pilger of RevThink is a consultant who helps creative studios become industry leaders. He focuses on helping owners in specific areas – genius, expertise, positioning, marketing, and sales – so their firms can produce their greatest work in the world.
Finding your freedom, genius, and niche
We all want the freedom to produce great work. Having your own motion design studio often gives you this freedom. But it’s not that simple. Joel explains how you can get the clients you’re after by curating a community, showcasing your expertise, and crafting your unique message. These aren’t simple and easy things. Yet, with the right approach and guidance it is completely achievable.
Work is very personal to creatives. Joel urges creatives who are searching for a niche to serve to look within their own genius to find it. Identifying your genius will lead you to your niche. If you can focus on what you love to do, you can serve the best clients for you and find joy and inspiration in your work.
Your community is the key to your success
In the end, much of a studio’s success is derived from its community. Reaching out within your network is the best place to find the employees you want and the best clients. Joel explains how this community doesn’t happen by accident. It takes regular and intentional curation and engagement. Joel describes how identifying people’s problems and offering yourself as a solution is an effective way to become an integral part of this community.
Quotes
“The foundation is focusing on your genius. You have to identify your genius and focus on it. That informs your positioning, you build your community, you work with those best clients, and great work shows up.” [10:43]
“Yes, I’m a big fan of working and focusing on a niche. However, niching down is a byproduct or a symptom of focusing on your genius.” [11:32]
“That’s ultimately the shift that we’re all going through if you’re in this business - from being an order-taker and providing services to becoming an expert and providing value, results, and outcomes.” [34:35]
In This Episode
- How consultants help studios improve various parts of their business [1:48]
- The different challenges of freelancing and owning a studio [4:40]
- How your niche derives from your genius [11:10]
- Growing a studio without giving up your creative pursuits [16:45]
- How curating a community can lead to new work [27:20]
- The shift that needs to happen to become a leader in your field [35:00]
- The one thing every motion designer needs to do to survive tough times [40:38]
Key Takeaways
Creativity is just one ingredient in owning a business. It should be the source of what you do and who you serve, but you’ll need help with the rest of the operation. Reaching out within your community will help you find the right people for your studio.
Communities do not happen by accident. You need to curate your community and continually make offers within it. This will provide you with the best resource your studio needs to succeed and grow.
Links & Resources
Follow Joel on Instagram | Linkedin
Additional Resources
Podcast music licensed by Big Waves
Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative
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