How to niche down your motion design portfolio

What's marketable:

# shape animation: Ordinary Folk,
	- geometric
		tunnel
	- trails & speed lines
	- interaction / reactivity > delight
	- clever transitions 
	- oscillations: wave warp
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# 3D 
	shoes >threads
	particles
	Peter Tarka aesthetics
	Rube Goldberg Simulation
	
	
# character animation
	- facial 
	- walk cycle 
	- holding something
	
# cel 
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#fabrication
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# type
	fast type over imagery/video
	
# practical
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#compositing
	photos / headshots 
	texture
	
#zag
	- tech startup
	- vegan brands 
	- Aesthesized analog
	
#subject matter
	- creativity: how to do it
	- love/humanity narrative
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#bonus
	expressions > automation > tool & script development 
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Abstract

In late 2019, I saw a senior motion designer position at my company; and thought to myself what it takes to be one. I don't think it was a matter of technical skills because everyone on my team seems to able to perform at similar levels. That's when I thought to myself that it was a matter of "experience and the 'eye'; it means being able to spot mistakes and have confidence to approve a design . That is why I decided to write my own guide of what I deemed is good as a way of training my understanding of what it takes to be a senior level designer.

WEBSITE

Ease of use
    navigate to your reel and your portfolio easily
Not overloaded with content
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Essential
    Contact information
    social media links

PROCESS PAGES

• legibility

• Readability (Headings & body)

• Content (Stay away from mind maps, or weak sketches)

• Visual documentation - Photos, WIP, process, behind-the-scenes, happy accidents

• Process GIFs are bonus; quickly identify what you want me to look at repeatedly

Project / work review

Parameters

Content
    What is the strongest piece?
    What are the weakest shots? Can you remove it?
    What seems out of place
    What do you want to see more specifically?
    production quality
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Edit
    could be faster/slower
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Typography
    legibility
    do we know what is the video is about? - showreel for ??? 
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music 
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intentions
    who/what is this reel for
    how do you position yourself
    are there any clients or comapnies you want to work at?
    are you working in your "element"
    
Marketability
    What part of my reel makes me desirable as a motion designer?
    does the reel demonstrate expertise and skills wanted by studios/companies
    are you zagging and being outstanding?
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Template

content
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edit
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typography
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music
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marketablity
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Keywords: Repetitive, inconsistent, poorly-timed, unnecessary, distracting, unappealing

Above is good way to set parameters for what makes a work good.

Reel

Notes

• Text regarding project details (eg. film name, role) placed consistently at a fixed location

  • Scale should not be too distracting

• No animations that is obviously from a tutorial (eg. Video CoPilot, Greyscale Gorrilla); you only highlight the person's tutorial not your skills.

When you are making a showreel, you have to ask yourself:

Who is your intended audience? Who is going to watch your reel? What are you trying to sell yourself as? The criteria and content of your reel will change according to your answer and who you send your reel to.

Here is a general rubric to measure the success of your reel:

FAQs

1. I did a project collaboration in which I was responsible for secondary elements (eg. background) but the production values lies in the the 3D rendering and animation that was not done by me. Can I still put that shot in my reel?

   • You have to ask yourself what are the implications of putting that shot in the reel:

     • Clients or employers will definitely ask if you did the 3D stuff or if you can recreate it

     • You are promoting your peer's work rather than yours so he/she will get the job instead

     • You are highlighting your weakness rather your strength; you are wasting screen time to showcase your skills and talents!

2. My peers want to put a shot from a collaborative project you did together in his/her reel even though you were the one responsible for more than 80% for that shot. Should I give them permission?

   • The situation is reversed now in this case and so is the answer. If they want to put it in their reel sure; they are promoting your work.

   • However, do have your peer credit you for that shot wherever he or she post the work eg.website process page or showreel video description.

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