5 Key Steps for Breaking into the Design/Creative Industry: Insights from an Experienced Motion and 3D Designer

I’m often hesitant to give advice because I’m constantly learning myself. How can I truly add value to someone else’s journey? However, I can share insights from my personal experience and the lessons I've learned from working with clients over the past 20+ years.

?1. Identify What Excites You

Discover what genuinely excites and interests you. This is crucial for staying motivated when you face challenges or feel uninspired. Whether it’s animation, video editing, graphic design, or typography, find what sparks your passion. Ask yourself: Who inspires you? What style resonates with you? Personally, I’ve always been inspired by Manga, Anime, and childhood cartoons like Thundercats. As I grew older, graphic designers like David Carson, Paul Rand, Joshua Davis, and motion designers like Ash Thorp continued to fuel my creativity.

2. Learn the Tools of the Trade

Identify the programs and skill sets your favourite designers or animators use. How do they create the amazing work that inspired you? There are many different paths in design and animation, and Adobe covers most of the bases. For 3D motion graphics/design, there are various options depending on the results you want. Start with what feels right to you, based on what inspires you.

3. Master the Necessary Skills

Becoming fluent in the skills required to create what inspires you is perhaps the hardest part. It demands a lot of self-motivation, which ties back to step one. You need to be excited because you WILL encounter challenges along the way. Persistence is key.

4. Complete Personal Projects

Once you've learned the necessary programs and skills, set yourself personal projects and see them through to completion. It’s beneficial to create projects that are relevant to the industry you want to enter. If you're studying at university, this is an essential part of building a portfolio of work.

5. Build a Strong Portfolio

Create a portfolio or website that showcases your best work. Only include projects you’re proud of and be prepared to discuss the entire creative process. This will help you sell yourself to potential employers. Remember, you don’t necessarily need a formal degree to get noticed in the industry. For me, university helped me realise I wanted to focus on animation rather than print and typography, but the key is to showcase your skills and passion.

These five steps outline a clear path to success if you’re willing to put in the time and effort.