Monday Meeting

In this special guest episode, Ben Drake (head of motion) and Shaw Flick (creative director and head of writing) of Pennant Video join the Monday Meeting team to talk about how motion designers can think like writers—from daily writing habits to hooks, structure, and saying more with fewer words. This episode covers: Writing as thinking, not word smithing : Why the real skill is finding the underl...

In this open discussion episode, the Monday Meeting team leads a conversation about the emotional side of creative work—processing projects that get canceled, separating your identity from your output, and leaning on community through the freelance feast-or-famine cycle. This episode covers: When a project gets shelved at the 11th hour : Why it stings more when you've poured yourself in—and ho...

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn leads a conversation about unplugging from screens, summer hobbies, and creative projects that get you off the computer. This episode covers: Boulder Startup Week recap : Highlights from the AI-heavy conference, an unexpected standout workshop using LEGO to surface abstract ideas, and why networking leads from startup events tend to pay off on a l...

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn facilitates a conversation about AI systems, workflow automation, and the evolving role of motion designers as creative technologists. **ATTN! Show Format Update:  Monday Meeting is moving to once-a-month scheduled open discussions (second Monday of each month), with additional guest episodes announced as they come together. Off-Mondays will featu...

In this episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss interviews motion designer and illustrator Reece Parker on intuitive creativity, building a personal brand, and thriving as a human artist in the AI era after a decade of solo freelancing. This episode covers: The eras of a freelance career : Reece breaks down ten years of solo work into distinct growth phases—learning the tools, shaping market perception, f...

In this guest episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss chats with Audrey Havey — graphic designer, art director, motion designer, illustrator, YouTuber, and co-founder of the newly launched creative studio Sword and Shield — covering studio launches, content creation, personal style, and the value of art school. This episode covers: Launching Sword and Shield : How Audrey and her husband planned a studio l...

In this open discussion episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss leads a hands-on social media workshop, fielding community questions and sharing practical strategies. Topics range from promoting free tools to crafting hooks, storytelling techniques, and platform-specific tactics for motion designers. This episode covers: Promoting free tools and work-in-progress content : Rather than only announcing a too...

In this open discussion episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss facilitates a conversation about social media strategy, platform algorithms, client acquisition, and staying authentically human in an AI-saturated landscape. This episode covers: Meaningful engagement over passive liking:  Substantive comments beat emoji reactions for both algorithm visibility and real relationship-building. Setting a 20–30...

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn facilitates conversations about technical workflows, education platforms, and professional organization practices within the motion design community. This episode covers: Contra platform for freelancing : Commission-free alternative to platforms to Upwork that's gaining traction for motion design work, including interactive sports graphics for...

This episode continues March's focus on branding and marketing strategy, with host Lee Smalt chats with Mary Hawkins about her journey as a NYC-based art director and animator. This episode covers: Career evolution and intentional pivoting:  After decades of broadcast and network work for clients including MTV and Food Network, a deliberate shift toward nonprofit and non-fiction documentary an...

In this episode, host Lee Smalt welcomes Ashton Hauff, co-founder of Bismarck-based branding studio The Good Kids, for a conversation on brand strategy and its role in the creative process. This episode covers: Strategy as the foundation for creative work:  Building a strategy phase into every project — before any visual work begins — gives both the creative team and the client a shared vocabulary...

In this episode, host Lee Smalt leads an open conversation on branding and marketing strategy. This episode covers: Starting with strategy before branding:  Before investing time in logos, fonts, or website platforms, freelancers benefit from answering foundational questions about who they serve, what problems they solve, and why they do what they do — a step many creatives skip when entering free...

In this themed discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn leads a wide-ranging conversation about defining "good taste" in the creative industry. This episode covers: "Good taste" as a buzzword:  The phrase has become overused and under-defined, leaving emerging artists frustrated with no clear benchmark to work toward — especially as it increasingly comes up in conversations about standing out from AI...

In this open discussion episode, the Monday Meeting team discuss pricing negotiations, client communication, testimonials, and building a focused freelance business. This episode covers: Pricing confidence and boundaries : Never undercut yourself—costs you money to take less money, with emphasis on qualifying leads upfront and establishing clear rate anchors that filter inappropriate clients Disco...

In this week's episode, host Jen Van Horn speaks with Will Colón and Kathryn Taccone of Open Pixel Studios about navigating the current industry landscape, content strategy for 2026, and staying grounded as creative business owners. This episode covers: Two years of nomadic living:  Will and Kathryn spent two years traveling the U.S. after their lease ended, bookending the journey between two...

In this season 11 premiere episode, host Jen Van Horn speaks with Executive Coach Dave O'Connor about navigating uncertainty, overcoming creative blocks, and strategic business development for freelancers and motion designers. This episode covers: Post-2025 industry check-in : Community members share experiences ranging from career pivots and AI anxieties to steady growth, revealing widespread...

In this open discussion episode, host Sam J leads conversations about developing creative side projects, scaling passion projects into sustainable income streams, and navigating the challenges of marketing creative work.  This episode covers:     •    Authenticity over perfection: Why unpolished, spontaneous content often performs better than highly-produced work—raw material feels more accessible...

In this open discussion episode, host Sam J leads conversations about AI's role in creative work, NFT technology's potential future, content creation strategies, and live streaming. This episode covers: AI as a tool, not replacement : Understanding that AI should augment creative work rather than replace human artists, with the real issue being employers who prioritize cost-cutting over co...

Host Sam J leads an interactive session exploring creative exercises to unlock new thinking patterns. This episode covers: The 9-dot puzzle challenge : Classic "thinking outside the box" exercise demonstrating how we create invisible constraints—the solution requires extending lines beyond the perceived square boundary, revealing our mental limitations Expanding creative boundaries : Pro...

In this open discussion episode, host Sam Judelson leads conversations about personal creative spaces, inspiration sources, and community resilience. This episode covers: Workspace personalization : How motion designers curate their environments with meaningful objects, from family artwork and memorial pieces to collections like vintage Nancy Drew books, field notes, and anime figurines that fuel...

In this episode, host Jen Van Horn welcomes Hayley Akins, founder of Motion Hatch, to discuss business systems, client relationship management, and social media strategies that help motion designers build sustainable freelance careers. This episode covers: The power of systems : How implementing basic business systems like CRMs and client outreach processes prevents the feast-or-famine cycle that...

In this open discussion episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss leads a candid conversation about navigating challenging client relationships on pro bono projects! This episode covers: Pro bono work requires boundaries too : Even volunteer projects need contracts, timelines, and scope definitions to prevent scope creep and maintain professional relationships The contract as your bouncer : Setting up agree...

In this episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss welcomes Jake Bartlett, and they discuss his journey from motion designer to educator, his latest course launch, and his embrace of AI tools for creative work. This episode covers: Animation Principles course launch : Jake's new course focusing on 8 core principles of motion design (condensed from the original 12 Disney principles), featuring projects li...

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn chats with community members sharing Halloween stories, Adobe MAX updates, professional wins, and seasonal projects. This episode covers: Halloween and seasonal celebrations : Community costume sharing including K-pop Demon Hunters and sensory rope bunny looks, plus discussion of declining trick-or-treaters and the rise of trunk-or-treat events re...

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn leads a conversation about self-identity, authenticity, and the pressures motion designers face to mask their true selves, with insights from Kendall Hotchkiss, Lee Smalt, Moe Murdock, Sam J, Landon X. Jenkins, and Cameron Butterfield. This episode covers: Mental health and self-identity : How disconnecting from your creative identity during layof...