Monday Meeting

In this open discussion episode, host Lee Smalt shares insights from his experience as a Minnesota State Arts Board grant reviewer and leads conversations about funding creative projects, film festival submissions, and navigating AI's impact on independent artistic work. This episode covers: Art grant fundamentals : How state arts boards evaluate applications based on qualifications and narrat...

In this open discussion episode, host Kendall Hotchkiss leads a conversation about participating in and organizing art and design challenges, from daily prompts like Peachtober and Inktober to collaborative projects and personal growth experiments. This episode covers: Managing time constraints in daily challenges : Set 15-minute time limits, work in grayscale only, and batch multiple prompts on w...

In this open discussion episode, host Lee Smalt and guest Austin Saylor (freelance motion designer and creator of Project 200K) explore practical strategies for networking, building community, and connecting authentically in the motion design industry. This episode covers: "Never not networking" philosophy : How networking becomes natural rather than forced when you view every interactio...

In this episode, host Lee Smalt interviews Amy Sundin Unger, Executive Director of Gunner School, about building accessible motion design education and fostering community connections, with Camp MoGraph recaps from Jen, EJ, Kons, and Moe. This episode covers: Camp MoGraph highlights : Creative community activities including yearbook creation, projection mapping experiences, scavenger hunts, and th...

In this episode, host Lee Smalt interviews Alicia Allen (formerly Alicia Reece), co-founder of Nice Moves Minnesota and head of operations at Modular, for an in-depth look at building and sustaining creative communities. This episode covers: Nice Moves origins : Casual conversations between Mike Nelson, Mike Zugshwort, and Alicia at bars and barbecues converged into an official organization, launc...

In this open discussion episode, host Lee Smalt leads conversations about community building, professional boundaries, and the role of AI in creative work, with contributions from EJ Brieva, Kendall Hotchkiss, Moose, and Sam J. This episode covers: Authentic community building : How Camp MoGraph creates genuine connections by focusing on shared activities rather than networking transactions Profes...

In this open discussion episode, host Jen Van Horn is joined by regular contributors Kendall Hotchkiss and Lee Smalt for a wide-ranging conversation covering branding strategies, community building, and creative industry trends. This episode covers: Event marketing insights : Jen and Kendall share their experience at Denver Brunch Fest, discussing design elements that stood out across 40+ vendor b...

In this final episode of the anonymous stories series, host Jen Van Horn is joined by mystery co-host Luis Miranda to share more listener submissions and Reddit finds covering everything from LinkedIn hypocrisy to cash payments gone wrong. This episode covers: Social media authenticity : A client who posts about work-life balance on LinkedIn while messaging across multiple platforms at all hours,...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn is joined by mystery co-host Donavon Brutus to share more anonymous stories from listeners, covering everything from compliance nightmares to creative misunderstandings. This episode covers: Compliance chaos : A financial company's compliance manager who refused to approve scripts until seeing the final video, leading to expensive VO retakes...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn is joined by co-host Sara Wade to read and discuss anonymous stories submitted by listeners, plus some relatable tales found on Reddit. This episode covers: Equipment nightmares : Stories of dragging 27-inch iMacs back and forth to cheap clients, computer fans catching fire, and the logistics of working with your own gear Communication chaos : C...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host EJ Brieva leads a discussion about the most valuable career advice community members have received throughout their motion design journeys. This episode covers: Networking fundamentals : Why relationship-building matters more than traditional marketing and business deals often happen in social settings Managing creative anxiety : Dealing with perfectionism a...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host EJ Brieva leads an open discussion about how motion designers recharge and find creative inspiration outside of screen time. This episode covers: Ways to recharge : From morning walks in nature to changing work environments, hear tips on how to rejuvenate without breaking the bank.  The return to physical crafts : Designers are picking up bookbinding, leathe...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host EJ Brieva welcomes everyone back from summer break to kick off Season 10 with an open discussion, allowing the community to reconnect and share updates from their time away. This episode includes: Entrepreneurial journeys : Community members sharing experiences building social media presence and creative businesses, with insights into beating algorithms, sus...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss speaks with Kaho Yoshida, an award-winning director and animator with a special passion for stop motion and mixed media animation, based in Vancouver and represented by Jelly. This episode includes: * Kaho's experience working with representation through Jelly, including how the relationship formed and the benefits of having agency supp...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss chats with Danni Fisher-Shin, an art director, animator, and illustrator who recently joined Apple after years of freelancing and studio work in Los Angeles. This episode includes: * Danni's career journey from studying fashion design to discovering animation and motion graphics at Otis College * How Danni became known as "the Proc...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss continues our discussion about identity in the context of branding and motion design for multiple niches. This episode includes: * Whether to niche down or stay general in your creative business * Personal branding strategies for motion designers  * How to communicate your value to clients unfamiliar with motion design * Building community...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss leads an open discussion exploring the nuances of identity and branding in motion design. This episode includes: Insights on when to refresh your brand identity, explaining that small tweaks like copywriting adjustments or logo refreshes can be made without a complete rebrand when targeting a new audience The importance of aligning your bra...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt welcomes creative director Jason Jacobson to discuss the art of pitching unconventional ideas and finding the courage to present concepts that push boundaries. This episode includes: Jason's 20-year journey from copywriter to creative director, and how his experience with improv comedy has shaped his approach to pitching creative concepts The v...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt leads an open discussion about pitching creative ideas, with valuable insights on pricing strategies and client relationships that help motion designers win projects. This episode includes: Practical strategies for setting price ranges rather than fixed rates, and how to effectively anchor pricing to shape client expectations The psychology of tier...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt talks with Juan Behrens, an Amsterdam-based creative director with 20 years of experience in the motion design industry, about the art of pitching creative ideas effectively. This episode includes:  Juan shares insights from his time at MediaMonks and BUCK, reflecting on what he learned about pitching from his hands-on experience in the pitch team...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt talks with Christine Sheller, Senior Vice President of UX Research and Design at O3 World, about the art of pitching creative ideas effectively. This episode includes: Christine's journey from traditional graphic design to UX leadership, building brands, products, and teams throughout her career, particularly in the fintech industry Insights on...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn leads an open discussion with motion designers exploring creative burnout remedies, networking strategies, and animated film criticism. This episode includes: Community members sharing personal wins Creative burnout remedies, with suggestions for prioritizing self-care and reducing perfectionist pressures Finding joy in non-motion design side pr...

In this episode, host EJ Brieva and guests discuss effective networking strategies in the motion design world. This episode includes: Kons sharing insights from Barton Damer's ABC studio anniversary event featuring influential industry figures Community members celebrating personal wins, from getting paid after an agency shutdown to taking needed breaks Different approaches to industry events—...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn sits down with motion designer EJ Hassenfratz to explore his journey from digital artist to creator of physical plushies and vinyl toys.  This episode includes: EJ's evolution from broadcast graphics to motion design and 3D artistry, discovering Cinema 4D when it was first gaining popularity How making tutorials became an unexpected career p...

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn leads a community "Show and Tell" where motion designers share their off-screen creative pursuits and how these analog activities complement their digital careers. Check out our Show & Tell Showcase Page to see some of the photos from each presenter, and join our Discord to see the rest that were posted! This episode includes: Matt...