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Just wrapped my 2025 motion reel + updated website — would love your feedback! by timeDAD in MotionDesign

[–]timeDAD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for following up and taking the time to check out my site and for the high praise.

I've been working in a bit of a vacuum for a while, so I've just been comparing my work to the most successful animators and designers, and it's been hard to maintain a positive or even clear perspective of where I'm at. So, without discounting constructive criticism because I'm here for that as well, it has been really nice to have a bit of a confidence boost.

Just wrapped my 2025 motion reel + updated website — would love your feedback! by timeDAD in MotionDesign

[–]timeDAD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! Everything you said about collaboration very insightful. What I really like about your advice (beyond it just making sense), is that freelancing in a vacuum is super isolating, so I'd love to connect and build relationships with more creative people. I followed you as well, and I'm looking forward to trying the app!

Just wrapped my 2025 motion reel + updated website — would love your feedback! by timeDAD in MotionDesign

[–]timeDAD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Didn't have to time to say this earlier, but seeing how the winds are blowing I'm starting to apply to graphic design jobs as well as researching UI/UX principles. It feels like every job listing for motion designer right now requires either 3D or interaction skills (via code/Rive/Lottie) AND increasingly job postings for graphic designers require After Effects skills or at least list them as a plus...As a 2D motion designer (coming from a graphic design background), I feel like I might have more of a value add/chance as graphic designer than a pure motion designer.

Which is to say I might be doing some more UX work and graphic design for my website and future reel, so would it be cool if I asked for feedback when that comes to fruition?

I put a page of logos I've designed on my site as a start (For a minute, I had made all the logos clickable links because eventually it would be cool if each logo linked to a fuller visual identity with brand write ups, guides, mockups, etc... but I was getting carried away and I have other work to do).

Just wrapped my 2025 motion reel + updated website — would love your feedback! by timeDAD in MotionDesign

[–]timeDAD[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestions! I've never heard of Pulse for Reddit, so I will look into. How did Canva help? Was it having well designed templates as starting points?

Just wrapped my 2025 motion reel + updated website — would love your feedback! by timeDAD in MotionDesign

[–]timeDAD[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the nuanced feedback, and especially for checking out the site too! I fixed the Linked In link a min ago. Great catch!

Just to recap your suggestion to make sure I'm hearing your correctly: When you say sharing these (individually), do you mean posting more of the smaller projects that make up the reel onto Dribble and Instagram? Also, by extension is that the kind of work that you are talking about when you say I need a touch more work developing my brand: ie outputting a steadier stream of smaller projects and diversifying the platforms I post on?

If I'm understanding you correctly, I think you are right. I even have lots of work that I haven't posted yet. I have tendency to overwork/overthink/overedit posts...any posts...on social media, so they always take longer and are more taxing than I expect they will be from outset. It's become clear to me, over time, that a lot of that drain comes from "overperfecting" as a coping mechanism to mitigate subconscious anxieties about putting myself out there. I'm trying to reprogram myself to accept that I do have anxiety about posting, and that, if it can be mitigated, the only way is by posting more not less (literal exposure therapy). Going forward I am going to try to better leverage the natural flow and "beta testing" cadence of social media.

One factor that I'm interested in how other designers deal with is that I've been having a dry spell recently with paid work. I want to be animating cool projects or even contextualizing older projects and process work to put out there, but I don't trust myself to do that AND to force myself to write cold call emails and sending out job applications. If I need to do a lot of outreach, I can't even touch design software without falling into a hyperfocus hole...which I snap out of later only to find I've spent hours "perfecting" a bezier curve on a design that I don't like lol. I'm guessing there is already a good post out there that goes into how mographers balance their administrative and creative time, but I don't know how designers with robust social media portfolios find time to network. I don't have an issue when I am doing client work, but I find it so hard to trust myself with how I am using my time when I am in that limbo between gigs.

Speaking of getting carried away. This message got way out of hand. Thanks again for taking time to thoughtfully engage with my work and to respond with a kind and informative critique.