Profile on a Creative Master...

Phil Tippet is a legend in the visual effects industry. He's created or been apart of most of the films that formed my childhood (Star Wars, Robocop, Jurassic Park). I guess with the new Star Wars release, outlets like Vice are getting nostalgic and revisiting the filmmakers that help create the original franchise. I love profiles like this. They're like windows into their genius. More importantly it humanizes and simplifies a creative processes that can sometime seem so mystical and impossible to attain. Watching this, I appreciate Phil so much more as a creative. You really get a sense of the things that scare and inspire him. You also get to explore how he's evolved in his creative and personal approach. Ultimately, we find that much of the magic on screen comes through hard work and grit, both of which we all have access to. 

Thoughts From a Creative's Sketchbook

To all of you creatives that feel like they're not cutting it and that you exist as a machine of mediocrity... Remember that you yourself are a product of an act of total and unique creation. Not one person looks, acts or reacts the way that you do. Through the simple act of existence you are unique and special. The world may tell us differently. But I find more often than not its our own inner voice that says we can't hack it. My advice born from recent experience; don't let anything paralyze you into thinking that life is futile. Always remember that value lies in so much more than, perfection and idealization. Trust that the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other, one step at a time is creatively and artistically good enough. Uncertainty is mystery, and mystery is potentiality. I thank the Lord how he created me, and that, like a masterful work of art, he is not yet finished with his greatest strokes of creative genius. Like an atom waiting to split, an explosion can happen at anytime.

Composition: The Mathmatic wizardry of "The Golden Ratio"

As a visual creative, often so much of our "craft" is wrongly assumed as a intuitive knowledge, acquired through good luck and voodoo sacrifices. Truth is, more often than not, this knowledge is gained through practice and research. For myself, I've found it's always easier to master a concept if I can name it and understand it. Like a tasty bowl of Ramen, I find I can more fully appreciate the dish if I know all of the ingredients and where they come from. Only then Can I riff the individual parts into something new yet familiar.  With that said, I've been trying to firm up my sense of composition by revisiting the ancient concept of "The Golden Ratio". This concept is a MUST READ for any designer, or any person who wants to understand the foundation of what makes something beautiful. This article by the people at Creative Bloq, goes in-depth with both exercises and examples for the seasoned vet and beginner.

http://www.creativebloq.com/design/designers-guide-golden-ratio-12121546

So you want to get a job in the creative industry...

After a long extended hiatus of off blogging, I am back!!!

I came across a cool video by the guys at The Skool Network. For all of us creatives, we're all looking for the best way to market ourselves to employers for today's market. In this video, creative geniuses Jose Caballer and Chris Do, discuss the question of the resume. When looking for jobs, it can be overwhelming to throw yourself into the marketplace. So much of the work we do can't showcase itself on a 2-paged word document file. We need visual platforms to show employers what is possible in our work. This video talks about those platforms, as well as common mistakes designers make when applying for jobs (fluffing, formatting ect.).

I showcase/curate my work on Squarespace. Their interface does a really good job of collecting and curating all the hosting services I have content on (ie, youtube, vimeo, behance, etc..). Most importantly it does this a sleek and classy way.  

Ultimately, I find that clients can usually get a sense of your style and work simply by evaluating the way you present yourself.  I'm curious, how do you guys present your content to clients and potential employers. What things do or don't work for you.  Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Huge has got it down.

15 years of making things people love. http://www.hugeinc.com

For the past few years I've been following a killer digital agency in NYC that has been lighting it up in the motion design world. Their branding is creative and unique. It's the kinda work that you look  at and go "Damn" I wish I could work on something like this.

We're going live!!!

Hey guys!!! Here's the first post of my new creative blog. It's my first run around in the blog world so stay tuned for some new content straight from the mind of your's truly!