Completing My Demo Reel

In my experience, usually video editors or motion graphics artists have demo reels but not as many graphic designers or art directors. Since my skill set includes all of the above, I decided to challenge myself this spring and create my first one.

I had limited experience with After Effects, only using it occasionally at my last full-time position. From my time there, I was able to learn how layers effect animations and the ease of editing a video. And with video editing, I learned how to tell a captivating story, changing frames to keep interest and adding motion or other effects.

The first step in the process was organizing my thoughts. In my earlier years designing, I would dive headfirst into a project. And depending on the task, I still do that. But something as complex as a one minute designed video needed planning. And with each iteration I referred to my notes, adding or removing sections as needed.

The video that I uploaded to my homepage today took two months of work to complete. I see it as a living project, one that I will update with new work or as my skills expand. In the meantime, please enjoy.