Takeover Tuesday with Jordan Knight
An interview with Jordan Knight: a multi-media designer, animator, illustrator who has worked with clients all over the commercial, social media, and entertainment world.
Interviewer: Bella Alfonsi
Read time: 5min
Bella:
Thanks for joining us for Takeover Tuesday, Jordan! Can you please introduce yourself?
Jordan:
Hi! I’m Jordan Knight, I’m a motion designer based out of Brooklyn but originally from upstate New York and I’ve worked as a freelancer for the majority of my career. I am also queer, I like to bike (as a commuter mostly), love a painting exhibit (late 19th century is my favorite), and I also have a pet snake.
Bella:
How did you get into the motion design world?
Jordan:
In school I had much more patience for art and drawing than any other subject, and I loved movies. So animation felt like a convenient way to mix both of my interests. I went to SCAD for an animation degree and when I was 90% of the way through I took an intro class for After Effects and only learned then about motion design. I thought there was so much more room to grow as an experimental designer in that industry, which I eventually realized was such a huge priority for me in my own creative process. So I made the choice to switch gears after graduation. It took a few transitional years of working as a graphic designer for bodegas and bars, as a studio manager for a small agency, and then slowly working on my after effects confidence on the side to get to a point where I felt I was ready to try taking on a freelance job. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned a lot in that process and I think I grew the most in my skills as an artist, as a professional, and as a person, by taking that leap into freelance.
The best Motion Design quote ever from Jordan’s Grandpa.
Bella:
Do you have any advice for other artists who are trying to go full-time freelance?
Jordan:
This is sort of advice for anyone, not just freelancers, but don’t have any shame about sounding stupid when it comes to asking questions. Books and blogs are great resources, but building real life connections to talk about rates, contracts, new technologies, is going to be your most valuable resource throughout your career. I’ve learned so much about technique and insider tips by asking other artists out for coffee, going to workshops, and community events. As a freelancer staying organized is also extremely important. Keep track of your invoices, your contacts, emails, projects, backups of those projects. Life is so much less of a headache when you know where to find everything. This advice comes from some of my biggest mistakes throughout my early career, so set up goals and learn early, and keep learning to stay relevant and engaged with the industry. Oh, and taxes are just so much easier with an accountant, it’s worth it and a write-off.
Bella:
As a multi-media designer, you have mad skills in multiple different areas. Is there a certain area you prefer to work in? Like animation over design or directing, vice versa?
Jordan:
I’m very much a conceptual thinker so I do typically prefer to spend the most thought and care in the design department. Unfortunately, advertising hasn’t always allowed for that kind of time and money so I often use a lot of my down time to explore design techniques and style.
Illustration titled “Moth.”
Bella:
Where do you find inspiration?
Jordan:
This is where living in NYC really has its perks. We really have some of the most amazing museums in the world. A couple of my most frequented include Poster House, and of course the MET. Walking down most New York streets is an absolute advertising vortex of posters, video installations, stickers, murals, made by incredibly talented artists. I’m also really big on Sci-fi and horror films so older special effects really have a soft spot in my heart. A couple years ago I bought a bunch of Heavy Metal magazines from the 70s-90s and I absolutely love the variety of illustration work in there and always look back to find cool drawing inspiration. Lately just a shadow hitting the sidewalk in a strange way will spark my interest and I’ll wonder if I could distort it, stack it, cut it up and collage it, and find use for it in a design.
Bella:
How does your creative process for client work differ from the process for a personal project?
Jordan:
I think professionally as an animator I’m very outcome oriented. I have a deadline, a structure, and a good sense for how I am expected to execute in a timely manner. My own projects are much more chaotic and I often don’t know what I’m making until I’m surrounded by scraps of doodled on papers, made three new pinterest boards, and bought a new stupid thing on ebay that I’ve convinced myself is the answer to all my creative blocks. But it works for me!
Frame from “NYC Votes.”
Bella:
I love the collage style that you've used in several projects. What's the best way to approach animation for this style?
Jordan:
My biggest focus is making something digital look tactile and handmade. I have TONS of stockpiled textures that come in handy for this and I often make many of my own. I’ve got probably ten different saved expressions for giving a gritty stop motion feel that I use interchangeably. I also think starting the design process by hand and then finding a way to adapt digitally second allows me to be more expressive in the initial stages and leaves me more room to explore what sort of motion would work best with a specific style.
Bella:
What would you say to someone who is trying to "find their style?"
Jordan:
Frankly I can’t even confidently say I’ve found my own, and I may never commit to just one. I think I feel very comfortable with that. Some people really find a style that works for them and that's great. I don’t think finding a style is always necessary. It certainly has benefits as a freelancer to brand yourself to a type of work but I’m definitely a person who loves exploring different mediums. Although I’ve sort of been known for my collage work I am definitely constantly evolving that style into something different. So my advice is just make what you want to make, whether you want to stick to one style or not, that decision will come later and it will come organically.
Bella:
I'm sure it's difficult to choose, but do you have a favorite project you've been a part of?
Jordan:
I had a lot of fun working on Paris Hilton’s documentary. While I was animating on that I shared a coworking space with Miguel Hernandez, the illustrator on the project, and we had such a blast working together. He had me help out with illustration tasks, which isn’t a skill I often get to flex as primarily an animator, but I had so much fun with it. Every week he’d lend me a ton of art books and graphic novels from his collection that I’d spend every night absolutely devouring, so I got to learn a lot in that time on and off the project. Even when deadlines were tight and overwhelming, Miguel made the process fun and easy.
I also found out later that I had indirectly worked alongside my current partner, an assistant editor on the project, who I hadn’t officially met until two years after the release. So shout out to Paris Hilton for the matchmaking.
One of the scene’s from the Paris Hilton Documentary Jordan worked on.
Bella:
Any projects that you're excited about?
Jordan:
I just finished up a really fun project with the absolutely wonderful team at Mighty Oak: NYC Votes!
Also keep an eye out on my instagram @jjknightart for more work!