In this episode, I talk with Bill Holland, a motion graphics designer and video producer, about how tech writers can effectively collaborate with visual creators. We discuss what to include in a creative brief, how to give constructive feedback to designers, setting realistic expectations for animation types and budgets, and how AI is changing but not replacing visual creative work.

—

Bill and I discuss how tech writers and other non-designers can effectively collaborate with visual creators. He walks through what makes a good creative brief, including the importance of assuming the designer knows nothing about your field, spelling out acronyms, clearly identifying what's most important to communicate, and providing mood boards or reference examples for style direction. We use the creation of The Not-Boring Tech Writer podcast logo as a real-world example of how the collaboration process works, from initial brief through iteration to a finished product.

We dig into the world of motion graphics and animation, where Bill explains the wide range of animation types and their associated costs, from simple text animation to puppet animation to traditional hand-drawn animation. He stresses the importance of investing in pre-production, including style frames and storyboards, to catch problems early before animation work begins. We also discuss how to give constructive feedback to designers: lead with what's working, be specific about what isn't, and reference your original mood board or brief to articulate where the disconnect is.

We also explore how to evaluate potential designers or animators when hiring, including what to look for in a portfolio and the trade-offs between hiring experienced professionals versus newer talent. The episode wraps up with a discussion of AI's role in visual creation. Bill shares his perspective as someone actively working with AI tools alongside traditional methods, emphasizing that AI works best as part of a hybrid workflow rather than as a wholesale replacement for skilled designers.

About Bill Holland:

Bill Holland (also known by his alias Bill Netherlands) is a motion graphics generalist with an extensive background in video production. With an educational foundation in Art and Design, Bill has worked on every aspect of the motion process from scripting through sound mixing. His early career shooting and editing video informs his storytelling, staging, and pacing in motion graphics today. Bill has created motion graphics and editing work for clients including Google, PBS, NASCAR, the American Dental Association, and Hilton Hotels, earning multiple Telly, Communicator, and Davey awards. He previously ran his own company, Middlebranch Productions, Inc., before rebranding under the Bill Netherlands name at a fellow designer's suggestion.

In this episode:

• [00:01:20]: Bill's motion graphics origin story and his current hybrid AI content creator role
• [00:09:43]: How tech writers often create technical documentation without realizing it
• [00:14:42]: What to include in a creative brief when working with a designer
• [00:21:38]: Handling clients who come in with too much or too little direction
• [00:23:58]: The Not-Boring Tech Writer logo as a real-world collaboration example
• [00:29:29]: Using mood boards and sketching to establish style direction
• [00:32:13]: How to give constructive feedback to designers
• [00:40:22]: Working with motion graphics and animation: types, costs, and setting expectations
• [00:48:33]: The animation production process: style frames, storyboards, and rough animatics
• [00:58:58]: What to look for when hiring a designer or animator
• [01:05:42]: AI's role in animation and visual creation
• [01:12:19]: Using AI as a research and organization tool
• [01:20:10]: Bill's favorite piece of advice

Resources discussed in this episode:

• School of Motion: schoolofmotion.com
• School of Motion Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Spotify
• The Not-Boring Tech Writer logo design iterations
• KnowledgeOwl Linus animation discussed in this episode
• Related episode: Humor and visuals in technical writing with Dennis Dawson (S3:E22)
• Bill Netherlands on Vimeo
• Bill Netherlands on YouTube
• Bill Netherlands on TikTok
• Bill Netherlands on Instagram: Bill Netherlands Motion
• Bill Netherlands on Instagram: Mr. Automatic (DJ)
• Bill’s podcast: Morally Offensive

Join the discussion by replying on Bluesky

—

Contact The Not-Boring Tech Writer team:

We love hearing your ideas for episode topics, guests, or general feedback:

• Email: [email protected]
• thenotboringtechwriter.com
• LinkedIn
• Bluesky
• Guest suggestions form

Contact Kate Mueller:

• knowledgewithsass.com
• LinkedIn
• Bluesky

Contact Bill Holland:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Contact KnowledgeOwl:

• knowledgeowl.com
• LinkedIn