Monday Meeting

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn is joined by co-host Sara Wade to read and discuss anonymous stories submitted by listeners, plus some relatable tales found on Reddit.

This episode covers:

• Equipment nightmares: Stories of dragging 27-inch iMacs back and forth to cheap clients, computer fans catching fire, and the logistics of working with your own gear
• Communication chaos: Clients who only use WhatsApp voice notes at all hours, British bosses having hour-long outbursts over American spelling, and the importance of setting boundaries
• Rejection letter absurdity: A hilariously insulting job rejection that mentions "rock paper scissors" decision-making and tries too hard to be creative and positive
• Workplace gratitude gone wrong: How past favors can be weaponized to silence employees and the difficulty of leaving toxic situations when you feel indebted
• Success stories: Clients who appreciate good work with bonus payments, clients giving rare compliments, and mentors who have your back when scope creep happens
• Office culture insights: From snack hierarchies and crafty supplies to the pros and cons of remote vs. in-office work, plus advice on short contracts and regular check-ins

The conversation explores everything from setting professional boundaries and staging feedback rounds to recognizing when it's time to walk away from clients or jobs - even when the situation isn't entirely black and white.

Keep the anonymous stories coming for more episodes this month! Whether they're crazy client tales, positive collaborations, funny mishaps, or industry insights - we want to hear them all. Submit at:  https://form.jotform.com/251874068207057

Join us for our monthly Game Night, playing Gartic Phone NEXT WEEK on Wednesday evening, August 13th! More details on our Discord server!

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠⁠
• Sara Wade's Portfolio
• Sara Wade on LinkedIn

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host EJ Brieva leads a discussion about the most valuable career advice community members have received throughout their motion design journeys.

This episode covers:

• Networking fundamentals: Why relationship-building matters more than traditional marketing and business deals often happen in social settings
• Managing creative anxiety: Dealing with perfectionism and finding activities that help you disconnect from work stress
• Career movement: Balancing staying loyal to build relationships versus moving around for diverse experience
• Project completion: Learning that "shots are never finished, only abandoned" and creating reels for clients, not other designers
• Communication: The importance of over-communication and setting clear boundaries to avoid misunderstandings
• Collaboration mindset: Shifting from "the artist" to being a collaborator with clients

Submit your anonymous motion design stories for next month's episode! Whether they're client horror stories, heartwarming collaborations, or industry insights - we want to hear them all. Submit at: https://form.jotform.com/251874068207057

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠⁠
• 
  
• ⁠Jen's VO Reels
• I Make Ugly Pancakes Cooking Channel
• Creative Mornings

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host EJ Brieva leads an open discussion about how motion designers recharge and find creative inspiration outside of screen time.

This episode covers:

• Ways to recharge: From morning walks in nature to changing work environments, hear tips on how to rejuvenate without breaking the bank. 
• The return to physical crafts: Designers are picking up bookbinding, leather work, origami, and other hands-on hobbies as a break from digital work.
• Creative trends and pressures: How spaces are becoming more personal and colorful (moving away from minimalism), plus dealing with the pressure to document every project on social media.
• Decision-making insights: Why limiting choices and committing to decisions leads to greater satisfaction.
• Market predictions: How AI might drive increased demand for handmade items on platforms like Etsy.

Submit your anonymous motion design stories for next month's episodes! Client stories, industry insights, and heartwarming collaborations can all be submitted at: https://form.jotform.com/251874068207057.

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠
• 
  
• Jen's VO Reels
• Jake B's Office Tour

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host EJ Brieva welcomes everyone back from summer break to kick off Season 10 with an open discussion, allowing the community to reconnect and share updates from their time away.

This episode includes:

• Entrepreneurial journeys: Community members sharing experiences building social media presence and creative businesses, with insights into beating algorithms, sustainable content creation, and planning for streaming-based community building
• Professional rebranding: Discussion of comprehensive rebranding processes including strategy, messaging, and visual identity development through structured courses
• Conference experiences: Detailed discussions about recent industry events like Dash Bash, including the value of workshops for networking warmup, the challenge of managing time with 400+ attendees, and comparing different event formats
• The "not enough" struggle: Deep conversations about creative burnout, perfectionism, and toxic hustle culture affecting freelancers, with practical coping strategies like recognizing patterns and taking strategic breaks
• International collaboration challenges: Navigating miscommunication about project scope and strategies for recovering from overselling situations
• Decision paralysis solutions: Addressing the struggle with too many creative directions and exploring solutions using randomization tools, 30-day focus periods, and structured scheduling to overcome choice overwhelm
• AI as creative assistant: Brainstorming how artificial intelligence might help with decision-making and project prioritization based on personal patterns and market analysis
• Community collaboration ideas: Plans for voice-over character design challenges and featuring more community work in newsletters and social media

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠
• Sam’s Links
• Reece Parker
• The Brief Collective

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss speaks with Kaho Yoshida, an award-winning director and animator with a special passion for stop motion and mixed media animation, based in Vancouver and represented by Jelly.

This episode includes:

* Kaho's experience working with representation through Jelly, including how the relationship formed and the benefits of having agency support as a woman of color in the industry

* The creation of her acclaimed personal short film "Tongue," inspired by her experience as an immigrant Asian woman in Canada and her complicated relationship with language and identity

* Her approach to mixed media animation, combining stop motion elements (like plasticine tongues and resin saliva) with 2D cell animation for both creative and practical reasons

* The challenge of self-funding personal projects while balancing commercial work, and how "Tongue" led to festival recognition including 25+ festival selections

* Her recent work on a YouTube Doodle featuring origami animation, and how personal projects help artists get noticed for commercial opportunities

* Insights into client education around stop motion production, the importance of detailed pre-production, and managing expectations around revisions

* Her talk at Playground Festival about overcoming imposter syndrome by exploring the question "Why me?" with curiosity rather than self-doubt

* The value of finding supportive communities like Panimation for underrepresented voices in animation

* Advice for aspiring animators: "Make something that you want to get paid to make, because people don't know that you can make that thing unless you make it"

HEADS UP! Monday Meetings will be taking a hiatus for the month of June and returning in July. We'll see you when we get back for SEASON 10!

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other insightful conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠

• Kaho's "Tongue" short
• Kaho's "Yoodle"
• Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss chats with Danni Fisher-Shin, an art director, animator, and illustrator who recently joined Apple after years of freelancing and studio work in Los Angeles.

This episode includes:

* Danni's career journey from studying fashion design to discovering animation and motion graphics at Otis College

* How Danni became known as "the Procreate girl" through her work with the digital art app, creating animations and teaching on Skillshare

* The experience of transitioning from freelance to a full-time animator role at Apple, following years of independent collaborations with the company

* Insights into Danni's creative process and how her Asian-American identity influences her artistic expression

* Stories about pioneering animation pipelines for projects with Apple and Scholar studio, including music videos for artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Maren Morris

* Danni's approach to selling physical merchandise at conventions and art fairs, creating a tangible extension of her digital artwork

* Thoughts on navigating burnout by switching creative mediums and maintaining a playful approach to making art

* Advice on finding your artistic voice by being authentic and creating work that reflects your true experiences

Next week we will have Kaho Yoshida an award winning director and animator, with a special passion for stop motion and mixed media!

Join us for our next Game Night, Wednesday, May 28th at 7PM Pacific/10PM Eastern on Discord!

Keep an eye out for this week's newsletter, and HEADS UP -Monday Meetings will be taking a break in June before returning in July for Season 10!

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other insightful conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠
• ⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠
• 
  
• Ryan Summers on F9 w/ Vishal
• We Are Playgrounds
• Danni Fisher-Shin

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss continues our discussion about identity in the context of branding and motion design for multiple niches.

This episode includes:

* Whether to niche down or stay general in your creative business

* Personal branding strategies for motion designers 

* How to communicate your value to clients unfamiliar with motion design

* Building community over simply growing a following

* Staying updated with industry changes without chasing every trend

* Networking and building credibility both online and in-person

* Creating personal projects that demonstrate your skills while developing your voice

* Using newsletters and content curation to establish yourself in your niche

Next week's guest is still being confirmed.

Join the upcoming Gartic Phone game night on May 28th at 7pm PST/ 10pm EST. Link in our Discord!

Keep an eye out for the next newsletter that's dropping this week!

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other insightful conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠
• 
  
• Tessa Ugalde
• Jen Van Horn
• Lee Smalt
• Kons Eydelman
• Gary V's Business Growth Strategies
• Good Brief IO
• Behance/Adobe Career Resources

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Kendall Hotchkiss leads an open discussion exploring the nuances of identity and branding in motion design.

This episode includes:

• Insights on when to refresh your brand identity, explaining that small tweaks like copywriting adjustments or logo refreshes can be made without a complete rebrand when targeting a new audience

• The importance of aligning your brand with your core values and using experimentation to find what works for your audience

• Discussion about creating a comprehensive branding style guide with colors, fonts, and voice tone for professional client communication

• The concept of "Story Brand" as a resource for developing brand identity beyond just visuals

• Exploration of brand archetypes and how they can be used to position yourself in the marketplace

• The difference between personal branding and client branding, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and storytelling in both

• Advice on navigating multiple specialties and interests as a creative without diluting your personal brand

• Tips for freelancers on approaching client communications authentically while speaking their language.

Next week's guest is still being confirmed. The Monday Meeting newsletter will be published later this month with opportunities for listener spotlights and community participation. 

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other insightful conversations from the motion design community!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠

• The Brief Collective
• Storybrand
• Dash Bash 2023 Macaela VanderMost Presentation
• Creator Science episode (Chase Jarvis)
• Creator Science episode (Successor Question)
• BlinkMyBrain
• Dash Bash 2023 Ariel Costa Presentation
• Kon’s Website
• F9 Collective (Wednesday 9:30am MT) Talk with Ryan Summers
• SNL Skit about US Metrics

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt welcomes creative director Jason Jacobson to discuss the art of pitching unconventional ideas and finding the courage to present concepts that push boundaries.
This episode includes:

• Jason's 20-year journey from copywriter to creative director, and how his experience with improv comedy has shaped his approach to pitching creative concepts
• The value of the "chicken wing construct" - presenting ideas in escalating levels of boldness to gradually build client comfort with more adventurous concepts
• Why presenting multiple ideas is essential, with Jason noting "2/3 of my ideas are going to be cut, and that's okay" - creating resilience against rejection
• Insights on psychology in pitching, including using premium options to make middle-tier options more appealing to clients
• The power of creating interactive experiences that invite audience participation, like installations that turn passive viewers into active participants
• Thought-provoking examples of successful bizarre pitches, including a concept featuring a pet camel that resonated surprisingly well with a technical college audience
• The reminder that "no one remembers controversy after two years" - encouragement to take creative risks in a world of short attention spans
  Next week kicks off the new theme of "Identity" with Kendall Hotchkiss hosting a discussion on how identity relates to illustration and branding in motion design.

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other resources from the motion design community, and sign up for the newsletter to stay connected with upcoming events and discussions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠
• Jason’s book: “Buried in Beige”
• The Unfinished Swan Game

In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Lee Smalt leads an open discussion about pitching creative ideas, with valuable insights on pricing strategies and client relationships that help motion designers win projects.

This episode includes:

• Practical strategies for setting price ranges rather than fixed rates, and how to effectively anchor pricing to shape client expectations
• The psychology of tiered pricing options and why clients typically gravitate toward middle packages
• Creative approaches to preventing scope creep with overage costs and deadline push fees
• Candid conversations about the challenge of valuing your work appropriately and avoiding the common trap of underpricing
• Insights on communicating the value of pre-production work when clients resist paying for this critical planning phase
• Comparisons of project management tools like Google Slides, Miro, and Notion for enhancing client communication
• Different perspectives on whether displaying pricing on websites helps filter leads or limits opportunities

The Monday Meeting community is hosting a game night this Wednesday (event info below in our Discord), and next week Lee will be sharing crazy pitch stories with Creative Director Jason Jacobson. Listeners are encouraged to join and share their own experiences.

Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other resources, including the newsletter that was recently launched. Tickets for Camp Mograph are now available!

SHOW NOTES:

• ⁠Monday Meeting Patreon⁠
• ⁠Monday Meeting Discord⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Instagram⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Bluesky⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Newsletter⁠
• ⁠MondayMeeting Game Night⁠
• 
  
• ⁠Camp Mograph⁠

• Chris Do’s Pricing Video

• Shea Lord's course
• Motion Hatch's Pricing Course
• Deducers
• Get Write On it Interactive Pricing Guide
• Illustration pricing guide book/Graphic
• Artists Guild Handbook
• Vishal’s Notion Project Template