Visual Design Expert Sofia Garcia on the Fast-Moving Field of Motion Design

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Motion design is a fast-growing and innovative field that many visual designers would love to work in. However, starting and advancing a career in the industry is no easy task. Succeeding in motion design requires persistence, skill, and a sincere passion for the field.

As motion designer Sofia Garcia explains, “It can take hours of work for just a few brief moments of screentime. It’s hard work, but when you feel it all come together, you know it’s worth it.” She hopes to inspire other visual designers to take the leap and pursue their dreams of joining this exciting new field.

Pursuing Her Dream Career in Motion Design

Sofia Garcia is an expert in visual design with an enduring passion for branding and motion. She has pursued a hybrid of both interests ever since she graduated from college. With experience in art direction and graphic design, she creates brands from scratch, taking charge of rebranding, promotional videos, and social media creation. 

Costa Rican by birth, Garcia moved to Savannah, GA in 2016 to pursue a career in motion media. After graduating from SCAD with a double major in Motion Media and Advertising, she moved to Chicago to start her professional career as an Art Director for acclaimed agency Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), one of the largest international advertising agencies in the world.

After a couple of years there, she decided to follow her passion for motion design and transition to the entertainment industry. She moved to LA and began applying for different roles in the field. She has since worked with a wide range of major brands, including McDonald’s, Poise, Janssen, Netflix, Hulu, CNN+, and HBO Max. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she works as a motion designer for Sid Lee, a global creative services agency specializing in brand-building, design, communications, and customer experiences.

In some of her most notable work, Garcia served as lead Art Director for Poise’s “Leaked Secrets of Motherhood” project and created motion design pieces to promote the launch of the new Hulu show, “The Dropout.”

Adapting to Change and Surmounting Difficulty

Garcia has faced many challenges as an international living and working in the US. “At times, it was challenging to adapt to a new culture on top of building my new career,” she recalls. “It takes a while to find your footing in a new place, but when you’re making connections and searching for opportunities, you need to be confident, clear, and self-sufficient.” She also struggled to break through the hierarchical structure of the entertainment industry. With so many established designers, it can be difficult to find your footing and make your voice heard.

For people starting out in the design field, she recommends chasing your passion. “It can be tough at first, because it’s not the easiest field to succeed at; it takes a lot of effort and passion to get to a point where you feel happy and fulfilled,” she says. Her advice is to try different things, see what you like, decide where you want to be in a few years, and go for it. 

Motion Design is On the Rise

According to Garcia, motion design may play a pivotal role in the future of tech. Though the field is relatively new, the emergence of new technologies and social media has amplified the spread of motion design across a wide range of visual media, including TV, movies, advertisements, UX, and more.

Motion design is becoming more complex and more accessible thanks to programs like After Effects, Cinema 4D, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and Adobe Illustrator, all of which Garcia has become proficient in after years of daily use. “You have to get comfortable with these programs if you want to work in the field, but at the same time, you have to stay flexible,” Garcia says. “New updates or new programs can quickly change the way you work, and to keep up with the industry, you need to stay up-to-date on the best tools.”

Garcia claims that these advancements in technology are leading to higher expectations among audiences and consumers. “It isn’t enough for your work to be smooth and stylish; it needs to be bold and eye-catching. It should grab your attention and hold it tight.” Garcia’s dedication and unique creative style have allowed her to find her footing in the motion design industry.

From Social Media Motion Design to Silver Screen Title Sequences

Garcia hopes to one day utilize her skills in motion design to create unforgettable title sequences for film and TV. This has been a passion and career goal of hers for many years. “Title sequences can set the tone for the whole film,” Garcia explains. They’re a lot more important than people often think about.

If you want to start your film or episode off in a bold and unforgettable way, to get people excited and invested in the next several hours of your story, a motion designer can do some pretty amazing things with just a few names and titles.” With her work already being sought by major brands to market their products and platforms, Hollywood is likely to come knocking any day now. As for Garcia, she’s just happy to be along for the ride.

Learn more about Sofia Garcia’s work on her official website at http://www.sofiagarciar.com.

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