Get Your Shit Together
Let’s face it, being a designer and animator is hard. Especially when you’re just starting out. It takes years to craft your style and technique. Even after all of those late nights and oddball projects begin to pay off and your work starts to catch up to your trained eye, there's one more thing to tackle so no one can call you an "Amateur" ever again...You have to get your shit together.
The way you structure and name your files might just be the biggest tip of the hat that you’re still a rookie. It wasn't until I landed a job as a designer/animator at CMT in Nashville that I really learned what it meant to be organized. From naming conventions to folder structures, I learned that everything had a place and a name. For the first several weeks it was hard and frustrating, that was until I opened the hood on my coworker’s after effects project. It was like a light bulb went off. It was clean, it made sense and assets were easy to find and in the right place.
So whether you’re an independent artist, or a rookie fresh off the farm working with a team for the first time, the information gathered on this page might just save you a couple years, a few headaches and that next big gig.
Justin McClure, Owner/ECD — Justin McClure Creative
How Justin McClure Creative Gets Their Shit Together
All assets are free! Just click download and enjoy. We hope you share so everyone can GYST!
Project Folder Structure
Project Naming Convensions
After Effects Folder Script
See How Other Pros Get Their Shit Together
And download their folder structures, after effects organization scripts, and naming conventions
Brian Everett
Creative Director — National Geographic Channels
Brian Everett is currently the Creative Director of Design for the National Geographic Channels in Washington, DC. His primary responsibilities include the branding of TV shows, events, & other channel priorities through the use of motion graphics, digital, & print design. He oversees a talented group of in-house designers and often collaborates with top-teir talent within the creative industry. He previously worked as the Design Director for Syfy/Chiller in NYC
Erica Gorochow
Owner - Peprally
Erica Gorochow honed her craft as a freelancer in New York. She now runs PepRally, a creative studio specializing in illustration-based motion design for established and emerging screens. Clients include VH1, P&G and Red Bull as well as musicians including Rihanna and Mac Miller. Her work has been recognized by Vimeo Festival, Fast Co. Design and AdWeek. She has written about the world of motion design for The Creators Project and Motionographer and has been an adjunct professor at NYU’s ITP graduate program.
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Hasraf Dulull
Writer / Director
HaZ is a Visual Effects Creative and Director in the Motion Pictures Industry. He has been nominated for several Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards for his Visual Effects Supervision work. He transitioned into Writing Directing with his sci-fi short - 'Project Kronos' earning him representation and status as an emerging filmmaker. Following Kronos, HaZ released two proof of concept short films (SYNC and IRIS) which he wrote, produced and directed. He is currently developing a slate of original feature film and TV properties.
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Moses Journey
Animation Director - Buck
Moses Journey was brought up in a deeply artistic household and began his creative pursuits at an early age. By the end of high school, he had built several websites, worked as a technical adviser for professional artists, and presented twice at Siggraph. In 2002, he graduated from UCLA's Design|Media Arts department and dove head-first into the budding field of motion graphics. Journey worked as a freelance animator for several years before becoming an art director at the boutique motion graphics studio National Television. In 2010 he took a staff position at the acclaimed design and animation firm, Buck, and now works there as an animation director.
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David Bennett
Sr. Creative Director, On-Air Design — CMT
David has over 18 years of motion design experience. As Sr. Design Director for CMT On-Air Design, David leads the Nashville based in-house design team along with many external collaborators. Together they are responsible for the creation of a range of show logos, show graphics packages, promo packages and campaigns, secondary messaging, and live event screens content. David and his team have developed and organized ways of working with other talented artists from all over the country and is a huge attribute to why this page was created.
Jonathan Winbush
Owner — Winbush
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jonathan Winbush has become a recognized figure in both the design and animation side of motion graphics in the Los Angeles area. Winbush has created campaigns for My Little Pony, Warner Bros, Ellen, Nike, Red Bull, Jaguar as well as making complete motion graphics packages for shows on Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, BET, History, A&E and CW.
Harry Frank
Motion Designer & Visual Effects Artist
Harry is an influential motion graphics designer, effects artist, training author, programmer and community leader. When he's not developing new software products, he's creating visual effects and providing training content. As a training and tutorial author, Harry is always thinking about new ideas, techniques and concepts for the motion design / visual effects communities.