What a whirlwind this semester has been. No one could’ve predicted the way that the semester would sadly end, I certainly didn’t think I would be completing my project during a global pandemic. It has definitely been the hardest semester of my degree, and I have really struggled with finding the motivation to work when it seems like there are much more important things going on in the world.
My project did not end up as full as I wanted, but I must remind myself to give myself a break, I have in fact still accomplished a lot (although I do wish I prioritised this project a bit more at the start of the semester when I was busy writing my dissertation).
I am proud of the work I have managed to finish this semester, and from this all I have learned a lot about my working processes.
- Not having a full plan is okay, have some ideas and just be creative, it doesn’t necessarily end badly.
- I can actually work with colour schemes that aren’t based around white and CMYK. Previously I was almost afraid to step out of this box because I was worried about my work not looking coherent, but I have found it really fun to experiment with different styles.
- Obviously, it’s great to develop and change your ideas, but sometimes your first idea can be your favourite and that’s okay.
- There is still a whole world of Cinema 4D that I don’t understand, but that is okay, I will likely always be learning new tools and techniques.
- Not everything in Cinema 4D has to be 3D, it has some awesome toon shading that I should use more often to make some 2D motion graphics work.
- I should experiment more with After Effects, I got taken up in the whirlwind of 3D and brushed After Effects off as ‘easy’ last semester, but this semester has reminded me why I love motion graphics and shown me that I still have so much more to learn in After Effects.
Jennie Hawkes 