It’s time for another young urban professional interview. Today’s subject is the illustrious Eric Armstrong. Eric grew up in Pennsylvania, survived Brigham Young University and now he hangs his hat in California. A man without a coast you could say. He received a degree in animation from BYU and is now working as a freelance motion designer for local animation studios and businesses. We caught up with him to get the scoop on careers in animation and design.
My Colleges and Careers: We know you are way too cool for a formality like a job title, but if you had to paint yourself into a corner like that what would yours be?
Motion Design Consultant
My Colleges and Careers: What projects have you worked on?
I’ve worked on projects with Sprite, CISCO, Coke, FLO TV, various bands, and a couple of other super sicky dope clients that I’m not legally allowed to even talk about it.
My Colleges and Careers: What is different about your career than you expected?
Considering the economic times, it’s a little more cut-throat than I thought it would be. People with fifteen years professional experience are floating around in the freelance market because they’ve lost their jobs and I’ve got to compete with them coming right out of college.
My Colleges and Careers: Do you feel like you were prepared when you left college?
Yes and no. Yes: the computer animation program is set up to teach you how to recognize a problem and solve it - there are far too too too many things to learn to enter the industry by only mimicking what a teacher shows you. (side note: to all the people that mimic andrew kramer’s tutorials - you’re not fooling any potential employers.) No: BYU failed to mention that everyone is going to try and screw you over… hard.
My Colleges and Careers: What do you love about your job?
Making things look sexy.
What do you hate about your job?
I dislike not knowing if I’m going to have work after I finish my short term contracts. It’s scary.
My Colleges and Careers: Do you have to do continuing education in your job? Is it important you keep up with the industry? How and Why?
I am always trying to learn something new. I have a lot of very complicated computer programs that I work with and there is always something new to learn about them or some new shortcut to getting to the same end that will save you hours. It’s not about working really hard. It’s about working really smart. Art and culture are constantly evolving - the idea is to not keep up, but to lead. Because if I don’t do it, someone else will. I’m expendable and I never forget that.
My Colleges and Careers: How would you like your career to advance over the next 20 years?
I want to run my own studio / record label and with the cash money I want to own a hotel somewhere tropical. Dream big. Work hard.
My Colleges and Careers: What types of personalities do the best in your field? What types of people should not go into your industry?
Selfish people aren’t invited. You’re gonna get told what to do a lot so if you’ve got an ego - check it at the door. Come hungry and come to work.
For more information about animation degrees visit My Colleges and Careers.