A Day in the Life of an Art Director and Motion Designer at Apple
John's workday as an Art Director & Motion Designer at Apple, once solely in-person, now involves remote "team syncs" to maintain project alignment, with "a bit of downtime" for creative work followed by post-lunch check-ins to ensure progress, a change necessitated by and beneficial to the remote work environment. This approach allows for greater flexibility while maintaining productivity through diligent communication, highlighting the importance of "start[ing] and end[ing] the day with communication".
Teamwork, Communication, Project Management, Remote Work, Creative Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
John Robson
Art Director & Motion Designer
Apple
UCSB
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Creative
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. A typical day involves a team sync to discuss project updates and ensure everyone is on the same page.
2. There's dedicated time for creative work, with check-ins with artists and the team to monitor progress and offer support.
3. Remote work flexibility allows for better work-life balance, accommodating personal appointments and family needs, although it requires more communication to maintain productivity and keep projects on track.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of an art director and motion designer look like?
It's changed a lot since the pandemic started. It used to be a job that could only be done in person, going to a studio, starting your day, maybe grabbing coffee, and having a meeting with the team.
We pretty much do the same thing remotely. It usually starts with a team sync so we can talk with everyone working on our project and make sure we're all in sync with what we're doing for the day and the week.
Then there's usually a bit of downtime to focus on creative work. Typically, we'll check in with artists and the rest of the team after lunch to make sure things are on track, especially on days when people are working remotely.
I think it requires a little more vigilance, both from a team leader and an artist, to make sure work gets done. We're at home, and there are a lot of other distractions.
But it's also great because people with kids, or if someone has an appointment, they can go and do it. Back in the day, it would have been more difficult if you're working in a studio and have to cut time out for that.
Ultimately, it's good to start and end our day with communication to make sure we know where everyone is and what our goals are for the next day.