Takeover Tuesday with Bárbara Nozari
Wrapping up our Women’s History Month's, Takeover Tuesday’s is Bárbara Nozari! Bárbara is a motion designer and character animator based in Brazil.
Q&A with Bárbara Nozari
Read time: 5min
Animation by Bárbara Nozari.
Why did you choose your profession?
I don't have a specific answer to that. Motion design was something that piqued my interest, I soon realized I didn't want to do anything else.
How did you go about starting out?
I had studied advertising in college, I thought I would work as an art director in some advertising agency. At some point, I started as an intern at a web tv company. I did everything; graphic design, short scripts, filming, editing. After that internship, I got a job in broadcast television as a film editor while making some broadcast identity and animation packages on the side. My interest in animation grew and I started to study more (I was always a self-learner). From there, I started to nail some animation jobs and never stopped.
“(women’s history month) represents a month to remember that we women are very strong. that we’ve gotten more rights and equality through struggle. that this fight must not stop.”
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
To me, it represents a month to remember that we women are very strong. That we’ve gotten more rights and equality through struggle. That this fight must not stop.
Why is it significant in 2021, particularly?
Even in the 21st century we still see a lot of gender inequality, violence against women, and cultural rights that benefit only men while punishing women.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love creating things. Being able to experiment with shapes, styles, colors, and ideas; to look at all that and smile is what makes me happy.
What would you change?
The industries of illustration, animation, and cinema have always been very masculine. I never knew the reason, but fortunately, this has begun to change. Today we can see a greater diversity of gender and ethnicity. If I could, I would change the fact that a creative’s sex, gender, ethnicity, etc. doesn't matter when landing a job, but the quality of work alone.
Tell me about a woman you look up to and why.
I admire my mother. She is a very wise, strong woman. As a child, she was poor but always struggled to work hard. She taught me right from wrong.
“I love creating things. being able to experiment with shapes, styles, colors, and ideas; to look at all that and smile is what makes me happy.”
What’s the best career (or life) advice you have received?
I never received any advice, but I always tell my eldest daughter that she should choose a profession or job that will make her happy. This is the most important thing for me.
Do you have any advice for young women first starting out in this industry?
For the girls who are just starting out, I tell them not to be afraid to hear “no” or to hear heavy criticism. Use this to better your work and always study, because nobody but yourself will teach you how to do things.
Do you currently prioritize your work-life balance? If so, how?
I try to prioritize having a balance. This makes me both work harder on the job and acknowledge happy moments when I'm with my family or doing a hobby.
I like to organize my schedules to always keep my commitments and activities at consistently set times. And when I have to work late, I always talk to my children so that they understand.
Animation and Script by Bárbara Nozari.
What barriers are women still facing in the industry? How do you think they can go about breaking them down?
We still see more men than women in animation studios and in advertising agencies. In order to change this scenario, we as women have to show ourselves more, publicize our work, expand our network, and refer other women whenever we can.
“…not to be afraid to hear ‘no’ or to hear heavy criticism. use this to better your work and always study, because nobody but yourself will teach you how to do things.”
Where do you go for inspiration?
Sometimes the inspiration comes from my children's games, or maybe from a landscape I saw. Mostly, it comes from normal things seen throughout my day.
Any closing points, advice, or statement you would like to share?
Don't be ashamed of who you are, where you come from, and what makes you happy.
“we still see more men than women in animation studios and in advertising agencies…we as women have to show ourselves more, publicize our work, expand our network, and refer other women whenever we can.”
Animation by Bárbara Nozari.