Takeover Tuesday with Matea Lo
Q&A with Matea Lo, a freelance motion designer, illustrator, and AE animator.
Q&A with Matea Lo
Read time: 5min
Madison Caprara:
Hey, Matea! Why don’t you take a second to introduce yourself?
Matea Lo:
Hi! I’m a freelance designer, illustrator, and AE animator. I’ve been working in the Motion Design industry for around five years.
Madison Caprara:
So ‘Meat,’ huh? Where did that nickname stem from if you don’t mind me asking?
Matea Lo:
I was in a group chat and my buddy was struggling to type my name. “Matea” quickly autocorrected to “Meat” and it somehow stuck!
Madison Caprara:
So funny! Love a nickname with a story.
What did your journey into the industry look like?
Matea Lo:
I studied Art and Design in college without an understanding of what motion graphics really was. My school introduced their first mograph course my senior year and I instantly fell in love.
Madison Caprara:
From an outsider’s perspective, how would you describe your style of works?
Matea Lo:
While I try to push myself to explore different styles, I would say my aesthetic is warm and painterly.
Madison Caprara:
“Warm and painterly.” I like that a lot. Perfect description!
Was there anything in particular that really helped to solidify your look?
Matea Lo:
Early on I would spend hours of my day scouring galleries on Vimeo. You naturally pick up on different techniques after consuming a lot of content. I think what solidified my illustration style was creating heaps of artwork. Everything I drew was ugly compared to the artists I admired. It was extremely disheartening, but after a lot of trial and error, atrocious color palettes, and stray photoshop layers, I was finally proud of my work. Ira Glass’s “The Gap” perfectly describes this.
Madison Caprara:
I’m pretty sure I’ve read about this topic. The difference between having good taste and doing good work, yes? A majority of professional creatives get into their industry because they have pretty superior aesthetic taste, but that doesn’t mean they will be great at translating it in the beginning.
So, design, illustration, and animation. Quite the skillset! Which would you say is your favorite medium? Why?
Matea Lo:
This might be cheating, but it’s probably illustrative motion design. I loved puzzles as a kid and I think the process of animating a static scene requires a similar form of problem-solving. Working digitally also gives you a lot of room to experiment and make mistakes.
Madison Caprara:
No wrong answers here!
Digital work is a bit more forgiving, I imagine. I have a friend who is the most amazing painter; Huge, naturalistic-styled works. More than once I’ve seen her punch a hole through her canvas for one faulty brush stroke.
Madison Caprara:
You graduated from Pratt Institute, looking back on your college experience, what was the most important lesson you have learned?
Matea Lo:
I actually got my BFA at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Because Madison’s Art Department was fine arts-focused, there weren't a lot of resources for design students. It taught me that you have to be a self-starter to thrive in a professional creative space. Later, I sought out a motion graphics certificate from Pratt because I wanted to learn more about animation.
Madison Caprara:
My mistake!
So, you’ve worked with many high-profile clients. In your experience, what is the essential ingredient to a successful ongoing client relationship?
Mateo Lo:
It’s important to be honest in communicating how much time a task will take. Luckily I’ve worked with a lot of great producers to help mediate that process. I think an essential ingredient in any relationship is to be kind and understanding. Everyone on the team is probably stressed. Being someone who is easy to work with really goes a long way!
Madison Caprara:
Who has been your absolute favorite client to work with?
Matea Lo:
My favorite client was Athletes Unlimited. I had the opportunity to lead the design and animation of their Every Moment Counts series. From storyboards to animatic to animation, it was the smoothest process I’ve experienced. It was also really fun to listen to the athletes’ stories and bring them to life.
Madison Caprara:
…and what has been one of your most challenging assignments?
Matea Lo:
One that stands out was a piece called Living Street Art. Our team of three was tasked to animate and composite a 40 foot, 42 screen mural for Google’s Chicago office. It was a huge undertaking but extremely satisfying to experience the final product in person. It taught me a lot about rigging, compositing, and painful render times.
Madison Caprara:
I’m getting very strong Where the Wild Things Are vibes from this one. Big fan!
Now, do you approach creating client work differently than the works you produce for your own personal projects?
Matea Lo:
I try to treat my personal projects like client work. I’ll set a loose timeline for myself and various goals to hit along the way. Having a deadline to post on social media gives me a sense of accountability.
Madison Caprara:
Where do you go for inspiration? I ask this in every Takeover Tuesday interview, it may be getting a little stale, but it’s my favorite. Everyone’s answer varies.
Matea Lo:
Besides the obvious Motionographer, Pinterest, Vimeo, and Instagram, I try to push myself to consume work outside of the industry too. I’ve found inspiration from museums, film, animal videos on Reddit, and random photos I’ve saved to my phone.
Madison Caprara:
What does the rest of 2021 look like for you? It’s hard to believe, but we’re already more than halfway through the year. Is there anything special we can look forward to seeing from you?
Matea Lo:
I’m leaving my staff job of three years to freelance full-time this summer. It’s a daunting transition but I’m excited for new challenges and creative opportunities!
Madison Caprara:
A congratulation is definitely in order! Good luck with your next chapter. That’s so exciting!
Well, we’re reaching the end here, Matea. Do you have any closing advice or statements you would like to share?
Matea Lo:
Yes! I know everyone says it, but create the work you want to do to get the jobs you want! Most are not glamorous but if you can find time to make art you’re passionate about, those opportunities will come along. If you light up when you’re talking about work you’re proud of, that excitement will be contagious.