Hey Dan! Can you tell us a bit about you and what’s your role at Buff?
Hi, I’m Daniel Stewart, and I’m a motion designer at Buff. I currently focus on 3D motion, having stepped up to take on more responsibility after our previous motion designer left. It was a significant role to fill and a great opportunity for growth. Alongside that, I also work in 2D whenever possible.
What’s the most exciting part of your job as a motion designer?
The early stages of a project are exciting, especially when we are developing style frames and style development. I enjoy throwing ideas around and seeing what sticks as a process, before the idea and style is finalised. But I also enjoy having a variety of projects, because there’s a broad range of things to work on, not just projects confined to one style.
What has it been like working at Buff?
Initially, for the first few months, I was trying to keep up. Because I'm self-taught, there were things I hadn't covered, which I felt resulted in some gaps in my knowledge. I had to work hard to improve because the standards are so high, but over time, as long as you apply yourself, you can get up to scratch.
The team is also really nice and the vibes are different compared to other places I've been in. The management team is great and there isn't a strict hierarchy, so everyone's opinion feels valued.
Has there been a standout experience so far since you’ve joined?
A standout experience for me was when we had a company retreat in May when we stayed at a nice big house for a few days. It had a hot tub, good food, and cocktails - that was really cool. But generally, it's the vibe and culture of the studio that stands out, rather than just a specific project.
How did you know this is what you wanted to do?
So here’s a potted history of my life: When I was younger, I was really into music and worked in a guitar shop. But I quickly realised I wasn't going to make much of a living from that, so I pivoted to graphic design. I managed to get good enough to eventually land a job, where I ended up doing general graphic design, website design, and motion work.
In 2019, I started getting more motion work, which led me to move to London and take on even more motion design projects. Since then, I’ve focused almost exclusively on motion design, though I still do some general design work from time to time. Sometimes I handle design tasks, usually involving 3D, but often the designs are provided by others, such as Margo or directly from a client. In those cases, it’s enjoyable to focus purely on animation without having to worry about creating the design itself.
But in terms of how I got into motion… I suppose it just worked out that way! I didn't initially set out to become a Motion Designer up to a certain point. I learned mostly through tutorials on YouTube and other sites like Skillshare. It wasn't structured learning, it was just where my mind took me. That's why I mentioned there are gaps in my knowledge, particularly within the fundamentals. It was mostly random stuff, except for a paid subscription for learning, and it eventually worked out, but it took a while.
