Interview with Motion Designer, ‘Jr.canest’.

“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, Are the ones who do.” -Think Different

Name: Jorge R. Canedo Estrada

Hometown: Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia (1990) and living in Monterrey, Mexico since 2005.

Occupation: Motion Designer

Website: www.jrcanest.com

How long did it take to create the project that earned you a scholarship at VFS?

It’s a very common question, and now that I think about it it was pretty fast… there was not as much process as I would have liked to have. in total it took like 4 full weeks, first developing the script, recording my voice (with funny accent) with my brother, creating the music, I used garageband for that one, yeah!… some really rough thumbnails to have an idea, representing what I was saying in the script in images and then using After Effects maybe for the 4th time and uploading it.

If you ask me right now If I like that video I would say this: the only thing I would keep it would be the script and maybe the music… I had no sense of design there, now I’m really starting and trying to have one and really understanding design… quite different than just knowing how to use certain software.

What Matters to You? – Jr.canest /  Entry for VFS Competition

What was your first reaction when you found out you’ve won?

I think I had a part time job back then, it was the summer break and I was working when the school called so my brother answered… when I got home they told me that “someone” had called from Vancouver and wanted to talk to me personally… “This must be from the scholarship!” I thought, so they left a number so I could call them and I did so… it was from Vancouver Film School and they wanted to give me the notice that I was one of the 3 winners for the full scholarship… “WHAT!? SHOOT!!!” I screamed, I was so excited, I couldn’t believe it… I called my mom, friends… it was crazy… I knew this one opportunity that God had gave to me so… it was just amazing.

In a 7 word sentence, explain, how was your first year at VFS?

A.life.changing.awesome.freaking.amazing.blessing.

How do you come up with ideas for your projects?

That one is a tricky question… I think every “designer” has certain habits to come with an idea but in reality, I think ideas just com when they need to come, they just pop up in your head after something… and idea is a consequence of what you have thinking of, studying, watching, dreaming, and so on… but personally I like to listen to music, find cool stuff all over the place, meet people, read a lot of blog feeds, watch TED, get involved with the subject to solve and then just escape from everything, go to the park or for a long walk and try to rest for a second… sometimes the idea comes, sometimes it doesn’t… sometimes I make myself to tell someone, “hey I have an idea for that” and when they ask “what is it!?” I have to improvise because I really didn’t have any idea and sometimes it turns out pretty cool.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hard one… I would like to be a great designer, with more than one degree and maybe mastering something related, doing what I love with the ones I love… traveling a lot around the world and maybe thinking of openning my own design house and taking it to different places like Bolivia… where design is just starting and also being involved with the same company in social causes.

Is there anyone you look up to?

More than one, big thinkers and radical people… I can’t start the list but I can the tell you that is the people that is willing to go against what the world is and doing what they were called to do.

What are you currently working on?

There are a couple projects right now as a freelance and waiting for an opportunity as a internship in a great design company.

5 Things that you just NEED in order to design ( or work )

besides the normal tools from pen to a computer I would say… Music, fun environment, Music, sometimes coffee and Music.

What gives you inspiration?

simply everything.

Do you have a favorite project you’ve done?

Maybe the one that was more significant for what I am right now would be my first one, the one that took me to Vancouver but the Crazy Enough Title sequence I made, telling the story of my life with simple shapes is definitely up there, it’s very “me”… I was also fortunate to be a finalist in the Adobe Design Achievement Awards in Beijing for that one.

In your opinion, what makes a good digital designer?

A good designer is the one that creates good design, at the end, good design is not just about aesthetics… If you found the best solution for certain problem and you applied that with your knowledge I think is a good design, design has an objective and not just to be beautiful… that would be art… design, for me, is create art with certain objective and if we are able to do this then we are good designer.

If you couldn’t be an artist, what would you like to be?

an artist is everyone that creates art… I think is impossible to NOT be an artist… but if you are talking about this specific area of art… I would love to be a musician.

Crazy Enough [Title Sequence] by Jr.canest