Levelled Up in Motion: Anna Sobieniak.

For the third instalment of our Levelled Up in Motion series, we’re spotlighting Anna Sobieniak, a seasoned designer who’s been running her own freelance business for the past decade. With over 15 years of experience in graphic design, Anna decided it was time to expand her skill set and embrace the growing importance of motion in the industry.

In this interview, Anna reflects on her early journey from fine arts to graphic design, why she chose to return to study motion after so many years in the field, and how Shillington’s Motion for Graphic Designers course challenged her to think dynamically, push her creative process, and bring her static work to life.

Hey Anna! Let’s rewind a little… What first drew you into the world of design?

I was artistic from a young age–always drawing, sketching, painting. When I entered high school art class was by far my favourite, but I never thought about graphic design as a career. It wasn’t until a year into taking Fine Arts at University I realised graphic design was a way to merry my creative side with earning money. I enrolled in a graphic design program at my nearby college, and the rest is history.

Can you remember any early influences or moments that shaped your creative direction?

To be honest, not really. I’ve always had an appreciation and found great value in minimalism and simplicity–it’s how I like to live my life personally. My need for organisation, space, and tidiness has directly impacted my natural design aesthetic. The term ‘less is more’ couldn’t be more apparent in the way I like to design.

What was the turning point that made design your career path, not just a passion?

Enrolling in the IDEA: Illustration, Design, Elements & Applications diploma program in Capilano College in Vancouver (where I’m from) was the major turning point. Transitioning from a Fine Arts degree to graphic design opened my eyes to the world of design as a business, a career path, a job. During those three years I learned what it meant to apply my creativity to actual client work, such as packaging design, logo design, print.. etc.

What kind of work were you doing before you decided to explore motion?

I’ve been a graphic designer for nearly 15 years. I started out my career working full-time in agencies, then went out on my own. I’ve been running my freelance business for 10 years now.

Why did you choose to return to study and why motion, specifically?

I’ve been designing the same way for many years. I felt it was time to increase my skillset, and learn something new. Motion wasn’t a focus when I was in school, nor when I worked in an agency environment, so it’s not something I specialise or have had any proper training in. It’s such a huge part of design today, so it felt like an easy choice when I was considering what new skills I could add to my roster.

What made you choose Shillington’s Motion for Graphic Designers course over other upskilling options?

An ad for Shillington popped up on my Linkedin feed. I did a little digging, attended the info session, and made the leap! It was a fairly straightforward and speedy process. I didn’t second guess the decision after the info session.

How did you find balancing the course with your existing professional and personal commitments?

I found the balance quite easy. I was lucky to not have a ton of client work at the same time as the course, so I had lots of time to not only attend the classes, but do the homework without feeling rushed.

What surprised you most about the learning experience?

I was surprised how easy it was to pick up the new program via the online classroom format. I was a bit hesitant at first, as I don’t do well learning online in my own time. I prefer to work with others and learn from instructors in person. But the online classroom accomplished that need for in-person collaboration and accountability.

Were there any standout moments, breakthroughs or challenges that stuck with you?

By the end of the course I felt I was only just getting used to the program. We learned a lot in a very short period of time and though it was a really enjoyable experience, I would have appreciated another month or two at least in order to feel like the program was being fully integrated into my mind. Naturally, I understand that lengthier timelines means more expensive course fees, but for me personally, it would have been worth it.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice before starting, what would it be?

Spend even more time playing around with After Effects outside of class. Familiarising myself with what we learned each week needed more time than I gave it.

Did you consider self-teaching or other platforms before committing to a structured course?

I did not. I don’t absorb information easily on my own time/terms. I need the accountability of a classroom environment to learn. I enjoy the collaborative aspect and being pushed to accomplish something within a timeframe. If I was left to my own devices I wouldn’t have dug as deep or stayed as committed.

Has your perspective on motion design shifted since starting the course?

Certainly. I know motion would be complex, but I didn’t have any idea just how vast and versatile After Effects really is. Time consuming too. I feel as though motion budgets need to be bigger than design budgets as a whole. But naturally, that’s coming from someone with little experience. Over time, my ability to accomplish tasks will increase with speed and accuracy. Motion is like design, but with a whole added layer of complexity on top. You’re not just thinking visually, but dynamically. It’s very fulfilling, but requires way more mental energy and creative thinking.

And finally, which moment in your Motion Major Project are you particularly proud of and why?

I am proud of how the series of short videos work as a whole. No one moment in particular stands out to me, it’s more about the fact that I was able to create a family of videos that work well together and showcase the aesthetic of my brand. Bringing my static images to life was an exciting new way to show off my work.

Anna’s journey shows that it’s never too late to add new skills and expand your creative practice. You can explore more of her work on her portfolio site, wearesobi.com.

If you’re ready to follow in her footsteps and bring your own designs to life, check out Shillington’s Motion for Graphic Designers course. In just three months, you’ll gain the skills, confidence and hands-on experience to take your design career to the next level.