Meet Austin Stone | Motion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, is there something you believe many others might not?
You don’t need to follow the rules. Rules are made to be broken. My best work was done when I turned off the guidelines. I feel the greatest creatives are those that have such a profound understanding of the fundamentals that they they can break them.

From the time we’re young whippersnappers we’re taught how important it is to color within the lines and told not to jump into puddles. I think it’s critical for the designer/artist to find the child within and forget to follow these rules. Imagination shouldn’t be stifled but it often is by these boundaries we set up in order to construct a reality that is easier to digest. The best work is done when we step outside of these walls and/or break them down.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an Emmy award winning motion graphic designer and art director living in SLC but taking my camper across the country. What sets me apart from others is that I approach design with a beginner’s mind. In other words, although I opened Photoshop nearly 20 years ago I know there is always more to learn. I am inspired by learning.

Getting to where I am today was not easy. I am a self-taught designer (although I went to school I didn’t study design) and because of this I initially had to build a portfolio using gigs I found on Craig’s List. I was always plagued by imposter syndrome since I didn’t have a formal education. Eventually, I went back to school to try and legitimize myself. When I landed my first job at NBC, it wasn’t in design. I was a graphics playout operator… but it was a foot in the door.

Eventually I realized this was one of my strengths… being self-taught didn’t mean I was less qualified. In fact it provided me with an advantage: being the outsider meant I had a different perspective. I shot the creative director at the TODAY show an email (at the time was probably a big no-no) and asked if they needed support on their team. My first REAL design job. The imposter syndrome didn’t end there though. I picked up a second job in the evenings at the MLB Network. I commuted back and forth from northern New Jersey to the city everyday (a total of 4 hours of driving) and worked back to back 16 hour days for 2 years.

Currently, I am a senior motion designer with nearly nine years in the field. Five of these years were in the broadcast industry. Then I spent two years art directing at BuzzFeed. I’ve spent the last two years dabbling in the agency world as the senior motion designer at Marina Maher Communications. Throughout my career as a motion designer I’ve had the opportunity to create diverse visual content across news, consumer, entertainment, pharma and lifestyle.

The world is meant to be deconstructed and put back together in your own way. I am a storyteller. I weave fragments of my life into the fabric of every piece I touch. I design with intention. Every pixel pushed, every keyframe eased, every sound recorded should be done with purpose.​

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would grab some Italian subs from Caputo’s in SLC the night before. We’d stash those away for our hike the next day.

In the morning we’d rise before the sun wakes up. We’d hit Cafe Espresso in the 9th and 9th district for the best and fastest cup of coffee. We’d venture into the woods and explore the beautiful Wasatch mountains for the larger part of the morning. Some spots to check out are Lake Blanche (where we’re heading this am), Mount Timpanogos, and Living Room (and i don’t mean the one with the tv).

Once we summit, we’d bust out the best sandwiches you could imagine. At this height, food tastes better. Once we soak in the cosmic rays and snap some photos of the mountains reflected in the lake we’ll head on back down. For dinner we’d head on over to Sapa for some sushi. Yes this land-locked state somehow has delcious special rolls to satisfy any foodie’s desire.

After dinner, we’re heading over to 1 of 2 places (depending on the group’s interests). Brewvies is a local movie theatre where the beer flows like wine. The other spot would be Fat Cats where you can try to bowl some strikes all while scarfing down an entire tray of fries (five different types).

After all is said and done, we’ll cook some s’mores around the campfire in our backyard before calling it a night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Erich Bartlebaugh. Without his mentorship I wouldn’t be the designer I am today. He helped me hone my skills at the TODAY Show and then again at BuzzFeed News.

Website: https://www.austinstone.tv/

Instagram: @dallasboulder

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinstonedesign/