EPISODE · Mar 18, 2025 · 1H 11M
Just Make the Thing with EJ Hassenfratz | March 17, 2025
from Monday Meeting · host Monday Meeting
In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn sits down with motion designer EJ Hassenfratz to explore his journey from digital artist to creator of physical plushies and vinyl toys. This episode includes:EJ's evolution from broadcast graphics to motion design and 3D artistry, discovering Cinema 4D when it was first gaining popularityHow making tutorials became an unexpected career path after preparing for a presentation at NABThe emotional journey of creating his first plushie based on his beloved dog Gus, and how it became a cathartic experience when his actual dog passed awayBehind-the-scenes insights into toy production, from finding a reputable manufacturer to designing custom packagingThe unexpected challenges of transitioning from digital to physical products, including order fulfillment, shipping logistics, and overcoming imposter syndromeHow EJ's exploration of Japanese kawaii mascot culture influenced his character designsThe importance of pushing through creative fears and taking action rather than waiting for perfectionThroughout the conversation, EJ emphasizes the value of community support and how the motion design industry has evolved to become more open and collaborative. He shares honest reflections about the mental barriers that delayed his physical product launch despite having completed the toy design and manufacturing a year prior.Next week features an open discussion where listeners can bring questions or topics to the group. Please subscribe to The Monday Meeting newsletter on Substack and/or via email -open call opportunities for listener spotlights, feature requests, and community participation!Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other insightful conversations from our motion design community!SHOW NOTES:Monday Meeting PatreonMonday Meeting DiscordMonday Meeting LinkedInMonday Meeting InstagramEJ's PortfolioEJ's InstagramGus the PugMake ShipShippothebeastisback
What this episode covers
In this episode of Monday Meeting, host Jen Van Horn sits down with motion designer EJ Hassenfratz to explore his journey from digital artist to creator of physical plushies and vinyl toys. This episode includes:EJ's evolution from broadcast graphics to motion design and 3D artistry, discovering Cinema 4D when it was first gaining popularityHow making tutorials became an unexpected career path after preparing for a presentation at NABThe emotional journey of creating his first plushie based on his beloved dog Gus, and how it became a cathartic experience when his actual dog passed awayBehind-the-scenes insights into toy production, from finding a reputable manufacturer to designing custom packagingThe unexpected challenges of transitioning from digital to physical products, including order fulfillment, shipping logistics, and overcoming imposter syndromeHow EJ's exploration of Japanese kawaii mascot culture influenced his character designsThe importance of pushing through creative fears and taking action rather than waiting for perfectionThroughout the conversation, EJ emphasizes the value of community support and how the motion design industry has evolved to become more open and collaborative. He shares honest reflections about the mental barriers that delayed his physical product launch despite having completed the toy design and manufacturing a year prior.Next week features an open discussion where listeners can bring questions or topics to the group. Please subscribe to The Monday Meeting newsletter on Substack and/or via email -open call opportunities for listener spotlights, feature requests, and community participation!Visit MondayMeeting.org for this episode and other insightful conversations from our motion design community!SHOW NOTES:Monday Meeting PatreonMonday Meeting DiscordMonday Meeting LinkedInMonday Meeting InstagramEJ's PortfolioEJ's InstagramGus the PugMake ShipShippothebeastisback
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Just Make the Thing with EJ Hassenfratz | March 17, 2025
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