Conversations with Bolin Zhou

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bolin Zhou.

Bolin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I grew up in China in a small-town city named Huangshi. From a very young age, I was passionate about art and design. When I was little, I remember I used to create collages, cut them out with scissors, and put them on the wall or window. I was also interested in music. In elementary school, every week after school, my mom would take me to violin lessons. I still have those skills and enjoy playing to this day. 

When I was 14, my family and I came to the United States, and we settled in New Jersey. During the weekend, we head to Chinatown in Manhattan for some awesome shopping and dining adventures. I went to high school in Secaucus, New Jersey, and it was during my junior year that I really got into drawing. I took an art class, where I started drawing, designing, and painting. Our art teachers loved us. They’d shown us cool tricks like silk-screening and sculpting. Occasionally, one of the teachers would bring in homemade cheesecake to share with the class. Yum! I met fellow students from different grades who shared my passion for drawing and painting. Their talent and enthusiasm were infectious, and I was truly inspired by their artwork. These were the moments that set my creative journey in motion! 

At that time, I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to attend an art college in the US. To achieve this goal, I knew I needed to build a portfolio, just like the senior students above me that I admired. So, I dedicated myself to practicing drawing and rendering realistic artwork with pencils, colored pencils, and other materials. I often imitated the senior artists in the art class to improve my drawing skills. It was a challenging journey, but it prepared me for going into art school in the United States. 

After being accepted to my first art school, MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art), I began learning all the fundamentals, including live drawing, figure drawing, painting, writing, graphic design, and web design. However, it was the 3D animation class that truly rocked me and opened up a new world. It became obvious to me that 3D animation was what I wanted to delve into further. In my 3D animation class, I remember I would spend my weekends in the computer lab to hone my skills. During this time, I got to experiment with collaboration with others, working as a group to make an animated short, and that’s how I made my very first animated short film, A Hello Kitty Claw Machine Story, as a group class project. Learning to collaborate on a group project can be quite a challenge, but I’ve come to appreciate the value of classroom interactions and lab working time. Being with my group once every week and having class discussions allows us to address any technical questions that may come up. 

After I made the decision to transfer to RCAD (Ringling College of Art and Design). Originally enrolled in the Computer Animation program. However, I couldn’t survive. I later switched to the Motion Design program, which also had its difficulties, but I managed to produce some excellent class projects that I am super proud of and also two senior thesis projects as well. One project that holds a special place in my heart is Daydream Butterfly; I had an entire semester to work on this, where I transformed a 3000-year-old ancient poem into a 30-second motion design animation. This project turned out to be one of my milestone achievements and even won The American Advertising Award. It was a truly magical and rewarding experience. 

After graduating from RCAD (Ringling College of Art and Design) and returning to NYC, I was approached by a creative studio in the city. I was offered a staff role as a Motion Designer/Editor at Ralph Creative, where I worked on multiple TV show trailers, network rebrands, and streaming platform content (Netflix, USA Network, AMC, Seeso). During that year, I had the opportunity to work on the website WhoIsMrRobot.com for all four seasons of USA’s Emmy-winning series, Mr. Robot. This project went on to win 1 Emmy Award, 3 Webby Awards, and 1 Shorty Award for Outstanding Interactive Extension Of A Linear Program in 2020. These awards were specifically for an Alternate Reality Game built into the site for the show’s final season. 

Ralph Creative and I agreed to a standing offer for a staff position, which I worked with them for a half year. After that, I transitioned to another employment opportunity at a recruiting agency called Creative Circle, where I worked as a freelancer for six years, moving from one place to another in NYC. This turned out to be another really fun working experience I’ve had in NYC. I had the chance to work at companies like Spotify, Reese’s, CNN, Global Citizen, MKTG, Howard Hughes, Simon Property Group, Infor Hook & Loop, Paramount/TV Land, Time Inc., Merkly+Partners, Whistle Sports, and so on. 

Today, I continue to work as a freelance motion designer and VFX artist under various recruiting agencies. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My parents originally opposed my decision to transfer to another art school and start over. However, after two years being in MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art), I decided that I wanted to make another animated short like the RCAD (Ringling College of Art and Design) style. I transferred to RCAD (Ringling College of Art and Design), and I was glad to be accepted. I was excited after all the hard work I put into preparing and applying for this school. It was my wish to be accepted. However, at first, I did struggle with the fact that I needed to start over as a freshman again and consider the considerable cost of four more years of college tuition. Looking back, I wish I had been able to save on my own and rely less on my parents’ financial support. I also wish I had been in a position to find a low-paying job to build my savings and achieve a degree of financial independence. This would have allowed me to better appreciate the value of attending another four-year college that I have to start over. After transferring to RCAD (Ringling College of Art and Design), I thought I would do well with a fresh start, but it turned out that I was struggling with fundamental art skills like drawing and painting in general. After completing my first year as a college freshman, I found a summer internship in NYC. During this internship, I worked on a variety of things. It wasn’t a paid internship at that time, and I didn’t have much knowledge about how to make a living in this field. I simply followed my passion and practiced extensively with the animation technique I know, which led me more to practice and experiment. 

During the summer internship, I continued to practice and learn more about animation techniques. I was fortunate to have a senior graduate as a mentor to guide me whenever I encountered technical issues and obstacles. However, I still needed to return to school and start the new semester. Back then, my main goal was to fast-track my way into my senior year in college so I could kickstart the pre-production of my senior project short film. The thing is, I had so many aspirations and ideas buzzing around in my head, and it was so easy to get distracted and overwhelmed. I realized that focusing on one thing at a time was key to achieving anything with real purpose. Otherwise, it would be so challenging to accomplish anything. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Absolutely! Speaking from my own experiences in the thriving commercial advertising industry in NYC, it’s all about crafting designs and typography that grab the viewer’s attention. In the realm of commercials, branding, and advertising, it’s crucial to keep up with the latest trends and find narratives that deeply resonate with younger audiences. The key is to produce visually captivating content that excites viewers. 

New York serves as a hub for the social media advertising industry, and I have gained a lot of experience since starting out from the day one. However, there is still room to grow, and I still need to explore to keep my creativity thriving and my inspiration flowing. Being active in smaller creative communities and organizations and continuously networking are important. I believe that connecting with people, engaging in conversations, and introducing yourself is a great way to start this exciting journey! 

I remember this one time when I got booked by a motion design studio called BigStar in NYC. They had me working on a 30-second spot for the Project Runway Jr. Season Two Promo, and let me tell you, I was so thrilled on my first day that I was probably too excited to even function properly. But, overall, I gave it everything I had, pushing my creative boundaries to the max throughout the entire project. It was an unforgettable experience! This experience taught me what it’s like to work with a team and think collectively. I was there to do my part, diligently completing my tasks with a high level of intensity, focus, and technical problem-solving skills. Everyone else was equally focused on their own craft, and this collective dedication greatly contributed to the groove of the entire project. I particularly enjoyed working closely with the Creative Director, Josh Norton. Under his conduct, I was able to break down boundaries and orchestrate a visual symphony that came to life magically. 

Recently, a former college friend inspired me to start a personal project. As an artist, one of the many challenges is figuring out how to sustain yourself while pursuing what you love. However, I believe in the importance of making time for personal creative ventures. These allow me to explore self-discovery as an artist. I think it’s crucial to set aside time for myself, to find fulfillment in the unknown, and to experience rewarding moments. It’s about redefining yourself, continually breaking down, and rebuilding your craft. Through this process, we grow and improve, becoming better versions of ourselves. 

Recently, I visited San Francisco and then Los Angeles, staying there for almost a month. It was definitely the highlight of my 2023, with the people I met and the places I visited. I would love to do this again. I was absolutely fascinated by the culture there. I would bring a nice camera with me next time so I could take as many pictures as I can and preserve all the memories I created during the trip. What made this trip even more special was that I had the opportunity to meet up with my former college roommate from MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art). Something about my experience at MICA still lingers with me, and it continues to inspire my creativity. My first art college experience was so unique and experimental that it has stayed with me and influenced my whole artistic journey. 

Sometimes it’s so easy to absorb our own activity, like when you start a new job and become deeply engrossed in it. But sometimes, that excitement fades as the job evolves into something less excited. It can be challenging to notice this when you’re caught up in the daily grind, and then it could become creatively destructive over time. So always reevaluate your goals. 

Speaking of my own experience, I wanted to be hired as a staff again to prove myself that I can do better, and it took me years to learn and keep growing to find my groove. I had to learn how to take charge, move in different directions, and start promoting myself to see what else I could offer and what opportunities that’s out there. Once you’ve figured it all out, you can smoothly transition your career. I love the idea of not worrying about making a living doing what I love because find your passion again; when you’re truly passionate, it doesn’t feel like work. Instead, every day becomes a labor of love, and that’s a beautiful thing! 

I’m fortunate to still be living in NYC. People often say that if you can make it in NYC, you can make it anywhere. I love the hustle and bustle of the city, taking subway rides, going from one bar to another with friends, taking walks on the Brooklyn Bridge, hitting the gym, and even inviting friends to see a Lady Gaga concert. And let’s not forget about ice skating at Bryant Park. I want to embrace more outdoor experiences like these. Oh, and catching a Broadway show is always a good idea, although I have to make sure not to fall asleep during the performance! It’s good for the brain and sparking creativity in general. I’ve realized that I need to get out more and start exploring all the incredible things the city has to offer once again. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I go on YouTube a lot, Motionographer, Spotify. Recently, during a flight, I listened to a book called Atomic Habits on Audible, and I absolutely love it. 

Pricing:

• $500 Freelance Day Rate

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/user53566626
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolin-zhou-88274a13/

Image Credits
Bolin Zhou