Inspiring Conversations with Joel Berroteran of Eightyfive Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Berroteran.

Joel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
A childhood highlight for me was immersing myself in all kinds of cartoons, comics, graffiti, and art classes. I loved re-creating what I saw and retelling those stories in my own way.

That early passion for the arts naturally led me toward a career in digital creativity. I first majored in graphic design after being introduced to it in high school and learning the fundamentals. But even then, I felt something was missing—I wanted to see my designs come to life. That’s what ultimately pushed me to pursue motion design, working in both 2D and 3D. I can genuinely say it’s been fulfilling to visually share stories and bring ideas to life through movement.

Over the past 18 years, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to work with a diverse set of clients, and those experiences continue to motivate me to push boundaries and prove that art has no limits.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There has been highs and lows. This career has required constant adapting, learning, and staying on top of new tools and trends. One of my first major challenges came right after graduating—when the economy crashed in 2008. Jobs were scarce, so I had to be patient and persistent while figuring out how to put myself out there with agencies and studios. I learned the freelance world the hard way, dealing with inconsistent work, being underpaid, and facing the uncertainty of not knowing when the next gig would come.

Eventually, I reached a significant milestone: getting hired full-time at a production studio. I really wanted to experience what it meant to grow with an internal team. But after a few years, I hit another setback – I desired growth but found myself in a limiting environment. Rather than letting this hold me back, I returned to freelancing so I could pursue the roles I was aiming for—leading teams, art directing, and continuing to elevate my craft.

That decision opened doors to working directly with major tech brands and agencies which ultimately sparked the desire to build something of my own. That path is what led me to start a design and motion studio.

Though it was a dream to open up my own studio, the hustle was unmanageable to do alone. Thankfully, my greatest supporter saw the opportunity to join forces, and together my wife Abigail and I have overcome many obstacles along the way and continue to envison great things for Eightyfive Studio.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a multidisciplinary design-driven, motion studio with a passion for creativity, collaboration, and human connection. Our studio vision is to be a creative hub where boundless imagination and joy exists and individuals unite to create, collaborate, and innovate. Here, we inspire one another to transcend conventional limits, fostering a community where creative expansion and personal evolution is valued and encouraged.

We help clients bring their ideas to life through design thinking in both 2D and 3D, transforming concepts into motion—whether it’s promo videos, product visualizations, title sequences, event content, web experiences, or large-scale LED installations. We love solving problems creatively and making the process as inspiring as the final work.

What sets us apart is our mix of thoughtful design, technical versatility, and collaborative approach. One of our proudest moments was winning a San Francisco Design Week award for Green Wall, an LED lobby installation we created for Salesforce, now displayed in multiple buildings worldwide.

Our studio is driven by passion and purpose. We’re here to help brands communicate boldly through design and motion, and we approach every project with curiosity, artistry, and heart.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always a curious child, naturally drawn to the arts. I was very animated, always improvising with storytelling—whether I was creating flipbooks or using sweatpants as makeshift bunny ears. I loved reenacting moments from cartoons and movies, and I would often draw comics to continue the stories I enjoyed. I was a bit of an introvert, spending a lot of time in my own thoughts, but I also loved listening to the stories the people around me shared.

Coming from an immigrant family who migrated from Nicaragua due to the civil war, I became aware early on of the constant adaptation required when two cultures and two worlds come together. I grew up speaking Spanish and English fluently, which gave me a unique perspective and appreciation for different ways of seeing and expressing the world. It allowed me to connect with two cultures and learn from both sides.

As I got older, I became interested in playing the bass guitar and quickly fell in love with it as another creative outlet. This eventually led me to play at my local church and perform at various events, giving me early experience in collaboration and in expressing creativity within a community.

Those spaces also nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit. I began selling digital prints and t-shirts, got involved in media production as a camera operator for events, and created videos that incorporated animation and even a bit of acting. All of these experiences helped shape the creative foundation that I still carry today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eightyfive.studio/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__eightyfive/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eightyfive-studio/

Image Credits
Photography by Andrea Arevalo (Photoshoot)
Photography by Gonzola Cabada (Black & White Portrait)