Today we’d like to introduce you to Xiaobo Ma.
Hi Xiaobo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated from School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California. I’m a CG generalist, mainly working on 2D/3D motion graphics design and animation. I also have a passion for storytelling and indie animation production besides my daily work. My previous works including creating content for brands and organizations like APPLE, FACEBOOK, GETTY Museum and more, grants me the ability to design, create, refine CG material either from scratch or in a team-work pipeline. My previous job is at LOGAN, creating commercials and CG videos as an Animator/Designer. During the experience, I also take my previous contract work connections with GETTY Museum and bring projects to LOGAN as a collaboration, bringing opportunities, value, and actual profits to the company.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not but I’m lucky to have families, friends, mentors, and loved ones with me throughout this journey. One thing about an international student back then and study, then work in the US is quite a challenge. It is surely not a comfort zone and there are so many obstacles along the way. Keep the motivation is really hard and believing in myself is always a topic for me. Seeing all the talented people around me and making their amazing work makes me doubt myself constantly. Worrying about my position, and being afraid of losing, haunts me all the time. In this case, working creatively with all these negative emotions is very hard. That’s why I value my supporters: families, friends, mentors, and loved ones so much, that I know I can not keep fighting without them.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m always a fan of combining art with some technology. Not rocket science, but some cool little gags that I can handle. Maybe it is an escape from both worlds but I find it intimate when things are delivered freshly and sincerely. I put most of my time working with 2D/3D motion graphics and designs, trying to deliver content that is delightful and entertaining. With some projects and cases, I’m known for my design and animation skills and the creativity behind my work. The projects that I work on for GETTY Museum are the content that I’m most proud of for now. It has so many styles in those projects and they demonstrate my ideas, styles, and approaches perfectly. From the Getty Unshuttered Main Logo animation to the Unshuttered 2019 opening sequence, I explore so much during the process and the feedback is beyond my imagination. Even though I don’t think an individual can be so different from others, since society is wrapping us all in a big bubble, I do believe my multi-cultural background sets me apart from many others, enables my creative thinking in a way that I can show ideas, tell stories, with different perspectives.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Always aim for the stars. Without thinking about study abroad and pursuit my animation dream, I may now work for a small company, doing some boring work from 9 AM to 9 PM. Just because that I want to aim it higher, overcome my fear of losing, I get the chance to work in this environment, surrounded by world-class talents, and working on projects for big names and amazing content. Even though I still always doubt myself, feeling defeated all the time. But I gradually realize that I can come back up on my own. To me, this is meaningful progress.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: maxiaobodesign.com
