Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Flynn.
Hi Riley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My creative career started after I failed an entire semester in college. I thought computer science would be for me but I quickly got overwhelmed and failed all of my courses. Shortly after that nightmare, I discovered Graphic Design and fell in love with it, I excelled in the learning environment, especially motion graphics. That success brought me to Kansas City and to KCAI. The animation program allowed me to experiement with motion and my own ideas, and all of that was bolstered by the schools art history courses and a very special print making class that delved into queer archives. It taught me a lot about my own queer identity that I was ready to receive and express and it also continued my curiosity into material and thining outside of the bounds of what I thought was possible. I can animate with laser cut paper. I can animate a documentary, and create my own archive of stickers that other people have places around the city. It’s a lot of fun trying new things and that’s where I am today, I continue to allow myself to follow my curiosity first.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. I struggle with motivation, creating animated bodies of work is a lot to tackle. Getting across the starting line is, often, more difficult than getting across this finish. Right now a lack of space for an animation studio is my biggest road block. Although once I see how it’s possible I can get into the flow of things and create quite easily. What helps during times of rut are trying out simple projects/ideas. Last year I did a lot of work with water caustics to help with a lot of my block. I gave myself a more concrete problem to solve and I had a lot of fun figuing out and now it’s another tool in my toolbelt. Not everything I make has to have a lot of meaning, I did that because I thought it was fun and beautiful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My current line of work is in marketing. I was hired into a healthcare consulting company that specializes in implementing technologies in hospitals. I don’t have a makreting background, so that was a big hurdle for me to get over, and it’s something I have growing pains with to this day. But what I did bring was a professional sense for design that helped elevate our brand and messaging that feels more original in our professional sphere. I do some work on the side. Just last year I did an animated segment for KC VITAS, a local choir organization, who performed at the planetarium. It was an exciting opportunity to be able to create animated visuals for such a unique space.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
For animators and designers I can see a lot of independent media thriving in the local scene and beyond. I get so excited seeing good design on a local stage. Generative AI seems to be our biggest hurdle to get past. For me personally, I don’t find joy in using generative options for my work flow because it feels inauthentic to my process of problem solving, and it would betray any meaning I would implement into my artistic practice. It’s a thoughtless shortcut that would take a lot of pride out of what I do.
Pricing:
- Animation: $120/hr
- Graphic Design/Layout: $75/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rileyflynndesign.com/
- Instagram: @frostyflynn
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-t-flynn/
