Interview with Heather Steckley, VFX Artist and Motion Graphic Designer
In the bustling city of New York, award-winning VFX and motion graphics designer Heather Steckley has made a name for herself in the industry. With over 15 years of experience, Steckley has created original designs, animations, and compositing work for notable clients such as HBO, Cinemax, and CNN.
Throughout her illustrious career, Steckley has worked for HBO for an impressive 14 years, contributing to both broadcast and film projects. One of her standout achievements was her work on the HBO documentary film Pelosi In The House, where she utilised Boris FX Mocha Pro and Silhouette for rotoscoping, replacement work, and compositing.
Steckley's impressive portfolio also includes the HBO Sex and the City Remastering Project, the HBO Fraggle Rock Promo, and HBO After The Thrones. She is particularly proud of her work on these projects, as they showcase her technical prowess and creative vision.
Collaborative Aspirations
Looking to the future, Steckley has expressed a desire to collaborate with renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, citing his captivating body of work as a source of inspiration.
Career Advice and Work-Life Balance
Steckley offers valuable advice to those starting out in the industry. She encourages continuous technical and creative exploration, and urges young designers not to be afraid to showcase their work and take risks. She also emphasises the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance to avoid creative burnout.
Education and Tools
Steckley received her BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and her MFA in Broadcast Design and Animation from Parsons, The New School for Design. In her day-to-day work, she regularly uses tools such as Boris FX Mocha Pro, Silhouette, Cinema 4D, and her Wacom Cintiq Pro 32, all within an Adobe Creative Cloud-based workflow.
Personal Interests
Outside of work, Steckley finds artistic inspiration from various sources, including architecture, learning new techniques, handicrafts, and spending time at the beach. She also has an automatic espresso and milk frother machine to cater to her caffeine needs during lengthy sessions.
Steckley's favourite films include The Wizard of Oz, The Shining, Jaws, and The Silence of the Lambs. Her diverse taste in cinema reflects her versatility as a designer and her ability to adapt to a wide range of projects.
- Heather Steckley, who expresses a desire to collaborate with renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, frequently uses technology-driven gadgets like Boris FX Mocha Pro and Silhouette in her work.
- To ensure a good work-life balance and mitigate creative burnout, Heather Steckley, who advises young designers to continuously explore technical and creative aspects, occasionally indulges in gadgets such as her automatic espresso and milk frother machine.
