School of Motion + AEPDX at OMSI: A Recap
Portland’s motion design community turned up in force on February 27, 2025, as Joey Korenman, founder of School of Motion, took the stage at OMSI. The room was packed with over 200 attendees—designers, animators, and creative professionals—all eager to connect and hear insights from one of the most influential voices in motion design today.
A Gathering of Motion Designers
Over 200 attendees from across the Pacific Northwest filled the room, bringing a mix of experience, curiosity, and enthusiasm for motion design. Conversations covered everything from technical workflows to career paths, making it a valuable night for both newcomers and seasoned professionals.
Raffle prizes added some extra excitement to the night, with winners walking away with an Adobe subscription, signed copies of the Freelance Manifesto, Wacom premium gift bags, and AEPDX swag. Lotty Vigue of Deep Sky took home a year-long subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, and Neil Taylor from Laika’s post-production team scored a loaded swag bag.
Community Groups That Made It Happen
The event was made even stronger by the presence of local motion design and animation groups who help foster creativity and collaboration in the industry:
- Pints + Pixels – Portland’s monthly motion design and VFX meetup.
- Women in Animation PDX – Advocating for and empowering women in animation.
- Mothers of Mograph – Supporting parents navigating careers in motion design.
- Autodesk – A leader in animation and design software.
- PoMo – Portland Motion, a space for animators and motion designers to connect.
Our Sponsors
Events like this don’t happen without the support of the creative community. A huge thank you to our sponsors:
Joey Korenman’s Key Insights
Joey’s talk covered the past, present, and future of motion design. He reflected on the early days of After Effects and Avid machines, explored how AI is shifting the industry, and touched on the importance of community and adaptability in sustaining a creative career. Key takeaways included:
- The Future of Motion Design – What’s changing and what skills will be essential.
- Career Growth & Mindset – How to break in, stay relevant, and build a sustainable career.
- The Power of Community – Why networking and collaboration are more important than ever.
- AI & Motion Design – How automation is shaping the industry and where the opportunities lie.
Joey’s lecture had no shortage of puns and shared a unique look at the industry from the perspective of a seasoned professional. He looked to the future of MoGraph while recounting the days of Avid machines and the beginnings of After Effects. His comparison of Jevons Paradox—how making production faster and cheaper increases the demand for content—was an eye-opener. As always, his tips on AI’s practical use and insights about new apps like Rive were… riveting! He was both inspiring and practical, offering insights that attendees could immediately apply to their work.
What’s Next for AEPDX?
The School of Motion event is just the beginning. AEPDX is committed to growing and supporting the motion design community through future events, workshops, and networking opportunities. If you’re not already a part of our Circle.so community, now’s the time to join—get access to exclusive content, connect with fellow creatives, and stay in the loop on what’s next.
To everyone who attended, supported, and helped make this event a success—thank you. We can’t wait to see you at the next AEPDX gathering.
