Adam Keoki Eastburn
Q What do you do?
“I’m an artist/designer working primarily in motion design/animation and illustration.”
You could say, I’m like Walt Disney but a lot earlier in my career and without any theme parks and no “mouse”. But just like him.
With animation, I’ve made feature launch videos, gifs, animated logos, ads, explainer videos, animated short stories, and motion pieces for event displays and decor. With illustration created branded illustration styles and libraries, large and small images for all use cases(for printed materials, websites, and mobile devices), stories, comics, and swag items.
I also can make great horchata, but I don’t get paid for that(yet).
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
2 major corporate rebrands and a handful of smaller rebrands.
5+ corporate branded illustration libraries (lots of curly doodles, mostly of people at desks or on phones)
6+ years of experience with a variety of clients and brands
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I’m a dad, so my jokes are on a whole different level of sophistication.
My work is thoughtful, playful, and fresh. My brain can think as a designer even though I’m drawing, and it can freely explore ideas like an artist even though I’m working through font pairings.
Q What are you working on right now?
Trying to let my creative freak flag fly. After years of working SaaS, I’m just trying to make “art”. That usually develops into comics, clothes, or gifs.
Q What’s your style?
You tell me. Check out my website.
I’m definitely leaning towards a cleaned-up “adult swim”. The zany animation, but without the need to be explicitly adult. I like the form over-function nature of music videos. I like cartoons, but I’m not too cartoony.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Art direction and working with creative minds. Beautifully animated storytelling. I’d like to focus more on how far our imagination can go with an idea. Think up the most exciting idea first and then figure out how to make it.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Not enough time in the day or the funding to bring all of my ideas to life right now. Needing to sleep.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Backup animator and chef. Probably hang out on social media for me. Find the funniest daily content and share it with me at lunchtime.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would go back to “college me” and tell myself not to worry about pursuing law school, and instead to double down on the artistic ideas that I thought were fun.
And maybe, I would’ve told myself to invest in bitcoin.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Zaha Hadid(RIP) or Diebedo Francis Kere about sustainable design
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Every project is an opportunity. But anything involved with a smarter, sustainable future.
And maybe to play my own devil’s advocate, I’d like to spend some time making work that no one needs to see. The “fluff” of life that gives way to new ideas and trends. I’d like to venture down the road where form doesn’t have to always follow function. The crazier the better.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Sitting at the desk next to Katushiro Otomo, working on anything
Writing and directing an animated series with Alberto Mielgo Creating some sort of synth-tamagotchi fusion with Teenage Engineering
Working with Neil Druckman on a video game
Go on a road trip with Denis Villenueve and bring a camera
Making a horror film with my older brother
Making a music video with Jamiexx
Q: What is your rate?
My rate is $125/hr
Branding an illustration style is about $2000+
Animation estimates depend entirely on complexity.
A rough estimate: for a 1-minute animated short it could be 20 to 80 hrs+, and for a short looping gif it could be 4-20 hrs+.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email or DM is fine. Let’s just talk about your whole idea first and then go from there.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
James Noellert - beautiful illustration and confidence in taking time to make good work
Hellavision Television - the future of animated television
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Travel a lot. Love my wife and kids.
This member profile was originally published in July 2022.