Meet Zach Herdman | Artist, Designer & Animator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Herdman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, why did you pursue a creative career?
There are a myriad of reasons I am on the path that I am. As a kid I was exposed to art. I used to watch my dad draw and paint. I remember being transfixed by the way he placed a line and moved colors around. Naturally I would try and mimic this and eventually this turned into something I enjoyed doing for myself. Throughout my life it was the only thing that I kept coming back to. I felt it was my nature.

When I went to school for art and chose it as a career path my relationship to art deepened. You first learn how to see and through seeing you learn how to feel. This necessity to be authentic has always kept me inspired. You learn that creativity is a way of life. I also learned that you’re not alone and that when done well, art has the potential to connect people. I guess in short this is why I chose to pursue an artistic career. Because it is something that by doing, has allowed me to connect with others and continuously discover myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always prided myself on being a multidisciplinary artist. I try and learn as many new techniques and programs as possible because I believe it allows me to have a larger conversation with the visual world as a whole and I feel it helps me to create more fluidly. Over the last 9 months I’ve been learning some 3D software’s and it has opened up this whole new world for me. I have also been kind of obsessed with fashion. There is something about the nexus of pop culture, personal expression, and design that is an absolute well of inspiration for me. Some of the work I’m most excited about lately has come from combining 3D and fashion.

As far as my career is concerned I am definitely still growing. I wouldn’t say that my path has been easy. I fortunately got a lot out of my education, the curriculum really pushed me to learn programs and techniques that are really valuable in the motion design industry. I think what has always drawn me to the motion design world has been the amount of things you have to know. There are jobs that can sometimes integrate typography, live action, and cel animation and you have to be able to have an intelligent and contemporary conversation with your team about all those things. I think if anything the challenges I face today are more about continuing to learn and being open to different processes. The end goal is to continue to make unique work that I’m proud of and that speaks to people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Haha i love this question. I live in NYC so i’m always in favor of a bit of a Dérive. Just walk around and youll find some good spots. I like to go to the beach, bike around, hang out in the parks. I highly recommend seeing a show if you can, and you have to get some late night ramen.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are literally so many people I could shout out. My highschool teacher Mr. Vanderbilt for encouraging me and opening the door to the wonders of computer graphics. Without him none of this would be possible. My mentor and friend Gerard Wheeler for believing in me, challenging me and helping me grow as a human. He truly changed my life. Austin Shaw and John Collete for creating an incredible learning experience at SCAD. The education I got from them was absolutely invaluable. My friends and mentors at Scholar for being wonderful collaborators and allowing me to continue to grow. and of course my family for supporting me.

Website: zachherdman.com

Instagram: @_herdz_

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/zach-herdman